China Tests Giant 'Flying Wing' Aircraft Design for Over 800 Passengers

Chinese researchers have developed and tested a model of a gigantic passenger aircraft with an integrated fuselage design, capable of transporting over 800 people. The design, developed by the China Aerodynamic Research and Development Center (CARDC), is 85 meters wide and 43 meters long, with a wing area of about 1,395 square meters and a cruising speed of Mach 0.8. Unlike conventional aircraft, this design incorporates much of the aircraft's body into the supporting structure, improving its aerodynamic efficiency. Tests on a 1:52 scale model in a transonic wind tunnel showed promising results, with a maximum lift-to-drag ratio of around 20 at speeds below Mach 0.7.