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100th birthday of KLM:TU Delft presents scale model and cabin for energy-efficient Flying-V
At the KLM Experience Days, from 3-13 October 2019, TU Delft will be presenting part of the cabin and a flying scale model of the revolutionary, energy-efficient Flying-V. This V-shaped aircraft design is expected to consume 20% less energy thanks to its improved aerodynamics and lighter weight. The more than 3 metres wide scale model will take to the air later this year. The cabin features an experimental design, with four types of seats, including group seating and foldaway beds in economy class. The TU Delft Flying-V – a collaboration with KLM – is one of the routes that TU Delft is exploring in its efforts to make aviation more sustainable. Dean Henri Werij: “Ultimately, we have to fly solely on sustainable energy. CO2-neutral. I am confident that we will be able to do that.”
Full-length sleeping in economy class
Professor Peter Vink and industrial design engineer Thomas Rotte developed the designs for the new oval-shaped cabin, combining knowledge of lightweight design techniques with passenger comfort. Vink: “The Flying-V can be arranged to suit customer needs, either in the traditional way, as in the current Airbus A350, or radically differently. The aim of our interior concept for the Flying-V is to improve the passenger experience at a lower weight and with passenger numbers comparable to the current Airbus A350. Developed together with 80 students of Industrial Design Engineering, the concept includes four types of seating: beds, lounge areas, group seating and individual seats. We take advantage of the oval shape by creating beds and positioning the seats in the flight direction, to avoid passengers sitting shoulder to shoulder.” At the KLM Experience Days and during Dutch Design Week later in October, visitors will have an opportunity to see a full-size section of the Flying-V cabin and try out some of the seating. A patent on the design of the beds has already been applied for.
Flying scale model
The design for the Flying-V was presented at the IATA conference in Seoul last June. Over the summer months, a team of engineers, technicians, students and researchers have built a flying scale model measuring 3.06 m in width and 2.76 m in length. The model – a sizeable drone – is intended for scaled flight testing. During the test flight, the stability of the aircraft will be measured and tests conducted to determine the best angle for take-off and landing. Building a scale model of this kind is far from easy: the model needs to include all of the systems to fly and control the plane as well as the sensors to measure and communicate aircraft behaviour. Project leader Roelof Vos: “This has been an extraordinary learning experience for the engineers and students working on the model in our lab.” A question that people often ask about the Flying-V is whether the extra G forces created will make it uncomfortable for passengers. Project leader Roelof Vos: “Research by Airbus has now shown that passengers are not affected by this, because they are sitting at the front of the wing. But this also demonstrates that such a radically different aircraft design requires just about everything to be retested and measured.” Vos hopes to be able to conduct the first flight tests later this year. “These are exciting times. We won’t know how the aircraft reacts until we fly it.”
Flying on sustainable energy
On 4 October, some 40 experts from universities, knowledge institutions and business met to discuss the Flying-V research agenda. Vos: “A lot of further research is required, covering such areas as flight performance, noise and how to accommodate the Flying-V in existing airports.”The Flying-V is one of TU Delft's lines of research into making aviation more sustainable. Dean Henri Werij: "Ultimately, we have to fly solely on sustainable energy. CO2-neutral. If the aircraft of the future continue to emit CO2 because we fly on for example, synthetic kerosene, we will then have to find a way to extract the same amount of CO2 from the atmosphere to produce those fuels. At Delft University of Technology, we are investigating how we are going to achieve this. For example, we are investigating new forms of propulsion, such as electric and electric hybrid, the climate impact of aviation and air traffic operations, such as airports.”
KLM100
KLM is a partner in the Flying-V project. Werij: “It’s fantastic to be able to work with KLM on sustainable aviation, especially in this special year in which KLM celebrates their centenary jubilee. On behalf of all of us at TU Delft: congratulations!”
Want to see the Flying-V?
- https://www.tudelft.nl/lr/flying-v/
- Background article in Trouw newspaper, 28 September 2019
- View the animations on the Flying-V site
- TV documentary on KLM centenary (100 jaar KLM), RTL-Z 20.30 on 7 October
- TV climate special (Staat van het Klimaat), 24 October NPO1
- Dutch Design Weeks in Eindhoven: 19 – 27 October
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Flagship Cessna Citation Longitude enters service, signals new dimension for business aviation
Board now leads the way towards sustainable flying
press release
- Launch of SkyNRG’s ground-breaking program paves the way to sustainable aviation;
- 85 per cent reduction of emissions as a result of sustainable aviation fuel
Amsterdam, October 3rd 2019 – Today, a significant step will be taken towards sustainable flying. Dutch company SkyNRG, global leader in sustainable aviation fuel, officially launches its ground-breaking Board Now program together with its launching members. By committing themselves to Board Now, companies reduce their own business air travel emissions and at the same time contribute to the development of a new production facility for sustainable aviation fuel. Board Now is the worlds first program that enables companies to contribute directly to the development of this industry and actively paves the way for the energy transition in the aviation sector. A number of renowned organizations, such as PwC and Skyscanner, have already signed-up to the program.
Organizations that join Board Now, commit themselves for a period of 5 years to the purchase of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). With this commitment, they not only reduce their own business air travel CO2 emissions, but also contribute to the development of a new production facility. Their investment will be used by SkyNRG to cover the price difference between sustainable aviation fuel and conventional jet fuel. The coalition that participates in the Board Now program, ensures a substantial purchase of SAF that will be produced by Europe’s first dedicated plant for the production of sustainable aviation fuel in Delfzijl (DSL-01). Earlier this year, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines already committed itself to the purchase of 75,000 tonnes of sustainable aviation fuel from DSL-01 a year.
A flying start
With the launch of Board Now with PwC and Skycanner as launching members, the program will be kicked-off with a flying start today. Moreover, a number of leading organizations has joined Board Now as partners: the Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials (RSB), the ClimateWorks Foundation, South Pole, Vertis Environmental Finance and the Climate Neutral Group. The last three organizations develop projects to enable companies to compensate their own CO2 emissions, in addition to CO2 reduction. These parties support the program by helping further growth of Board Now by providing access to knowledge and networks and by creating marketing opportunities.
Renate de Lange, member of the Board of Directors of PwC Netherlands: “PwC is doing everything in its power to reduce its own business air travel emissions substantially. The purchasing of sustainable aviation fuel contributes to this. The use of SAF can deliver a CO2 reduction of at least 85 per cent compared to conventional jet fuel. With our commitment to SkyNRG, we strengthen our strategy for sustainable business travel and we believe that this is a very important step towards sustainable flying”.
“With the support of renowned organizations participating in Board Now, that make a choice for sustainable business travels and an investment in SAF, we are able to accelerate the energy transition in aviation,” states Theye Veen, Managing Director at SkyNRG. “We are very proud that these organizations have boarded our program as launching members or partners. Their commitment and support is crucial in order to scale-up this industry and take the development of sustainable fuel worldwide to the next level. We are looking forward to inspire other international organizations as well to follow in the footsteps of our launching members and partners”.
85 per cent CO2 reduction
The plant in Delfzijl, DSL-01, will annually produce 100,000 tons of sustainable aviation fuel. This will mean a CO2 reduction of over 270,000 tons a year for the aviation industry. Sustainable aviation fuel can provide for a CO2 reduction of at least 85 per cent, compared to conventional jet fuel. The use of SAF will also contribute to a significant decrease in ultra-fine particles and sulphur emissions.
Sustainable fuel meets the highest sustainability standards
SkyNRG’s independent Sustainability Board advises on whether the fuel meets the highest sustainability standards. The Board includes representatives from WWF International, the European Climate Foundation, the Solidaridad Network and the University of Groningen. Furthermore, the sustainability of the chain and related products are ensured through certification by the Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials (RSB), the highest possible certification standard for sustainable fuels.
Rolf Hogan, Executive Director at RSB: “By facilitating organizations with tools to reduce their footprint, Board Now is a potential game-changer. As a proud partner of Board Now, RSB is ready to give wings to accelerate the development of sustainable aviation fuel and to contribute to the battle against climate change”.
Airbus Helicopters and EASA combine efforts to bring the next generation of VTOL platforms to life
press release
Areas of focus include eVTOL and high-speed flight
Marignane - Airbus Helicopters and EASA have signed a joint Memorandum of Cooperation aiming to bring together their respective experiences and know-how to bring the next generation of VTOL platforms to life, along with the necessary regulatory framework to support them.
“I am very pleased to be joining efforts with EASA to build a common framework for the next generation of vertical lift solutions over the next decades,” said Bruno Even, CEO of Airbus Helicopters. “Innovation that benefits customers is at the heart of Airbus Helicopters strategy, and we are committed to working hand in hand with authorities around our innovation projects with the same professional approach, experience and spirit that have driven our legacy products.”
The areas of cooperation covered by this agreement include high speed flight with the Racer demonstrator, the certification of new piloting assistance systems (e.g., Airbus Helicopters’ EAGLE technology), the thermal/electrical hybridization of rotorcraft (eVTOL), and condition-based maintenance.
“Partnerships with industry are part of our strategy to ensure that innovation in the aviation market happens safely,” said Patrick Ky, Executive Director of EASA. “The learnings we derive from cutting edge technologies play a significant role in helping us to prepare our certification methodologies for these new advancements. The cooperation on innovation with Airbus Helicopters represents an important contribution to this strategy.”
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