A new plane has been born (not literally, of course): the Flying-V! This aircraft may just be the future of flight, as it is highly energy-efficient for long distance travel, using 20 percent less fuel than today’s most advanced aircraft due to its aerodynamic shape and reduced weight. KLM is the partner and financer of the Flying-V.

The future of flight?

The Flying-V was originally thought up by Justus Benad, a student at TU Berlin, and then developed by researchers from the Delft University of Technology (TU Delft). The innovative design incorporates the passenger cabin, cargo and fuel tanks into the wings. Additionally, whilst the plane is not as long as the most advanced aircraft of today- the Airbus A350- it carries about the same amount of cargo and passengers, 160m3 and 314 respectively.

According to Dr. Roelof Vos, Project Leader at TU Delft, as the aircraft has less inflow surface compared to the available amount of volume, there is less resistance, meaning that the Flying-V needs less fuel than the A350 for the same distance. Researchers will present a flying prototype in October of this year to test whether the Flying-V remains stable when operating at low speeds, such as during the take-off and landing.

During KLM’s 100th anniversary celebrations in October, a mock-up of the new cabin design will also be open to the public at Schiphol Airport. The aircraft itself is expected to come into use between 2040 and 2050.

Reducing pollution in aviation

At the moment, global aviation is responsible for 2,5 percent of total CO2 emissions, and this number is set to increase, as passengers fly further and more frequently each year. In order to tackle the growing CO2 emissions problem, last year, the Dutch aviation sector presented the Minister of Infrastructure and Water Management with an action plan for making aviation more sustainable. With this plan, the goal is to decrease the Dutch aviation’s CO2 emissions by 35 percent by the end of 2030.