KLM's V-shaped airplane ready to fly in next two decades

KLM, the Dutch airline company reportedly is ready to fund the development of a new futuristic aircraft design. The concept features a V-shaped aircraft, where passengers can sit comfortably in those unique aircraft cabin. This aircraft design was then given the name 'Flying-V Plane'.

This new fuel effficient V-shaped plane named Flying-V will change air travel in the future. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/2ZiCzF2)

As qouted from CNN on Tuesday, June 11, 2019, the name of the aircraft was taken from the name of the Gibson Flying V electric guitar which happened to have a shape similar to the aircraft. 

And the Gibson Flying V guitar is known to have been used by many well-known musicians ranging from Jimi Hendrix, Keith Richards, and many others.

The Flying-V plane design was conceived by Justus Benad, who was a student at the Technical University of Berlin then developed by researcher at the Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/2ZiCzF2)

The aircraft design integrates a passenger cabin that can accommodate up to 314 passengers in it, cargo space and fuel tank on the wing, and creates an unusual V-shape. With a branched cabin resembles the 'V' letter and each equipped with a turbofan engine, the aircraft design is claimed to be able to save fuel up to 20 percent when compared to Airbus A350-900 aircraft.

The Flying-V design with a branched cabin resembles the 'V' letter and each equipped with a turbofan engine. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/2ZiCzF2)

Although the shape is different from other aircraft, the aircraft's wingspan is the same as the wingspan of an Airbus A350-900 aircraft. So that it allows the airport to accept these aircraft arrival same as another plane in general without the need to reconfigure or change the airport's ground facillity. 

The initial design of this aircraft was conceived by a student at the Technical University of Berlin named Justus Benad. The design was then developed by researchers at the Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands..

The Flying-V aircraft design allows the airport to accept its arrival as same as another plane in general without the need to reconfigure or change in airport's ground facillity. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/2ZiCzF2)

Project Leader of TU Delft, Roelof Vos said that this innovation was needed, especially to achieve greater efficiency while researchers developed technology for large-scale electric aircraft. Because, aircraft with less fuel will certainly also produce less pollution.

Pieter Elbers, CEO and President of KLM says, "In the past few years, KLM has developed as a pioneer in sustainability in the aviation industry. We are proud of the collaborative relationship between KLM and TU Delft which serves as an important milestone in efforts to improve sustainable flights."

The researchers hope they will be able to fly the Flying-V in September this year. While the unique aircraft cabin mock-up design will be shown to the public at Amsterdam's Schipol Airport in October 2019 as KLM's 100th anniversary celebration.

While for commercial use, the Flying-V is expected to be operational in the upcoming 2040 and 2050. Vos also revealed that the Flying-V design still requires rigorous testing. While in terms of the interior design of this aircraft, KLM is ready to release it next year. Let's wait for further news. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | CNN | THE WONDERFUL ENGINEERING]

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