MIT-led team designs airplanes that use 70 percent less fuel
May 19, 2010
An MIT-led team has designed a green airplane that is estimated to use 70 percent less fuel than current planes while also reducing noise and emission of nitrogen oxides.
The design was presented to NASA last month as part of a $2.1 million research contract to develop environmental and performance concepts that will help guide the agency’s aeronautics research over the next 25 years.
MIT's D "double bubble" series design concept is based on a modified "tube-and-wing" structure that has a very wide fuselage to provide extra lift. The aircraft would be used for domestic flights to carry 180 passengers in a coach cabin roomier than that of a Boeing 737-800.(MIT/Aurora Flight Sciences)
More info: MIT news