Boeing Developing Blended Wing-Body

LONG BEACH, Calif. (AP) — Boeing engineers are working on an 800-seat airliner with wings that blend smoothly into the fuselage instead of protruding from its sides. <br><br>The so-called blended wing-body

Friday, February 9th 2001, 12:00 am

By: News On 6


LONG BEACH, Calif. (AP) — Boeing engineers are working on an 800-seat airliner with wings that blend smoothly into the fuselage instead of protruding from its sides.

The so-called blended wing-body aircraft would fly at the same speed and altitude as a 416-seat Boeing 747-400, but it would use 25 percent less fuel and generate less noise, the Los Angeles Times reported Friday.

Unlike other airline jets, the proposed Boeing jet wouldn't have a traditional fuselage or tail with fins. Passengers would be seated in two decks, and since most would not be seated near a window, the backs of each seat would have a video monitor providing a view of the outside.

``It looks different, but it isn't that much different from the B-2 (stealth bomber), and we know that works,'' said Robert H. Liebeck, a Boeing program manager working on the new plane.

Liebeck said the new plane should be completed within a decade but the program could be accelerated if Boeing gives priority to competing with the A-380, a double-decker airliner under development by European consortium Airbus Industrie.

The A-380, which will seat about 600, is expected to be in the air by 2006.
logo

Get The Daily Update!

Be among the first to get breaking news, weather, and general news updates from News on 6 delivered right to your inbox!

More Like This

February 9th, 2001

March 14th, 2024

December 4th, 2023

September 25th, 2023

Top Headlines

March 29th, 2024

March 29th, 2024

March 29th, 2024

March 29th, 2024