NASA has awarded a third contract for studies designed to identify advanced concepts for airliners that could enter service in 2025.
Boeing received a contract worth $5.29 million from the agency as it looks to enhance the goals of the "N+2" research and demonstration programme.
A key objective of N+2 research is to meet NASA's noise, emissions and fuel burn reduction goals for the 2025 timeframe on a single aircraft.
The Boeing team will define a system concept for an aircraft that can achieve speeds up to 0.85M, cover a range of nearly 7,000m (11,265km) and carry payload between 22,679 and 45,359kg (50,000 and 100,000lb), says NASA.
The project is working to develop a technology that would enable future aircraft to burn 50% less fuel than today's most efficient models, with 50% fewer harmful emissions; and to shrink the size of geographic areas affected by objectionable airport noise by 83%, NASA adds.
Source: Air Transport Intelligence news
