Modular aircraft

A modular aircraft or pod plane is a type of aircraft design where the payload carrying part can be detached from the rest of the aircraft. In this way, the aircraft can have a much-reduced loading and unloading time or change between different configurations of cargo or passenger capability.[1] Pod planes have two main components: the flying component: airframe, cockpit and engines; and the capsules: detachable pods (cabin or cargo hold). The flying component and the individual capsules can be detached from each other and combined in different ways.

Composite image of the sole XC-120 on the ground, and in flight

History
Clip-Air's Project Manager Claudio Leonardi presenting the air/rail transport system on 23 February 2018

In November 1950, the Fairchild XC-120 Packplane first flew. This was an experimental military transport for the U.S. Air Force. Described as a futuristic "pod plane", it was a development of the C-119 Flying Boxcar. Although tested, the project was canceled without any further production.[2]

In 2005, the Air Force Research Laboratory proposed a similar concept for military and civilian use in the configurable air transport: a blended wing body aircraft with multiple detachable, ground-mobile pods.[3]

The Clip-Air has been proposed since 2009 by the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne.[4] A 60 m wide flying wing includes the cockpit, engines and fuel, and can lift up to three 30 m long, 30 tons modules for freight, fuel or 150 passengers.[5]

Later, in 2017, Akka Technologies proposed a modular aircraft concept.[6]

Carpinteria, California-startup Dorsal Aircraft wants to make light standard ISO containers part of its unmanned freighter structure where the wing, engines and tail are attached to a dorsal spine fuselage. Interconnecting 5–50 ft (1.5–15.2 m) long aluminum containers carry the flight loads, aiming to lower overseas airfreight costs by 60%, and plan to convert a C-130H with the help of Wagner Aeronautical of San Diego, experienced in passenger-to-cargo conversions.[7]

See also

References
  1. "Pod Plane - Solutions to Cargo Problems?". Aviation Week. Vol. 52. McGraw-Hill. June 26, 1950. pp. 12–14.
  2. "Base invaders". Popular Science. Vol. 270 no. 1. Bonnier Corporation. Jan 2007. p. 104. ISSN 0161-7370. From the Popular Science archives - November 1950
  3. "Configurable Air Transport" (PDF). 43rd AIAA Aerospace Sciences Meeting and Exhibit. Air Force Research Laboratory. 10 January 2005.
  4. "Modular Aircraft Clip-Air". École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne.
  5. "Technical aspects". Clip-Air.
  6. "LINK&FLY" (Press release). Akka Technologies. 28 Sep 2017.
  7. Graham Warwick (Mar 19, 2018). "The Week In Technology, March 19-23, 2018". Aviation Week & Space Technology.


This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.