The present paper aims to compare two hybrid-electric regional aircraft with different airframe architectures: a box-wing configuration and a conventional tube-and-wing. The choice to design a box-wing aircraft is related to the aerodynamic advantages of such architecture in comparison with other lifting systems. In particular, by designing a box-wing according to the Prandtl’s best wing system concept, it is possible to minimize the induced drag and lower the fuel consumption. For both the configurations, the analyses are carried out considering the same input data, in terms of mission requirements and hybrid-electric technology assumptions (2035 technology level) and adopting the same tools and methods. The main figure of merit of the comparison is the block fuel per passengernm, and the potential advantages of adopting a disruptive airframe such as the box-
PRELIMINARY COMPARISON OF BOX-WING AND TUBE-AND-WING HYBRID-ELECTRIC REGIONAL AIRCRAFT
Giuseppe Palaia
;Karim Abu Salem;Vittorio Cipolla;
2021-01-01
Abstract
The present paper aims to compare two hybrid-electric regional aircraft with different airframe architectures: a box-wing configuration and a conventional tube-and-wing. The choice to design a box-wing aircraft is related to the aerodynamic advantages of such architecture in comparison with other lifting systems. In particular, by designing a box-wing according to the Prandtl’s best wing system concept, it is possible to minimize the induced drag and lower the fuel consumption. For both the configurations, the analyses are carried out considering the same input data, in terms of mission requirements and hybrid-electric technology assumptions (2035 technology level) and adopting the same tools and methods. The main figure of merit of the comparison is the block fuel per passengernm, and the potential advantages of adopting a disruptive airframe such as the box-I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
