Image to right: This artist's rendering of a strut-braced wing aircraft in formation flight illustrates one of many ideas that a Boeing-led team will consider during an 18-month investigation of advanced concepts and technologies. Credit: The Boeing Company

NASA has awarded a $1.9 million study contract to a team led by The Boeing Company that will conduct an 18-month investigation into advanced concepts and technologies that may satisfy the agency's goals for future subsonic fixed wing aircraft.

With its Development of Subsonic Ultra Green Aircraft Research Project, Boeing Phantom Works—along with Boeing Commercial Airplanes, General Electric and Georgia Tech—will evaluate the performance of these concepts with regard to noise, emissions, take-off field length, fuel use and energy utilization. The study will focus on technologies and configurations that can support operational concepts in the 2030-2035 timeframe.

Boeing will develop a future scenario with consultation from NASA, and will consider ongoing Next Generation Air Transportation System efforts coordinated by NASA and the Joint Planning and Development Office. This future scenario will be used to generate the sizing missions for multiple advanced concepts and reference vehicles.

Vehicle layout and analysis for these advanced concepts will be efficiently performed using the Boeing Integrated Vehicle Design and Sizing process. The technologies and vehicle configuration risk will be identified and addressed with the development of prioritized technology roadmaps, which will be used to focus future technology programs.

This project supports NASA's Subsonic Fixed Wing Project Technical Plan by developing and assessing advanced concepts and technologies as well as supporting technology portfolio planning and assessment.