Boeing one by one reduces fuel consumption
Boeing during the tests proved the efficiency of the flight of aircraft one after another. Earlier, the main competitor of the company, the European concern Airbus, announced its intention to test this theory, writes Aviation Week.
Engineers spied on the concept of flight one after another in birds. Birds prefer to fly in flocks for many reasons, but one of the main ones is that moving in a group is easier. When the birds line up in a V-shape, flying behind the flocks catch the air vortices raised by the wings of the bird in front.
Similar flights are tested by both Boeing and Airbus. The idea is to increase flight efficiency on long-haul flights - the first plane in a pair will create upward thrust, and the second will use it.
Tests conducted by Boeing showed that such a principle really saves fuel. Joint testing with FedEx involved Boeing 777F aircraft and the ecoDemonstrator airliner.
The second plane flew at cruising speed at a distance of 1.22 km from the first on autopilot. Boeing does not disclose any results other than reducing ecoDemonstrator fuel consumption.
Engineers spied on the concept of flight one after another in birds. Birds prefer to fly in flocks for many reasons, but one of the main ones is that moving in a group is easier. When the birds line up in a V-shape, flying behind the flocks catch the air vortices raised by the wings of the bird in front.
Similar flights are tested by both Boeing and Airbus. The idea is to increase flight efficiency on long-haul flights - the first plane in a pair will create upward thrust, and the second will use it.
Tests conducted by Boeing showed that such a principle really saves fuel. Joint testing with FedEx involved Boeing 777F aircraft and the ecoDemonstrator airliner.
The second plane flew at cruising speed at a distance of 1.22 km from the first on autopilot. Boeing does not disclose any results other than reducing ecoDemonstrator fuel consumption.
