Since 2010, The Boeing Company, together with the aeronautical experts at NASA, have been developing an efficient form of high-set wing which has evolved to become the centerpiece of Boeing's "Transonic Truss-Braced Wing" (TTBW) concept. The wing is intended as a high-efficiency alternative to modern monoplane designs, potentially able to fly higher and faster than such types if proven. The TTBW has seen consistent and progressive refinement since it was first showcased and may very well mark the future of civilian airspace powered flight.
The latest Boeing artist's impression of the aircraft in 2019 sees a fuselage component and tail unit not unlike that of the existing Model 737 or MD-80 airliner. The most noticeable difference becomes the forward-set, shoulder-mounted, high-aspect-ratio wing mainplanes of reduced drag which are seated high along the fuselage sides and further braced by a truss supporting plane emanating from the low sides of the fuselage. Nacelled engines are underslung at each wing mainplane - and these may end up as hybrid-electric engines to maximum fuel efficiency over range. The flight deck and tricycle undercarriage (retractable) are all in their usual place in the Boeing jet airliner design.
Currently (2019) the mainplanes have a span of 170 feet and are of an ultra-thin chord to promote exceptional aerodynamic efficiency - as such the thin wings require the presence of the supporting truss members which enable such a slim wing to be used. The truss sections have thicker chord near the fuselage and taper towards the ends meeting the underside of the mainplanes. Due to their extended span over that of conventional airliner wings, the TTBW's mainplanes are set to have a wing-folding feature to better operate at modern airport terminals. The wings have already been tested in a NASA wind tunnel.
The original TTBW design promoted speeds in the range of Mach 0.70 to 0.75 - the new wings make speeds of 0.80 possible according to estimates.
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January 2023 - NASA has selected the Boeing TTBW design for its Sustainable Flight Demonstrator (SFD) requirement.
(OPERATORS list includes past, present, and future operators when applicable)
✓Commercial Aviation
Used in roles serving the commercial aviation market, ferrying both passengers and goods over range.
✓X-Plane (Developmental, Prototype, Technology Demonstrator)
Aircraft developed for the role of prototyping, technology demonstration, or research / data collection.
Length
93.5 ft (28.50 m)
Width/Span
169.9 ft (51.80 m)
Height
37.1 ft (11.30 m)
Empty Wgt
61,729 lb (28,000 kg)
MTOW
110,231 lb (50,000 kg)
Wgt Diff
+48,502 lb (+22,000 kg)
(Showcased structural values pertain to the base Boeing Transonic Truss-Braced Wing (TTBW) production variant)
monoplane / high-mounted / swept-back
Monoplane
Design utilizes a single primary wing mainplane; this represent the most popular mainplane arrangement.
High-Mounted
Mainplanes are mounted at the upper-most position allowable along the dorsal line of the fuselage.
Swept-Back
The planform features wing sweep back along the leading edges of the mainplane, promoting higher operating speeds.
(Structural descriptors pertain to the base Boeing Transonic Truss-Braced Wing (TTBW) production variant)
(Showcased performance specifications pertain to the base Boeing Transonic Truss-Braced Wing (TTBW) production variant. Performance specifications showcased above are subject to environmental factors as well as aircraft configuration. Estimates are made when Real Data not available. Compare this aircraft entry against any other in our database or View aircraft by powerplant type)
None.
Supported Types
(Not all ordnance types may be represented in the showcase above)
Transonic Truss-Braced Wing (TTBW) - Base Project Name.
Ribbon graphics not necessarily indicative of actual historical campaign ribbons. Ribbons are clickable to their respective aerial campaigns / operations / aviation periods.
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Image from Boeing Creative Services; released to the Public.
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