Boeing Spanloader Aircraft Designs

[hesham]

Thank you Lastivska.

 

[Viper2000]

The 4 NASA reports mentioned above are no longer accessible from the NASA site. You can access copies of them via the Wayback Machine archive here:

https://web.archive.org/web/20100510214345if_/http://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/19770026203_1977026203.pdf

https://web.archive.org/web/20100518065224if_/http://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/19760018069_1976018069.pdf

https://web.archive.org/web/20100520101135if_/http://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/19800012833_1980012833.pdf

https://web.archive.org/web/20100527065106if_/http://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/19780021103_1978021103.pdf

The reports are still available, but the links have changed because NASA have changed their URL structure.

e.g. the direct link to the first report is now:

https://ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/19770026203/downloads/19770026203.pdf

Note the actual number in the URL is the same as in the old format.

https://ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/19770026203/downloads/19770026203.pdf

There is also a shorter link which points to a landing page:

https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/19770026203

Again, the number in the URL is the preserved.

Here are the four links:

Technical and economic assessment of swept-wing span-distributed load concepts for civil and military air cargo transports - NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

The feasibility of large freighter aircraft was assessed, including the impact of military requirements on the performance, economics, and fuel consumption characteristics. Only configurations having net payloads of 272,155 to 544,311 kilograms contained within swept wings of constant chord were...

ntrs.nasa.gov

Technical and economic assessment of span-distributed loading cargo aircraft concepts - NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

A preliminary design study of the performance and economics resulting from the application of the distributed load concept to large freighter aircraft was made. The study was limited to configurations having the payload entirely contained in unswept wings of constant chord with conventional tail...

ntrs.nasa.gov

Parametric study of variation in cargo-airplane performance related to progression from current to spanloader designs - NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

A parametric analysis was made to investigate the relationship between current cargo airplanes and possible future designs that may differ greatly in both size and configuration. The method makes use of empirical scaling laws developed from statistical studies of data from current and advanced...

ntrs.nasa.gov

CTOL Transport Technology, 1978 - NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Technology associated with advanced conventional takeoff and landing transport aircraft is discussed. Topics covered include: advanced aerodynamics and active controls; operations and safety; and advanced systems. Emphasis is placed on increased energy efficiency.

ntrs.nasa.gov

However, it is always best to quote the actual report number (which for the first report is NASA CR 145229) because if / when NASA change their link structure again, searching for this report number is likely to remain robust.

 

[hesham]

In the 1970s, Boeing studied the concept of a "distributed load freighter," a six-engined giant designed to carry containerized freight at a much lower cost per pound then was possible at the time. In the concept pictured here, the payload would be carried in two pods, one on each wing, each 26 feet in diameter and 150 feet long. The pods could be removed and replaced, whether empty or full, within minutes, and could be used to carry almost anything. Because of its landing gear width, it would operate only from airfields dedicated to air freight.

From Winged Wonders,

with more descriptions.

 

[hesham]

From Aviation magazine 1972.

 

[publiusr]

Now, the rugged metal shipping containers-though heavy-might they serve as a wingbox if linked-landing gear under them with a simi circular fairing such that the wheels are always down. The plane is something the cargo puts on-and itself towed away in parts?

 

[hesham]

From this report.

 

[hesham]

From my dear Cy-27 Russian site;


here is the Boeing Spanloader aircraft.

Another twin-fuselage.