Blended Wing Body Concept

Looks similar to something Aerospatiale (as was) showed at several Air Shows some years ago, as well as what Boeing's now letting people have peeps at ...
Is this the new "single path" among aircraft designers ???
Is so, what about passenger access and emergency exits ???

@john price: It's not that I think you're a low-grade moron or anything, but I'm guessing that aircraft designers actually do think about "passenger access" and "emergency exits" and even other stuff too!

Are you thinking they're going to roll up to the gate for the first flight and call the control tower to explain that they have to hoist the passengers through a window, one peep at a time? And maybe give each passenger a can opener so they can peel away the hull in case of emergency?

As an aeronautical engineer i am, i assure you we do think about passenger safety and access doors to the plane :)

I am a former Boeing engineer...

@ John Price: The BWB is *far* more fuel efficient than a conventional tubular aircraft fuselage. Almost the entire payload section of the plane develops lift, dramatically reducing take-off fuel consumption and thrust requirements.

The design also allows for greater passenger comfort and access to amenities, and with creative emergency access options, is no more difficult to evacuate than a conventional aircraft. In fact, the Airbus A380 'superjumbo' has had to beg off special consideration for emergency access due to the limitations of a tubular design on such a large scale. BWB's stable rectangular cross section allows egress thru the floor without compromising structural integrity, cargo space, fuel capacity, or perhaps most importantly, the passengers ability to evacuate the aircraft*.

*Floor based escape options in tubular fuselage compromise the aisle access, so that once the escape hatch is opened, some passengers are prevented from safely using either the aisle or the egress.