MIT Designs Aircraft That Uses 70% Less Fuel Than Conventional Planes

[samh004]

Ugliest looking planes I’ve ever seen, but:

Today a team of researchers at MIT unveiled their design for an airplane that uses 70% less fuel than conventional aircraft. The MIT design comes thanks to a NASA-funded initiative to increase fuel efficiency, lower emissions, and allow planes to take off on shorter runways. The team accomplished all of NASA's set goals with their innovative D-series plane, lovingly referred to as the 'double bubble,' which has thinner, longer wings and a smaller tail, and engine placement at the rear of the plane instead of on the wings.

MIT Team Unveils Airplane that Uses 70 Percent Less Fuel | Inhabitat - Green Design Will Save the World

http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2010/nplus3-0517.html

 

[Jeffrey O'Neill]

So we'll all be on wide body aircraft even on short haul :mrgreen:

Somehow i think it's name will get shortened to the Double Bee

Yet airlines willstill argue that even wit a 50% reduction in fuel burn they need to raise the fuel surchage on your $29 ticket to $200

 

[Flying Fox]

The D series doesn't look very attractive to me but I'd still fly it.

I like the look of the H series.

 

[medhead]

Somehow i think it's name will get shortened to the Double Bee

So Lufthansa wasn't too far wrong in calling their new plane Queen Bee.