Lockheed LFC

Lockheed under a grant from NASA Langley Research Center, is developing the initial design for a "global" transport plane. The technology being studied in laminar flow experiments is the flying wing. Lockheed envisions a stubby-bodied, rear-propfan-driven aircraft with winglets that could carry 150,000 pounds of cargo 6000 miles nonstop. The counter rotating props could develop enough power to give the craft a mach 0.8 cruise speed. The wing design is the real key. Initial concepts call for a 227.2-ft wingspan, on a 125-ft long, 23.3-ft-high body.

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Laminar flow technology is particularly attractive for large planes flying long distances (more than 10,000 miles at high altitudes). One such NASA [Lockheed] concept includes split wing tips to reduce vortex drag. The 410-foot-long, high-aspect-ratio (long, thin) wings are supported by flying-buttress-like struts from the fuselage. Wings, struts, tail, engine nacelles, and wing-tip fuel nacelles are all designed for laminar-flow control. The long thin wings give this plane a lift-to-drag ratio of 48:1.

Laminar flow technology would add weight. Production and maintenance costs would increase because additional care would be required to create and preserve very smooth, clean surfaces. But the reduced fuel consumption--up to 29 percent--should offset these problems.

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