Boeing has unveiled its latest model of the Transonic Truss-Braced Wing (TTBW) concept which has been designed to offer unprecedented aerodynamic efficiency while flying at a speed of Mach 0.8. The previous model had been designed to fly at speeds between Mach 0.7 and 0.75. This improvement has come through the presence of a truss to support the extended ultra-thin folding wing which measures 170 feet from end to end.
According to Boeing, to increase the aircraft’s cruise speed, the new concept now has an optimized truss and a modified wing sweep. By adjusting the wing sweep angle, the truss can carry lift more efficiently. The end result is a more integrated design that significantly improves vehicle performance.
For approaching ten years Boeing has been working with NASA on this concept as part of the Subsonic Ultra Green Aircraft Research Program, while more recently it has been performing extensive wind tunnel research at NASA’s Ames Research Center. The research focuses on concepts that reduce noise and emissions while enhancing performance.
