Alaska Airlines Bets On Blended Wing Body With JetZero Investment

[@MrVanMises]

Alaska should also invest in de-icing manufacturers because such airplanes have huge surfaces.

[@sequoyayosemite2771]

In this design most passengers are stuck in the Middle Seat...

[@autarchprinceps]

I don't think this kind of plane will require much if any adaptation in jet bridges, let alone other airport infrastructure, unless it is simultaneously gigantic. The only real challenge is the lower percentage of window seats, but I guess the same is true for widebodies. If cheaper due to the fuel savings, better entertainment and seat options would probably more than make up for that for most people.

[@apertureemployee215]

window seats for business class only

[@matsv201]

The main issue with a blended wing that nobody ever seam to think about is that the highest strain on a aircraft is neither on the wing or on the counter leaver of the fuselage. The largest force on a jet airliner is on the pressure bulkheads. This is why pretty much all jet airliners have a tube and wing shape. A tube is a very weight effective way of making a pressure bulkhead and the wing is simply not pressurized. You can make the tube slightly elliptical and its not really a issue. But if you make it more than just sligthly, there is a problem. if you want to make a tube and wing concept of a blended wing body, you have to make a shrowd for not only the wing but most of the body of the aircraft. Or you close up the aft of the aircraft with a bulkhead and simply have no passengers there. Either way you either lose passenger or gain weight. So its very simple making a scale model that preform really good, but its much harder making it work in a airliner. For the other ideas i would say they are a bit more viable. Having engine on top of wing does make maintenance a bit harder (at least on the short run before the equipment is revamped), on the flip side it allows the plane to sit lower to the ground as well having a large fan disc with very little drawback. So that should give some improvement of fuel economy. (something like 5-10% depending how far they push it). Having the wing far back with the engine far back also improve fuel economy due to the stabilizer no longer fighting the wing. I kind of think they probobly would need canards to make it dynamically stable. The downside is that the front of the plane sit with a greater distance from the main wing spar, so the fuselage need to be stronger, hence heavier. Hence for a aircraft with lower capacity, like something equivalent to a A318 this will be more of a improvement in fuel economy than something like a A321. I would say the gains here is probobly in the 5 up to 15% for a smaller capacity aircraft. The rest of the improvement is probobly just from the newer generation of engines that suppose to be fielded in 2028 promised to bring us 20 to 30% efficiency gain. Now we was promised that last time around as well, and we didn´t quite get there. If we will this time, well time will tell

[@dodoubleg2356]

I think the UAL livery on the BOOM Supersonic looks sweet. 👍🛫✌️

[@Aviator381]

Seattle based Alaska airlines wth

[@vwaudiwelder]

Yes, just like Boeing is Chicago based.

[@uss_liberty_incident]

@@vwaudiwelder Wtf I didn't know that either. Learning a lot in this comments section lol

[@Aviator381]

@@vwaudiwelder it’s not

[@vwaudiwelder]

@@Aviator381 Sure it is.

[@russvan9683]

@@vwaudiwelder Since 2022, Boeing is based in Virgina, just outside Washington DC

[@anotherledfreak8649]

I'd LOVE to fly in a blended wing aircraft. My only criticism would be the lack of views (I always get window seats) but if it improves the flight experience then I wish anyone investing in the design the best. Unfortunately I think without others getting into the designs it'll be another flash in the pan.

[@TheLiamster]

I bet the USAF will procure a blended wing aircraft as a tanker and/or transport one day

[@RichardShelton]

We fly in cylinders for a reason, easier to pressurize. How they will get around that will be interesting.

[@sebcat_04]

No vertical stabiliser? The whole thing just looks like a great big yaw machine to me.

[@CP-zi3eg]

Is pressurization of elliptical fuselages affordable like the cylindrical ones ? Bwb fuselages are all in one with wings, so i wonder if the change will be really a matter of few years or some decades

[@vwaudiwelder]

These blended wing bodies will ALWAYS be slower to evacuate fully vs a tube and wing fuselage. Is it worth it?

[@hayleyxyz]

I did initially say it won't happen, but they do have investment from NASA and USAF so who knows

[@nntflow7058]

The design of this particular blended wing is actually better since it solved one of the fundamental problems with aircraft control. While it might not be the final design used on the plane in the future. Every little bit help.

[@eamonahern7495]

Doesn't look like it'd be comfortable to fly in, in terms of seating layout

[@wadehiggins1114]

They need to bet on their doors not falling off

[@markiangooley]

Well, it’s not Boeing, at least.

[@waynerooo]

God, that's just hilarious...haven't heard that one before.

[@Hahlen]

That’s what they’re doing by investing in a non-Boeing lol

[@NYCLight]

can you imagine seeing that at LGA???

[@simonrochester4773]

The question’s that I have to ask. If an engine has an uncontained engine failure, it could kill the other engine? Also I would like to know, what is the crosswind limit going to be on a plane like that? I bet not as good as the planes we have today. What happens to the passengers when the aircraft rolls into a turn, so will have positive G whilst the other side will have negative G?

[@sundragon7703]

How much for the upgrade for that window seat? The screen-only option may not be enough for customer satisfaction. (BTW, this announcement serves as a warning shot on several levels to Boeing because Alaska Air is primarily a Boeing customer.)

[@AnarchyEnsues]

The roll felt in a window seat will be 4x normal planes produce

[@FLT111]

Waaahhh no more Eskimo

[@gpaull2]

FYI that’s a derogatory term.

[@FLT111]

@@gpaull2 honestly shut up lol

[@FLT111]

@gpaull2 I don't have time for your political correctness, you snowflake. Alaska Airlines logo is the Eskimo, plain and simple. I can't stand people like yourself.

[@louiem5654]

Why not just focus on the now? Like retrofitting the janky a$$ 900s or giving first class pax a genuine premium seat?

[@mikebaker2436]

This is a "stop talking about door plugs" tactical investment more than a strategic one.

[@rudivandoornegat2371]

I believe more in a future with BWB than hydrogen engines. Especially for short flights where passengers can board and disembark with stair vehicles.

[@keltonG08]

Can’t wait for them to teach MTC how to service that engine. Might as well bring back the DC-11 lol

[@Kevin-sl2yw]

It could be easier to start off with a cargo version first

[@ellaluna5514]

Happy they are not investigating anymore in Boeing!

[@deeya]

Post A380, airlines and airports are more than wary about going all in to an abrupt shift in the paradigm. Radical changes here, there, everywhere just to realize it's more trouble than it's worth. That being said, the A380 is seeing a significant recovery, post Pandemic of all things. And the airlines that HODL-ed are seeing green. But of course it didn't work out for everybody, and that will remain a significant restraint.

[@stevenlemieux7220]

Sounds like Alaska Airlines is done with Boeing. I hope Boeing will have a blended wing design. The one that was shown from Boeing looked a little on the homely side.

[@caribbb]

For passengers with window seats turning/banking will be much more pronounced and uncomfortable.. it might be challenging to get mass appeal for the ride in one of these.

[@jmWhyMe]

That design has no v-stab. The B2 AND F117 don't either and require extensive computer control to stabilize them. In commercial flight this is very dicey!

[@carbsrm]

Are those vertical stabilizers on the wingtips?

[@jmWhyMe]

@@carbsrm the just look like winglets, but, possible...

[@Ishmam...28]

Airport structures, interior design won't matter if blended wing concepts bring the 50% efficiency as advertised USAF is also interested in an blended wing tanker aircraft, so with the help of NASA and US military it could successfully takeoff in near future! It would either be a revolution in aviation or it will be just a failed research project.

[@cabottaxi]

Will the doors fall off ?

[@gpaull2]

They will if Alaska Airlines is doing the greasing and maintenance…just like their elevator trim screw jacks.

[@Mark-uh7cr]

No that's a Boeing thing...

[@lastwarning8631]

Jesus Christ, the door is all Boeings fault, it’s Alaska who was the victim, but you all fucks are blaming this shit on Alaska, and I’m fucking tired of it. I don’t hate Boeing nor Alaska, but it’s been months, and yet you think it’s all Alaska’s fault for loosening bolts INSIDE the aircraft, something that Alaska CAN’T do.

[@lastwarning8631]

This door mentioning is also not funny, since it links back to a traumatizing event that made passengers feeling like they would die.

[@matsv201]

@@gpaull2 I wounder if the elevator trim screw jacks was from a company that boeing bought and then took over boeing from the inside.. It would be very intresting to find out if that was the case

[@CraigWelsh-lm3wg]

This whole Blended Wing Body thing is never going to happen. That shape is going to be hard and expensive to manufacture. It's ok for Limited Run Military Aircraft like the B-21 and B-2, but to Mass Produce something like that, would require a whole new construction technology that's going to be a Financial Black Hole for decades. Maybe if multiple aircraft manufacturers come together for a joint effort, then maybe. We will be seeing Tube Fuselages, Wings and big Vertical Stabilisers for a while yet.

[@vinniepeterss]

❤

[@lord-heller647]

I don't like this future.

[@nathanlembke9026]

Omg what is that 🥴

[@Youtub77W]

Current planes look far better than this sh*t

[@philippebarillecavalier9275]

"Ambitious goal of net zero by 2040." It's an airline. If they are on the stock market, SELL.

[@zionismisterrorism8716]

Greenwashing.

[@davidhodgson977]

1st, 2nd, or 3rd, who gives a shit!!!

[@C.I...]

*Aeroplanes

[@philipli4847]

Second comment baby

[@awatercolourist]

Sorry, you’re fourth. But here is a medal for effort: 🏅.

[@Clearedfortakeoff350]

First

[@awatercolourist]

🥇

[@Artisticdesigns924]

third

[@hayleyxyz]

You people are so annoying

[@awatercolourist]

It is with great regret that I have to inform you that you are infact fifth. I recognise that this might come as a shock 😂, so I have taken the liberty of organising a buffet of comfort food just for you: 🍔🌭🌯🍕🍟🍗🧇🥞🍫🍦🍧🍨🍪🍩🍰🎂🫔

[@Swissair_12345e]

Second

[@awatercolourist]

Sorry, you’re third 🥴. But you still get a medal 😊: 🥉.

[@danshorts9490]

Second