Airbus unveils prototype model which could change face of industry
Aircraft manufacturer Airbus has revealed a prototype which could lead to more efficient and environmentally-friendly craft of the future.
The group, which employs more than 6,000 staff at its wing-making plant in Broughton, near Chester, unveiled MAVERIC (Model Aircraft for Validation and Experimentation of Robust Innovative Controls) its ‘blended wing body’ scale model technological demonstrator, today at the Singapore Air Show.
At two metres long and 3.2 metres wide, with a surface area of about 2.25m², MAVERIC features a disruptive aircraft design, that has the potential to reduce fuel consumption by up to 20% compared with current single-aisle aircraft.
The ‘blended wing body’ configuration also opens up new possibilities for propulsion systems type and integration, as well as a versatile cabin for a totally new on-board passenger experience.
Launched in 2017, MAVERIC first took to the skies in June 2019.
Since then the flight-test campaign has been ongoing and will continue until the end of the second quarter of this year.
“Airbus is leveraging emerging technologies to pioneer the future of flight,” said Jean-Brice Dumont, EVP engineering Airbus.
“By testing disruptive aircraft configurations, Airbus is able to evaluate their potential as viable future products.
“Although there is no specific time line for entry-into-service, this technological demonstrator could be instrumental in bringing about change in commercial aircraft architectures for an environmentally-sustainable future for the aviation industry.”
Airbus is using its core strengths and capabilities of engineering and manufacturing, in close collaboration with an extended innovation ecosystem, to accelerate traditional research and development cycles.
By doing this Airbus is able to achieve proof of concepts, at a convincing scale and speed, thereby driving forward maturity and increasing their value.
