NASA's Next-Generation Airplane Concepts 120
faisy writes "NASA has taken the wraps off three concept designs for quiet, energy efficient aircraft that could potentially be ready to fly as soon as 2025. The designs come from Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman and The Boeing Company. In the final months of 2010, each of these companies won a contract from NASA to research and test their concepts during 2011."
/. hm (Score:5, Insightful)
I think we are reaching the end of the internet if this is /.worthy.
Re:Was this story a mistake? (Score:5, Insightful)
In all seriousness, I wonder how much of it is purposeful. Every time there's a blatant spelling error or TFA is irrelevant, what do we as Slashdotters do? We make a fair number of comments which tends to attract attention/page views. This time, the summary didn't even link to the actual article at NASA; TFA was just a re-hashing (almost copy pasta) of the original. The last time, he managed to misspell Photonic despite it being spelled correctly in the copy/paste of the first few sentences of TFA. So either we have a consistent editing problem or a problem of self interest gone awry.
Re:Was this story a mistake? (Score:2, Insightful)
Re:Single Engine Lockheed? (Score:5, Insightful)
Actually, I don't think it does.
Here's [nasa.gov] a larger picture. Notice how the engine is mounted on a fin that does not emerge vertically from the tail of the aircraft. The engine mount comes out of the fuselage at an angle, and then curves up towards the vertical through the space occupied by the engine. If you look at the bottom of the fuselage, you can just make out the edge of a second engine's bluish cowling. It's mounted on the other side, also angled out from the aircraft, but largely obscured by the point of view of the image.
I don't think they chose a very good camera angle for showing off the concept.
Re:Familiarity is important (Score:5, Insightful)
In contrast, a more efficient aircraft has obvious advantages. Even if it's slightly slower, passengers will often pick the cheapest flight even if it's slightly longer. If it's about the same speed, then operators can keep prices the same and make more profits until their competitors try bringing the price down.
Re:Familiarity is important (Score:4, Insightful)
Like a fashion show (Score:4, Insightful)
Airplanes are exactly the same.