Sir - When considering the merits of the shoulder-mounted wing over the more "conventional" low-wing design (Letters, Flight International, 18-24 September, P49), I cannot help thinking that simple aesthetics will decide the outcome.
Ask which is the "nicer" aircraft - the Boeing 747 or the Lockheed-Martin C-5A, and I am sure that most people would opt for the 747.
Putting that aside, I would suggest a compromise solution. Build the future large Airbus aircraft with both wings. Mount the engines between the upper and lower wings and join the wingtips to form a box section. The result would easily fit in the 80m (260ft) box, so airport ramps and hangars need not be altered. A catchy slogan for the marketing men might be "Go bi-bus".
I wonder if it will catch on?
R A PEACOCK
Berlin, Germany
Source: Flight International
