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| Re: Good News RonInBayside: KC-45A scrapped (574251) | |||
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Re: Good News RonInBayside: KC-45A scrapped |
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Posted by WillD on Tue Mar 9 16:08:37 2010, in response to Re: Good News RonInBayside: KC-45A scrapped, posted by Dan on Tue Mar 9 10:33:47 2010. The 797 will likely be a development of Boeing's Yellowstone Y1 project to replace the 737. More than likely the Y1 will be a conventional three tube airliner with a body slightly wider than the 737. The 787 is a product of the Yellowstone Y2, which was created to replace the 767.A blended wing body is far more efficient with higher capacity than any design with a fuselage and wings. But unless the USAF or another governmental agency makes it a priority I don't see it being adopted. A tanker, airlift, radar, or even standoff bomber with a blended wing body could make the best use of the high lift, low drag, and great cargo capacity. But the creation of an airliner with a pressurized passenger compartment integrated into the middle of the wing presents structural problems in addition to the psychological problems of having large numbers of passengers with no external reference. Perhaps if the passengers are given more space or the entertainment system is superior to what we now have the lack of windows won't be noticed. It's possible the Yellowstone Y3, slated to replace the 747 and 777, could develop into a blended wing body aircraft. But as I said I can't see Boeing making the case for a BWB aircraft with just their own investment. The extreme age and obsolescence of the KC-135s means the USAF is unlikely to be able to wait out the development time for a BWB Tanker to fulfill the same role as the KC-45A was to occupy. A 767 tanker is the fastest way for the USAF to get some KC-135Es and Rs replaced before 2020. Thus the earliest we can expect to have a BWB aircraft would be the next round of tankers after this order. It's possible when Boeing switches to their next set of model numbers, perhaps an 808 or something, we'll see the Y3 built as a BWB airliner. I just hope by then there will be some system to display external cameras on the widescreen HD seatback entertainment system. |
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