Boeing's new hypersonic aircraft concept

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2018 hypersonic aircraft concept

Boeing continues research into hypersonic aircraft and shows new results. A few days ago, she presented for the first time materials on the next concept of a reusable hypersonic aircraft, potentially suitable for use in the military sphere. However, so far we are talking only about the most general ideas and solutions, the development of which will take a lot of time and effort.

Hypersonic program


It should be recalled that Boeing has been dealing with the subject of hypersonic aircraft for a long time, and new steps have been taken in this direction in recent years. New technologies are being worked out, the necessary materials are being searched, and various units and assemblies are being created. In particular, since 2016 Boeing and Orbital ATK have been jointly developing a promising air-jet engine for hypersonic aircraft.



In January 2018, at the SciTech Forum and Exposition of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA), Boeing first showed a mockup of its Valkyrie hypersonic aircraft. This concept involved the construction of an unmanned vehicle with a large sweep wing and a twin-engine power plant. The design characteristics were not disclosed.


A new version of a promising aircraft

The Valkyrie project naturally attracted attention. It was considered independently and in comparison with other modern developments in the hypersonic sphere. However, as it became clear later, the concept from the 2018 exhibition was not implemented in its current form. At the same time, his main ideas were developed and led to the emergence of another similar project.

A new version of the hypersonic aircraft from Boeing was presented a few days ago at the next AIAA conference. Photos of the exhibition layout and fragmentary information about the project appeared in the specialized media. It is reported that the new concept appeared as a result of the development of a previously shown project. The updated design is "more realistic" and is being created with an eye to military and space applications.

The development company then posted a short commentary on the goals and objectives of the project. They also showed a computer image of the new aircraft in flight. According to official data, the mock-up shows a new design concept for a hypersonic reusable aircraft designed to solve various military tasks. Other details, incl. tactical and technical characteristics are not disclosed.

Features of the appearance


The new exhibition layout differs markedly from the previous one and has several interesting features. It is made according to the integrated tailless scheme without a pronounced fuselage, but with protruding engine nacelles. The use of arrow-shaped consoles and collapsed keels is envisaged. The coloring of the mock-up shows that the skin should be made of different materials: nose, keels and steering surfaces differ in color and, probably, withstand stress during flight.


Layout on display at the AIAA. The shape of the wing and the "ledge" of the leading edge are clearly visible

To create lift, the aircraft must use an integral fuselage and wing. The fuselage has an ogive leading edge, an almost flat bottom and a curved top surface. The wing consoles have variable sweep. Curiously, the leading edges of the fuselage and the console are not connected to each other. Why such a "ledge" is needed is unclear.

The power plant of the aircraft consists of two air-jet engines and is located in the tail. Used two separate gondolas, the main part of which "hangs" under the fuselage. In this case, the tail section of the nacelle, made in the form of a cone-shaped unit, protrudes beyond the fuselage.

The type and characteristics of the engines are not specified. A combined jet engine should probably be used. In sub- and supersonic modes, it will operate on the principle of a turbojet, and for further acceleration it will be able to use a direct-flow cycle. It is this design that has been worked out over the past several years.

In flight control should be carried out in an aerodynamic manner. The aircraft has elevons on the wing and an elevator between the nacelles. All-turning keels were probably used.


There is no pronounced lantern on the layout. This fact, as well as the features of the previous project, suggest that an unmanned aerial vehicle is being created. However, details on this account are not given.

The development company mentions the possibility of using the new aircraft in the military or rocket-space sphere. The appearance of the presented layout does not allow us to accurately determine the potential tasks for the aircraft in these areas. However, at the current stage, the layout is not obliged to disclose all the technical and operational features of the future full-fledged aircraft.

Similarities and differences


Thus, at intervals of four years, Boeing has presented two hypersonic aircraft concepts. It makes sense to compare the older Valkyrie to the new display item and find differences in their design. This will show how Boeing's hypersonic program has evolved in recent years, what ideas were found, and which they decided to abandon.

In general terms, the two aircraft variants are similar. They are built on an integrated circuit, have a load-bearing fuselage, swept consoles, two keels and a twin-engine power plant. At the same time, general ideas are implemented in different ways.


The old version of the airframe had a pronounced "hump" of the fuselage, and now the airframe gets smooth contours. Previously, the leading edge of the wing was continuous and did not have a "ledge" between the fuselage and the console. "Valkyrie" received a common large engine nacelle, which had air intakes with a central wedge. In the new project, the engines were smashed into separate nacelles, shifted to the tail.

Apparently, the observed changes in the airframe indicate the optimization of the aerodynamic appearance in order to solve the existing problems and improve the overall flight characteristics. In particular, the rejection of protruding parts of the fuselage may indicate a reduction in air resistance and a decrease in mechanical and thermal loads. At the same time, such modifications reduce the internal volume of the aircraft.

A radical rearrangement of the propulsion system and nacelles could pursue the same goals. In addition, some benefits should be provided by the removal of the nozzle apparatus for the tail edge of the fuselage and the use of new fairings.

It should be noted that comparison of the two mock-ups makes it possible to evaluate only the processes of development of the airframe and aerodynamic appearance. Obviously, Boeing is also working on improving the internal equipment of a promising aircraft, but details of this kind remain unknown.


Original engine nozzles

In the process of development


Thus, Boeing continues research and development work in the field of hypersonic aircraft. One of the main projects of this kind involves the creation of a full-size aircraft with high flight performance and the ability to perform a wide range of tasks.

From the available data, it follows that at the moment this direction is at the stage of research and search for optimal solutions, technologies, etc. This allows you to work out and demonstrate various concepts, but the development of a full-fledged project remains a matter of the future. Accordingly, the construction and testing of a full-fledged prototype aircraft is postponed indefinitely.

Despite the insufficient technical and technological maturity of its hypersonic program, Boeing has already decided on the areas of application of future technology. The armed forces are considered as a potential customer for a promising aircraft or UAV, and the reasons for this are obvious. Only the Air Force will be able to fully use the potential of a hypersonic aircraft, and in addition, only the Pentagon is able to provide the financial, organizational and other support necessary to complete such a complex project.

Thus, the new layout from the recent exhibition should not only show the developments and capabilities of Boeing, but also attract the attention of the Pentagon. The fate of the entire program may depend on the success of the latter undertaking. If it receives full support from the military, then the next version of the concept will not have to wait four years, and then a full-fledged prototype aircraft will appear. However, we should not exclude another scenario, in which Boeing's hypersonic projects will yield to competitors' developments and will not be able to advance beyond exhibitions.
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  1. 0
    11 January 2022 06: 04
    They really need high-speed transport-USA -Japan, Australia, Europe all these routes over the ocean and the sonic boom of only fish and eyeliners worries .. So you can see another aspect - whatever a person does, it turns out a weapon and a special case, a hypersonic transcontinental - bomber we would look good
    1. -7
      11 January 2022 06: 30
      Yesterday, not only everyone can watch ..
      If that they already had a Concord .. Development did not receive for some reason
      1. +4
        11 January 2022 07: 02
        Economically it was not profitable. He ate a lot of fuel, carried little, required expensive pre- and post-flight service. It was expensive even for businessmen, under whom it was actually gash. The funny thing is that the project was killed by the development of telecommunications, and not aviation competitors.
        1. 0
          11 January 2022 14: 19
          Communications, in general, made some of the travels not so profitable ..... and, sometimes, you can fly at night, sleep and work in the morning.
      2. -1
        11 January 2022 13: 52
        Concorde and so on cost insane money in service, and only sheikhs were ready to fly so quickly. The rest of the people are willing to pay less money and fly longer.
        The main gag of all fast transport is in the price, when cheap planes are created, then there will be a benefit. I am sure that Boeing will not do anything further than the model, he has a war there with Airbus, which he is losing this year.
    2. 0
      11 January 2022 11: 15
      Quote: Siberian54
      They really need high-speed transport-USA -Japan, Australia, Europe all these routes over the ocean and the sonic boom of only fish and eyeliners worries .. So you can see another aspect - whatever a person does, it turns out a weapon and a special case, a hypersonic transcontinental - bomber we would look good


      Not sure.
      Supersonic passenger airplanes have actually ruined the development of communications and the Internet in particular.
      What is happening now in the IT sector is practically nullifying the need for civilian super- and hyper-sonic aircraft.
      The cost of the flight will be tens, if not hundreds of times higher.
      1. -2
        11 January 2022 18: 59
        It will not be, since the main flight will take place on a scramjet engine, takeoff and acceleration on a scramjet engine, especially since the Concorde and Tu 144 created materials, the design and test systems have gone far ahead, new production technologies such as additive technologies have appeared - and that communications develop tourism, then by to the world, as air cargo transportation has not gone anywhere, it will develop and the speed of transportation will become decisive.
  2. -3
    11 January 2022 06: 14
    The idea is interesting, but so far it is only an idea. Too great risks for passengers may arise from a lack of suitable materials and insufficient testing of hypersonic (reusable) technology.
    1. +1
      11 January 2022 06: 32
      - Until the full cycle of various tests of this aircraft is completed, no one will put passengers in it ...
  3. +2
    11 January 2022 07: 19
    The story goes in a spiral and here it is another round of the cycle. I recommend all those interested to be curious about the developments of the mid-50s and in the flesh until the end of the 60s. Pay attention to the work of the Myasishchev Design Bureau, in particular to the M-19 project. Most likely, the idea will return again, at a new technical level, of course. One of our MiG-31 pilots was once asked by journalists what altitude this device could rise to. He replied: In a jump it can rise up to 70 km (the near boundary of space, if anything) without any problems, then there is a problem to return it back.
    PS: I mean that overclocking technologies exist for a long time.
    1. 0
      11 January 2022 11: 17
      Quote: shinobi
      The story goes in a spiral and here it is another round of the cycle. I recommend all those interested to be curious about the developments of the mid-50s and in the flesh until the end of the 60s. Pay attention to the work of the Myasishchev Design Bureau, in particular to the M-19 project. Most likely, the idea will return again, at a new technical level, of course. One of our MiG-31 pilots was once asked by journalists what altitude this device could rise to. He replied: In a jump it can rise up to 70 km (the near boundary of space, if anything) without any problems, then there is a problem to return it back.
      PS: I mean that overclocking technologies exist for a long time.

      For several years Rolls-Royce has been testing its engine, just universal, for the future hypersound.
      1. +1
        12 January 2022 07: 19
        Not the first attempt, nor the last. Versatility is generally difficult to achieve.
  4. -1
    11 January 2022 12: 44
    Even in open information there is information that when switching to supersonic, the pilot is experiencing loads on the control mechanisms for stabilizing the relative position of the aircraft. Hypersonic speeds multiply these physical processes. Therefore, it is obvious that this design is not viable. It will experience very strong torsional moments of the hull in a certain place, which will at least lead to the destruction of the wing elements. Tritely, this physical process is expressed in how the water flow transforms from a linear motion vector to a completely circular rotation.
  5. +1
    11 January 2022 18: 51
    Quote: gridasov
    even in open information there is information that when switching to supersonic, the pilot is experiencing stress on the control mechanisms for stabilizing the relative position of the aircraft.

    - All this is done by automatic equipment, the pilot does not experience any additional loads today.
    Hypersonic speeds multiply these physical processes.

    - Hypersonic speeds multiply one process - the kinetic heating of the structure and the need for heat removal.
    Therefore, it is obvious that this design is not viable.

    - Yes, nothing is "obvious" to you. Tryndite what you have no idea about.
    It will experience very strong torsional moments of the hull in a certain place, which will at least lead to the destruction of the wing elements.

    - Another stupid chatter of a dilettante - just to write something.
    Tritely, this physical process is expressed in how the water flow transforms from a linear motion vector to a completely circular rotation.

    - And this is just crazy absurd nonsense.
    1. -2
      11 January 2022 20: 19
      I am very sorry that you do not see the algorithms of the process. The heating stage always ends with a plasma breakdown and rupture of the circuit.
      1. AAK
        +1
        11 January 2022 23: 23
        Colleague, EMNIP, in the Soviet project of the Ajax hypersonic apparatus, the issue of preventing skin overheating was worked out in detail ... then this apparatus was briefly mentioned in the documentary series "Shock Force", but for 10 years there is practically no information on it
        1. -2
          11 January 2022 23: 41
          Thanks for the comment. The fact that there is no information and this speaks of an unsolvable problem and even no ideas. And the problem and its solution lie primarily in the understanding of the algorithms for the development of the process, at least until the destruction of aircraft structures. Whoever solves this problem will be the leader, possibly for hundreds of years, since both theoretical and practical solutions will be based on the fundamental foundations of knowledge. Therefore, any ideas irritate the so-called specialists.
  6. 0
    11 January 2022 18: 53
    Quote: shinobi
    Economically it was not profitable. He ate a lot of fuel, carried little, required expensive pre- and post-flight service. It was expensive even for businessmen, under whom it was actually gash. The funny thing is that the project was killed by the development of telecommunications, and not aviation competitors.

    “The Concorde has flown 25 years, carried 3.5 MILLION passengers and has always been cost-effective. If not for that catastrophe, he would have flown to this day, there was a constant demand for him - for that number of aircraft made.
  7. AAK
    0
    11 January 2022 23: 18
    Apparatuses of similar design were described back in the early 90s in the "Foreign Military Review" as a concept of a strategic reconnaissance aircraft (project "Aurora"), and even then they wrote about this apparatus as being built and being tested ...
    1. 0
      11 January 2022 23: 57
      The Americans are very actively considering a variety of ways to solve the problem of flying at hyper speeds. Including the possibility of creating a plasma shell around the body. And I say this as a completely obvious fact, since I myself propose a solution to this problem.
  8. +2
    12 January 2022 01: 28
    Quote: gridasov
    I am very sorry that you do not see the algorithms of the process. The heating stage always ends with a plasma breakdown and rupture of the circuit.

    - Enough pseudo-scientific flogging nonsense ?!
  9. -2
    12 January 2022 23: 09
    Quote: gridasov
    Including the possibility of creating a plasma shell around the body. And I say this as a completely obvious fact, since I myself propose a solution to this problem.

    I apologize wildly, but to whom are you talking and suggesting?
  10. -2
    12 January 2022 23: 10
    Quote: Outsider
    Enough pseudo-scientific flogging nonsense ?!

    Are you sorry or what? lol
  11. 0
    April 4 2022 21: 03
    Just nonsense. Let them immediately carry on rockets. Firstly, the fuel consumption is simply gigantic (yes, it will take as much to accelerate as the liner spends on the entire flight), further, acceleration and deceleration: either long-term (back and forth), or with huge overloads, then how to control it almost in airless space, and finally: how will it slow down from hypersonic speed to supersonic, falling and using the atmosphere as a brake? In short, if done, it will be a huge barrel of fuel and terrible takeoff and landing characteristics.

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