Shulou(Shulou.com)11/24 Report--

CTOnews.com, May 26 (Xinhua)-- "wing-body fusion" is a hot design direction for future aircraft in recent years, that is, "the wing is also part of the cabin", so it can provide more fuselage space to carry more passengers and reduce the cost of commercial flights.

A few days ago, a prototype of Natilus's wing-body fusion "Kona" cargo aircraft is being tested for a 1/4 scale model in California.

According to officials, the Kona is currently being built at full size and is planned to be the largest commercial UAV in the world, with a wingspan of 85 feet (26 meters), is designed to take off from a runway as short as 800m, can carry 3.8t payloads with fuel engines, has a range of 1035 miles (1667 km) and is expected to start flying in 2024.

▲ Touyuan Natilus website Natilus claims that with its huge internal capacity and lift-generating fuselage shape, the aircraft can fundamentally reduce the cost of short-haul cargo flights and carry 60% more cargo than conventional aircraft of the same size, thus reducing the cost per pound of cargo and cargo emissions by about half.

As Zeroavia joins the "Kona" aircraft development program, the "Kona" aircraft will add an additional zero-emission version, and as part of the partnership, Zeroavia will provide a hydrogen electric power system called "ZA-600".

For clean flights, aircraft with hydrogen power systems are lighter than current "pure electric" aircraft, but the hydrogen power system means taking up more space. therefore, it is more suitable for this kind of wing-body fusion "with more space" aircraft.

Zeroavia has previously tested the power system on the side of a 19-seat Dornier 228, the largest hydrogen-powered aircraft on its first takeoff. Zeroavia says its goal is to be certified by 2025 and to power clean commercial flights.

Welcome to subscribe "Shulou Technology Information " to get latest news, interesting things and hot topics in the IT industry, and controls the hottest and latest Internet news, technology news and IT industry trends.