The companies KLM and TU Delft are collaborating on the new ‘Flying-V’ project, working together to design the new sustainable commercial airplane.
President and CEO of KML, Pieter Elbers, and the Dean of the Faculty of Aerospace Engineering of the Delft University of Technology (TU Delft), Henri Werij, recently signed a collaboration agreement to work together in the design of a more sustainable form of aviation. This agreement was signed in the International Air Transport Association’s (IATA) Annual General Meeting (AGM), which was held in Seoul.
The new concept, fruit of the work undertaken between both companies, is named “Flying-V”, comprising a completely futuristic approach to the design of airplanes for sustainable long haul flights.
This plane was initially conceived as a design for a potential airplane of the future, but it is comparable to the most advanced airplane currently in operation: the Airbus A350. While the new plane is not as long as the A350, they have the same wingspan.
The Flying-V can transport the same number of passengers as the Airbus (314 in standard mode), and it also has the same load volume (160 m3). However, it is smaller than the A350, which means it creates less aerodynamic resistance.
In the design of the V-shaped plane, the passenger cabin, the cargo hold and the fuel tanks shall be located in the wings. Its aerodynamic shape and lower weight translate to 20% less fuel consumption than the Airbus 350, which is the most advanced plane currently in operation.
In terms of the passenger experience, the Flying-V also entails several notable improvements. Namely, the layout and comfort of the seats and bathrooms.
But what makes the plane sustainable?
The Flying-V is propelled by turbofan engines, which are the most fuel-efficient engines currently in existence. The plane’s current design still flies with kerosene, but this could be easily adapted to profit from any innovations in propulsion systems, e.g. electrically-reinforced turbofans.
During KLM’s 100th anniversary celebrations in October, a scale model will be presented to simulate a real-life flight, while a full-scale model of the Flying-V’s interior will also be unveiled.
