NASA N+3 Program Concepts

[Triton]

NASA recently completed the N+3 program for advanced concepts and technologies for airliners that would go into service in the 2030-35 timeframe. The program studied both subsonic and supersonic airliners. The goal of the subsonic program was to reduce fuel burn by 70%, NOx emissions 75% and airport noise 71dB by 2030-35. Four teams participated in the study: Boeing, Northrop Grumman, The Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and General Electric/Cessna.

Source: http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/blogs/aviation_week/on_space_and_technology/index.jsp?plckController=Blog&plckBlogPage=BlogViewPost&newspaperUserId=a68cb417-3364-4fbf-a9dd-4feda680ec9c&plckPostId=Blog%3Aa68cb417-3364-4fbf-a9dd-4feda680ec9cPost%3Ac906b912-4f2d-4e83-8331-ed59fa188034&plckScript=blogScript&plckElementId=blogDest

 

[Triton]

Boeing Research and Technology named its team SUGAR (Subsonic Ultra Green Aircraft Research)

Boeing Research and Technology final presentation
URL: http://aviationweek.typepad.com/files/boeing_sugar_phase_i_final_review_v5.pdf

Artist's impression of Boeing Refined SUGAR (Design 765-094) concept.

Artist's impression of Boeing SUGAR High (Design 765-095) concept.

Artist's impression of Boeing SUGAR Volt (Design 765-096) concept.

Artist's impression of Boeing SUGAR Ray (Design 765-097) concept.

Artist's impression of Boeing SUGAR Volt (Design 765-096) concept.

Artist's impression of Boeing SUGAR High (Design 765-095) concept

Sources:
http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/blogs/aviation_week/on_space_and_technology/index.jsp?plckController=Blog&plckBlogPage=BlogViewPost&newspaperUserId=a68cb417-3364-4fbf-a9dd-4feda680ec9c&plckPostId=Blog%3Aa68cb417-3364-4fbf-a9dd-4feda680ec9cPost%3Ac906b912-4f2d-4e83-8331-ed59fa188034&plckScript=blogScript&plckElementId=blogDest

http://www.nasa.gov/topics/aeronautics/features/future_airplanes.html

http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/blogs/aviation_week/on_space_and_technology/index.jsp?plckController=Blog&plckScript=blogScript&plckElementId=blogDest&plckBlogPage=BlogViewPost&plckPostId=Blog%3Aa68cb417-3364-4fbf-a9dd-4feda680ec9cPost%3Aa2976f0d-8632-490b-b58f-0aed33b6a73d

 

[Triton]

Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation named its team SELECT (Silent, Efficient, Low-Emissions Commercial Transport).

Northrop Grumman's final presentation
URL: http://aviationweek.typepad.com/files/northrop_grumman_final.pdf

Source:
http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/blogs/aviation_week/on_space_and_technology/index.jsp?plckController=Blog&plckBlogPage=BlogViewPost&newspaperUserId=a68cb417-3364-4fbf-a9dd-4feda680ec9c&plckPostId=Blog%3Aa68cb417-3364-4fbf-a9dd-4feda680ec9cPost%3Ac906b912-4f2d-4e83-8331-ed59fa188034&plckScript=blogScript&plckElementId=blogDest


http://blogs.crikey.com.au/planetalking/2010/05/20/five-amazing-airliners-for-the-future/

 

[Triton]

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)

MIT final presentation
http://aviationweek.typepad.com/files/mit_n3_final_presentation.pdf


Artist's impression of MIT D8.5.

Artist's impression of MIT H3.2 based on their Silent Aircraft Initiative.

Sources:
http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/blogs/aviation_week/on_space_and_technology/index.jsp?plckController=Blog&plckBlogPage=BlogViewPost&newspaperUserId=a68cb417-3364-4fbf-a9dd-4feda680ec9c&plckPostId=Blog%3Aa68cb417-3364-4fbf-a9dd-4feda680ec9cPost%3Ac906b912-4f2d-4e83-8331-ed59fa188034&plckScript=blogScript&plckElementId=blogDest

http://www.nasa.gov/topics/aeronautics/features/future_airplanes.html

 

[Triton]

General Electric/Cessna

General Electric/Cessna final presentation
URL: http://aviationweek.typepad.com/files/nasa_ge_final_report_out_4.22.10.pdf

Sources:
http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/blogs/aviation_week/on_space_and_technology/index.jsp?plckController=Blog&plckBlogPage=BlogViewPost&newspaperUserId=a68cb417-3364-4fbf-a9dd-4feda680ec9c&plckPostId=Blog%3Aa68cb417-3364-4fbf-a9dd-4feda680ec9cPost%3Ac906b912-4f2d-4e83-8331-ed59fa188034&plckScript=blogScript&plckElementId=blogDest

http://blogs.crikey.com.au/planetalking/2010/05/20/five-amazing-airliners-for-the-future/

 

[Triton]

Boeing N+3 supersonic concepts.

Artist's impression of Boeing 765-072B supersonic airliner concept.

Artist's impression of Boeing 765-107B (Icon II) supersonic airliner concept.

Boeing then developed a range of alternative concepts, including variable-geometry "arrow" wing, joined wing and oblique "scissor" wing configurations, as well as a scaled up version of its N+2 low-boom, 50-seat airliner design (the 765-076E).

Source:
http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/blogs/aviation_week/on_space_and_technology/index.jsp?plckController=Blog&plckBlogPage=BlogViewPost&newspaperUserId=a68cb417-3364-4fbf-a9dd-4feda680ec9c&plckPostId=Blog%3aa68cb417-3364-4fbf-a9dd-4feda680ec9cPost%3a74b6d2b5-2ad7-4f70-bce0-bd7d040f8360&plckScript=blogScript&plckElementId=blogDest

 

[Triton]

Lockheed Martin Skunkworks N+3 SST concepts.


Sources:
http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/blogs/aviation_week/on_space_and_technology/index.jsp?plckController=Blog&plckBlogPage=BlogViewPost&newspaperUserId=a68cb417-3364-4fbf-a9dd-4feda680ec9c&plckPostId=Blog%3aa68cb417-3364-4fbf-a9dd-4feda680ec9cPost%3a74b6d2b5-2ad7-4f70-bce0-bd7d040f8360&plckScript=blogScript&plckElementId=blogDest

http://www.nasa.gov/topics/aeronautics/features/future_airplanes.html

 

[fightingirish]

Nasa - A First Look at Flight in 2025 01.13.11

I will edit this post and attach it with pictures at another time

 

[FutureSpaceTourist]

Lockheed Martin Skunkworks N+3 SST concepts.

The 'green' concept has a separate thread at http://www.secretprojects.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,10399.0.html

 

[Nik]

'Thunderbirds' return...

Slightly OT, but most of those concepts look like they've escaped from Gerry Anderson's classic 'Thunderbirds' puppet series...

Speaking of which, that may be revived using CGI...

 

[Triton]

Artist's impressions of Lockheed Martin N+2 configuration.

From Warwick, Graham "How to Prove Quiet Supersonics Can Work" Leading Edge blog:

230ft long and has a cruise weight of 271,000lb (longer but lighter than Concorde's 202ft and 310,000lb). Cruise is Mach 1.6, starting at 45,500ft and climbing to 52,800ft. General Electric and Rolls-Royce Liberty Works are working with Lockheed on variable-cycle engine concepts.

Source:
http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/blogs/aviation_week/on_space_and_technology/index.jsp?plckController=Blog&plckBlogPage=BlogViewPost&newspaperUserId=a68cb417-3364-4fbf-a9dd-4feda680ec9c&plckPostId=Blog%3aa68cb417-3364-4fbf-a9dd-4feda680ec9cPost%3ab0c5e388-828c-4a37-800a-d5981adbc1fb&plckScript=blogScript&plckElementId=blogDest

 

[Triton]

Artist's impression and model of Boeing N+2 twinjet.

From Warwick, Graham "How to Prove Quiet Supersonics Can Work" Leading Edge blog.

Source:
http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/blogs/aviation_week/on_space_and_technology/index.jsp?plckController=Blog&plckBlogPage=BlogViewPost&newspaperUserId=a68cb417-3364-4fbf-a9dd-4feda680ec9c&plckPostId=Blog%3aa68cb417-3364-4fbf-a9dd-4feda680ec9cPost%3ab0c5e388-828c-4a37-800a-d5981adbc1fb&plckScript=blogScript&plckElementId=blogDest

 

[Triton]

Nasa - A First Look at Flight in 2025 01.13.11

I will edit this post and attach it with pictures at another time

Artist's concept of an aircraft that could enter service in 2025 from the team led by Northrop Grumman. Credit: NASA/Northrop Grumman.

Artist's concept of an aircraft that could enter service in 2025 from the team led by The Boeing Company. Image credit: NASA/The Boeing Company

Artist's concept of an aircraft that could enter service in 2025 from the team led by Lockheed Martin. Image credit: NASA/Lockheed Martin

 

[Triton]

Bradley, Marty K et al. Subsonic Ultra Green Aircraft Research The Boeing Company April 2011

Abstract:

This Final Report summarizes the work accomplished by the Boeing Subsonic Ultra Green Aircraft Research (SUGAR) team in Phase 1, which includes the time period of October 2008 through March 2010. The team consisted of Boeing Research and Technology, Boeing Commercial Airplanes, General Electric, and Georgia Tech. The team completed the development of a comprehensive future scenario for
world-wide commercial aviation, selected baseline and advanced configurations for detailed study, generated technology suites for each configuration, conducted detailed performance analysis, calculated noise and emissions, assessed technology risks, and developed technology roadmaps. Five concepts were evaluated in detail: 2008 baseline, N+3 reference, N+3 high span strut braced wing, N+3 gas turbine battery electric concept, and N+3 hybrid wing body. A wide portfolio of technologies was identified to address the NASA N+3 goals. Significant improvements in air traffic management, aerodynamics, materials and structures, aircraft systems, propulsion, and acoustics are needed. Recommendations for Phase 2 concept and technology projects have been identified.

http://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/20110011321_2011011863.pdf

 

[GeorgeA]

Mark Drela paper on MIT D8 config:

http://web.mit.edu/drela/Public/papers/Hawaii_11/Drela_AIAA2011_3970.pdf

 

[mz]

Mark Drela paper on MIT D8 config:

http://web.mit.edu/drela/Public/papers/Hawaii_11/Drela_AIAA2011_3970.pdf

Thank you GeorgeA, that's excellent. Sideways double bubble fuselage enables body lift and the induced drag is low since it doesn't have a conical but a flat rear body. It is a weird shape. Also lower trim drag because of that "upturned nose". With oil prices going up, this could lead to something. Mach 0.7 vs 0.8 makes 2.5 hours to 2 h 50 minutes.

Attaching the 1:20 wind tunnel model picture.

 

[GeorgeA]

Lockheed Martin N+3 Supersonic final report:

http://hdl.handle.net/2060/20100036507

 

[blackkite]

Many thanks for sharing us such a wonderful and detailed report.

 

[hesham]

Hi,


http://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/20110023431_2011024668.pdf

 

[Stargazer]

Bradley, Marty K et al. Subsonic Ultra Green Aircraft Research The Boeing Company April 2011

Just happened on a related document and it really is a fascinating and in-depth account of the IRMA and N+3 programs.

Subsonic Ultra Green Aircraft Research: Phase I Final Report

I would like to list here the detailed model numbers of Boeing's SUGAR proposals:

• Model 765-093 "SUGAR Free" (N Baseline)
  Current technology, similar to 737 class aircraft. Used as baseline for performance comparisons. CFM56, fuel burn baseline.
• Model 765-094 "Refined SUGAR" (N+3 Reference)
  Reference conventional configuration with estimated 2030-2035 technologies. This vehicle requires no new additional technology initiatives from NASA. It includes a turbofan engine which will be designed by GE. A variation of this configuration with N+3 advanced technologies will be provided for direct comparison to the advanced concepts. “gFan”, high bypass ratio turbofan with 2030 engine technologies, SFC reduction goal of 20%.
• Model 765-095 "SUGAR High" (N+3 High L/D)
  High span strut-braced wing configuration with advanced 2030-2035 N+3 technologies. Assumes significant technology development beyond the technologies in the Refined SUGAR concept. Turbofan and open fan propulsion concepts are supplied by GE. “gFan+”, high bypass ratio turbofan, advanced technologies to improve engine performance relative to Refined SUGAR, SFC reduction goal of 25%. An open fan variant was also evaluated at a very high level using simple weight and SFC deltas relative to the “gFan+” concept.
• Model 765-096 "SUGAR Volt" (N+3 Electric Trade Aircraft)
  Electric Trade Aircraft that builds off of SUGAR High configuration to add electric propulsion technologies. Considers a variety of electric-propulsion architectures (Battery electric only, fuel-cell gas turbine hybrid, battery electric gas turbine hybrid) which are supplied by GE. “hFan”, ducted fan, hybrid gas turbine-battery electric architecture. Fuel cell hybrid (“fFan”) and battery electric (“eFan”) versions were evaluated but not selected for further analysis.
• Model 765-097 "SUGAR Ray" (N+3 Low Noise HWB)
  A HWB configuration that uses a similar suite of advanced technologies as the SUGAR High. Primary design emphasis is on reducing aircraft noise, while maintaining performance similar to the SUGAR High. “gFan+” (same as SUGAR High).

 

[Triton]

NASA asked a Boeing-led team to explore the possibilities of a hybrid electric aircraft. Marty Bradley, Boeing Research and Technology, explains how the SUGAR Volt concept is defining the future of flight.

http://youtu.be/oz3tzG9RxKI

 

[Stargazer]

Two wonderful paintings of the Lockheed Martin N+3 proposal as illustrated by Vladimir Shelest for Popular Mechanics:

Larger-size versions of these paintings (and more of Shelest's great works) can be seen here: http://shelest.deviantart.com/gallery/

 

[hesham]

Hi,


http://www.aviationweek.com/Blogs.aspx?plckBlogId=Blog:a68cb417-3364-4fbf-a9dd-4feda680ec9c&plckPostId=Blog:a68cb417-3364-4fbf-a9dd-4feda680ec9cPost:0d824db8-cc2c-4bee-b70f-e3d0e62d8ae6

 

[Mr London 24/7]

http://www.isaacbob.com/wp-content/documents/presentations/Tetzloff_CSESC_2011_Presentation.pdf

 

[hesham]

Hi,

https://commons.erau.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1343&context=ijaaa