Airbus MAVERIC
| MAVERIC | |
|---|---|
| Role | Experimental unmanned aerial vehicle |
| Manufacturer | Airbus |
| First flight | June 2019 |
| Produced | 2017 |
| Number built | 1 |
The Airbus MAVERIC (Model Aircraft for Validation and Experimentation of Robust Innovative Controls)[1] is an experimental blended wing body (BWB) unmanned aerial vehicle. It was built as a demonstrator for a possible full-scale BWB airliner. Airbus claims that this design can reduce up to 20% of fuel.
Design and development
According to an Airbus press release, development of the MAVERIC began in 2017 as part of the AirbusUpNext research program.[2] The MAVERIC is a radio-controlled aircraft and has a wingspan of 3.2 meters.[1][3] Power is provided by two engines mounted over the rear of the aircraft, with each having a vertical stabilizer, creating a twin tail arrangement.[3]
Operational history
The MAVERIC made its first flight in June 2019 at an undisclosed location in France.[1] The public reveal of the aircraft took place on February 11, 2020, at the Singapore Airshow, where it was announced that the research program would continue until the second quarter of that year.[1]
On September 21, 2020, Zero Emissions Day, Airbus revealed three concepts for the hydrogen-powered Airbus ZEROe; the largest of which being a blended wing aircraft based on the MAVERIC.[4]
Specifications (MAVERIC)
Data from [2]
General characteristics
- Length: 2 m (6 ft 7 in)
- Wingspan: 3.2 m (10 ft 6 in)
- Wing area: 2.25 m2 (24.2 sq ft) (approx.)
See also
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
Related lists
References
- ^ a b c d Hitti, Natashah (19 February 2020). "Airbus unveils working model of its fuel-saving "giant flying wing"". Dezeen. Archived from the original on 13 September 2023. Retrieved 2 June 2021.
- ^ a b "Airbus reveals its blended wing aircraft demonstrator". Airbus. 11 February 2020. Archived from the original on 5 December 2021. Retrieved 2 June 2021.
- ^ a b Delbert, Caroline (February 2020). "Will People Fly In This 'Blended Wing' Airplane? Airbus Built a Prototype To Find Out". Popular Mechanics. Archived from the original on 29 April 2023. Retrieved 2 June 2021.
- ^ Hardman, Jake (1 May 2021). "The Development Of Airbus's Game-Changing Blended Fuselage". Simple Flying. Archived from the original on 27 June 2023. Retrieved 2 June 2021.