Airbus unveiled a futuristic new plane prototype with one giant wing and no separate fuselage
MAVERIC employs a blended-wing concept, which merges the fuselage and wing of giving the appearance of a flying giant wing with two engines and vertical stabilizers in the back.
Instead of the engines mounted under the wings of the aircraft, they would be attached to vertical stabilizers in the rear and on top of the aircraft.
According to Airbus, the design would have the potential to lower fuel consumption by 20% compared to current aircraft designs, with the blended wing likely allowing for smoother airflow over the aircraft.
Blended wing designs differ from conventional wide-body aircraft designs that have distinct wings and fuselage, with underwing-mounted engines.
A similar aircraft design is currently in use with the US Military, the B-2 Spirit stealth bomber aircraft.
Airbus also showed what the cabin of such an aircraft would potentially look like, offering the idea that a blended wing design would allow for redesigned cabins.
The blended wing design would make the aircraft wide instead of long, potentially forcing cabins to be set side by side instead of back to back.
A wider aircraft also allows for a more open concept on board and making the cabin feel less congested compared to current generation aircraft designs.
Airbus has been one of the leaders in the charge for redesigned aircraft cabins under its Airspace by Airbus program, with its ideas including a "Connected Cabin" that uses technology to make more efficient use of existing cabin amenities such as overhead bins and service trolleys.
Source: Airbus
For now, the most that the program has produced is a 3.2-meter wide remote-controlled model aircraft that Airbus has been testing to determine the program's viability for the past year.
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