What is a flying wing aircraft?

What is a flying wing aircraft?

A flying wing is a tailless fixed-wing aircraft that has no definite fuselage, with its crew, payload, fuel, and equipment housed inside the main wing structure. These types include blended wing body aircraft and lifting body aircraft, which have a fuselage and no definite wings.

Can flying wings go supersonic?

Supersonic Flying Wing Nabs $100,000 from NASA. An aircraft that resembles a four-point ninja star could go into supersonic mode by simply turning 90 degrees in midair. The midair transformation allows the aircraft to fly in its most fuel-efficient modes at both subsonic and supersonic speeds, Zha explained.

Why are flying wings unstable?

The moving CP means that the wing is inherently unstable. This is because it equally opposes the forces made by the unstable wing. Why Flying Wings Don’t Have Stabilizers. Flying wings need a considerable distance between the CP and CG, a lot more so than normal wings on a tradition aircraft with a tail.

What is a lifting body in aviation?

A lifting body is a fixed-wing aircraft or spacecraft configuration in which the body itself produces lift. In contrast to a flying wing, which is a wing with minimal or no conventional fuselage, a lifting body can be thought of as a fuselage with little or no conventional wing.

What is the difference between high wing and low wing airplanes?

The distinctions between high and low wing airplanes are, visually, obvious. High wing aircraft place the wing above the fuselage, the main body of the aircraft, while low wing aircraft place the wing below the fuselage.

What aircraft use fuselage lift?

Vincent Burnelli developed several aircraft between the 1920s and 1950 that used fuselage lift. Like the earlier Bellanca monoplanes, the Short SC.7 Skyvan produces a substantial amount of lift from its fuselage shape, almost as much as the 35\% each of the wings produces.

What is a blended wing body aircraft?

Image above is artist concept of one version of the blended wing body aircraft. The BWB shape allows unique interior designs. Cargo can be loaded or passengers can board from the front or rear of the aircraft. The cargo or passenger area is distributed across the wide fuselage, providing a large usable volume.