KLM Royal Dutch Airlines is working with the Faculty of Aerospace Engineering at Delft University of Technology (TU Delft) researching a concept called the Flying-V. The concept is for a v-shaped flying wing in which the passenger cabin, cargo hold and fuel tanks are integrated. The concept is for an aircraft 55m (180ft) long, 17m (55ft) in height and with a 65m (213ft) wingspan, holding 314 passengers, 160m3 (5,630ft3) cargo capacity, and 140,000 litres (30,795 Imp gallon) of fuel. TU Delft says the Flying-V's aerodynamic shape and reduced weight will mean it uses 20% less fuel than an Airbus A350-900, the aircraft that forms the baseline comparison for the project. The Flying-V has the same wingspan, passenger capacity and cargo volume as the A350-900, which TU Delft says would enable the aircraft to use existing airport infrastructure.
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