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Beyond Tube-and-Wing: The X-48 Blended Wing-Body and NASA’s Quest to Reshape Future Transport Aircraft

Beyond Tube-and-Wing: The X-48 Blended Wing-Body and NASA's Quest to Reshape Future Transport Aircraft

By Bruce I. Larrimer

This book details the remarkable efforts to develop a new aircraft configuration known as the Blended Wing-Body (BWB). Responding to a challenge from NASA, McDonnell Douglas Corporation initiated studies in the early 1990s to determine if this new configuration could bring about significant advantages over conventional sweptwing, streamlined tube, and swept-tail designs. After McDonnell Douglas’ merger with Boeing, Boeing conducted additional research, development, and design work that led to the fabrication and flight testing of the X-48B and modified X-48C, and, along with NASA, it conducted additional wind tunnel testing under the auspices of NASA’s Environmentally Responsible Aviation Program.

Kindle readers: MOBI [9.5 MB]

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Fixed layout: PDF [5.9 MB]