KLM finances a "Flying V" aircraft that can accommodate passengers in the wings

The Dutch airline KLM is funding the development of a v-shaped aircraft that will accommodate passengers in its wings to make it more fuel efficient, the company announced Monday.

Its futuristic shape will make the "Flying V" lighter and more aerodynamic, KLM said. Its designers claim that it will take 20% less fuel than an Airbus A350, the most advanced aircraft on the market.

A prototype version of the aircraft could be ready as early as autumn 2019, researchers said. But a real-world version of the aircraft would likely not come into service until at least 20:40, according to CNN.

The idea of ​​a sustainable airplane that carries passengers, cargo and fuel tanks began with Justus Benad, then a student at the Technical University of Berlin.

It was then developed by the Technical University of Delft (Netherlands), which now cooperates with KLM.

Like the Airbus A350, the "Flying V" will carry 314 passengers and 160 square meters of cargo, KLM announced. It will also have the same size, which means it can adapt to the same doors, tracks and hangars.

But, according to the company, the V-shaped aircraft will be able to travel more sustainably on long-haul flights.

Dr. Roelof Vos, project manager at TU Delft, said in a statement: "The Flying-V is smaller than the A350 and has a lower entry area than the available volume. This results in less resistance – V needs less fuel for the same distance. "

The aircraft also uses the most fuel efficient turbofan engines available, according to KLM. Although the current model still uses kerosene, it can be adapted to use electric turbine fans in the future.

The "Flying V" will help the Dutch aerospace industry achieve its sustainable development goals, Dr Vos said.

As passengers travel more and more distances, the industry wants to reduce aviation CO2 emissions by 35% by the end of 2030.

"Our ultimate goal is zero-emission flying," said Dr. Vos.

The researchers will present their first flying prototype in October, according to TU Delft. The plane will fly at low speed to check if the model remains stable.