Boeing has refined the designs of tilt-wing Advanced Theatre Transport (ATT) and flying-wing Blended Wing Body (BWB) aircraft being studied for future US military requirements.
The ultra-short take-off and landing ATT has been redesigned with a forward-swept wing to increase centre of gravity range and improve loading flexibility. The new design features a longer, Boeing C-17-style fuselage and small horizontal tail, but no fin. The original ATT design was tailless, with an aft-swept wing.
The ATT is designed to operate from a 230m (750ft) unprepared airstrip carrying a 27,000kg (60,000lb) payload. The design is being proposed to transport the Future Combat System of lightweight armoured vehicles being studied by the US Army and Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency.
The latest iteration of Boeing's BWB is a tanker/transport variant which is being studied under the US Department of Defense's analysis of alternatives for replacement of its Boeing KC-135 fleet. The twin-turbofan aircraft has two US Air Force-style refuelling booms mounted mid-span and two US Navy-style hose drum pods outboard.
While Boeing is also offering a KC-767 tanker/transport derivative of its 767 commercial airliner, the BWB is a candidate should the DoD decide to delay replacing the KC-135. The dual booms would allow the USAF to provide the same refuelling capability with fewer aircraft.
Boeing is flying a small-scale remote-control BWB demonstrator, and is building an 11m-span model to test low-speed handling qualities. The company has also produced a 7% scale flying model of the ATT, which will be modified to reflect the new configuration.
Source: Flight International