The Cryotechnic Flying Wing. Architecture, Sizing, Volumes, Technological and Certification Issue

Why the flying wing and its technologies? Future aviation will either be carbon-free or it won't be. Indeed, the aerospace sector is estimated to generate between 5% and 6% of global warming worldwide (IPCC). Around half of this contribution is due to CO ₂ and the remainder to contrails. The architecture described in this article opens up a path in both these directions, thus making it possible to envisage a breakthrough development, likely not only to accelerate the decarbonization of air transport, but also to promote an innovative sustainable model.

With regard to CO ₂ , green hydrogen provides a solution. However, this fuel has a radical impact on aircraft architecture, as soon as a transoceanic range is required. For local flights, the solution of integrating tanks into existing aircraft may work. But if you're aiming for legs of more than 10,000 km, the volume required means you have to rethink the topology and geometry of the aircraft itself.

This article proposes a new approach to volume management, which not only offers the capacity to take on board the necessary hydrogen, but also opens up new perspectives in terms of cabin layout for very long flights.

As for the climatic effects of condensation trails – cirrus spread by jetstreams – solutions currently exist. They involve optimizing and reorganizing trajectories. In concrete terms, for the flying wing, this means flying lower and slower than current aircraft. . This environmental necessity, which also translates into energy and power savings, can be met precisely thanks to the space available to passengers. Indeed, the presence of hydrogen considerably increases the overall volume of the aircraft, which also benefits passengers. The cabin can thus be reorganized for very long flights (24 hours or more).

This architectural presentation of the flying wing of the future – takes into account the history of aeronautics, in particular the concepts developed by Jack Northrop and his successors – and proposes an innovative approach to the aircraft in its environment and use. It is this integrated description, aimed at later certification of this concept, that we propose here.