Note: Single-source report; awaiting corroboration.
NASA and Boeing have completed wind tunnel testing of a truss-braced wing configuration designed to improve aerodynamic efficiency and reduce fuel consumption in future airliners. This concept features a long, thin wing supported by aerodynamically shaped structural trusses, marking a significant shift from current aircraft wing designs.
The tests used a semispan wind tunnel model—half of an aircraft mounted on the tunnel floor. The model included lift-enhancing mechanisms like slats and flaps, allowing researchers to simulate low-speed, high-lift conditions typical of takeoff and landing.
In December, the team conducted tests in QinetiQ's large wind tunnel in Farnborough, England, which uses pressurized conditions to more accurately predict aircraft behavior during critical flight phases. The facility's large scale offered improved fidelity for simulating real flight aerodynamics. NASA and Boeing researchers analyzed data in real time to assess model performance throughout the tests.
While results are still under review, the tests have provided valuable data supporting research on reducing aircraft fuel use. This effort is part of a broader NASA-Boeing collaboration conducting multiple tests across NASA facilities to build a comprehensive understanding of the truss-braced wing concept.
The technology is associated with Boeing’s Subsonic Ultra Green Aircraft Research (SUGAR) concept and stems from NASA-supported aeronautics research. NASA and Boeing continue to refine the design through further iterative testing under NASA’s Advanced Air Vehicles Program and Integrated Aviation Systems Program.