A scale model of the giant-winged experimental aircraft Flying-V took off in Germany. The hybrid wing aircraft concept is a project of the Delft University of Technology (TU Delft) in the Netherlands, with financial support from KLM Airlines.

The Flying-V was designed as an economical long-haul aircraft with passenger seats, fuel tanks and luggage compartment integrated into the wings. Research shows that the extraordinary design provides 20% more fuel efficiency than the Airbus A350 jet, which is considered the most advanced design to date. It is also about 15% more aerodynamically efficient than a conventional aircraft. The full-scale Flying-V will take 314 passengers in two classes.

The scale model was controlled by a radio channel by a student at Delft University of Technology who operated it like a drone. Two 4 kW ducted fan electric motors were powered by a lithium polymer battery. The student performed a number of maneuvers on the Flying-V, including takeoff, turns and approaches, and landing.

“One of our concerns was that the plane might have difficulty taking off, as preliminary calculations indicated that ‘turning’ could be a problem.”Roelof Vos, Associate Professor of Flight Performance and Motion at Delft University of Technology, told Flightglobal. “The team has optimized the scale flight model to avoid this problem. But to know, you should probably fly”.

Vos said the plane’s propulsion was strong and the flight speed and angles were as the team had predicted. Vos said the scale model had “a bit of a hard landing” because of the plane’s shape and the difficulty in keeping the wings straight. He said that was predicted in the raw data. The team will use the flight data to create an aerodynamic version of the scale model.

“The design is aligned with our ‘Fly Responsibly’ initiative, which means everything we do and will do to increase our sustainability. We want a sustainable future for aviation, and innovation is part of that.”said Peter Elbers, KLM President and CEO.