Sir - I support Noel Falconer's plea (Flight International, 18 - 24 September, P49) for a revised wing location for the new Airbus A3XX proposal.
I have given lectures to branches of the Royal Aeronautical Society, in which I presented a design for a shoulder-wing, 600-1,000 seat Global Transport for the 21st century.
The main motivation for the shoulder-wing configuration was to remove any restriction on engine fan diameter and enable the fuselage to be located nearer the ground, thus shortening the undercarriage and reducing loading height. Relocating the two outboard engines at the rear of the fuselage would avoid any possibility of engine release taking a second engine with it.
My proposal differs from Noel Falconer's in employing a wide-bodied, "clover-leaf" fuselage cross-section. Apart from providing a wide main deck, the wide keel enables storage of three side-by-side main undercarriage assemblies without the need for side blisters. With under-floor containers located outboard of the two longitudinal floor support beams, the keel space between the beams can be used for under-floor galley storage, sleeping quarters for a relief crew, and sleeperettes for passengers.
Each of the main passenger decks is closer to the ground, reducing the length of escape chutes.
The low loading height and wide, unobstructed main deck provides flexibility to develop Air-lifter variants, enabling development costs to be spread over a wider base. Incorporating, a rear loading ramp, would enable the transportation of military vehicles and equipment. If the ramp is made air-openable, paratroops and palletised equipment could be air dropped.
If the aircraft is to be stretched to 1,000 seat capacity in the longer term, the aircraft must be configured to be capable of accommodating larger diameter, increased thrust engine derivatives in the longer term.
ALAN BLYTHE
St Albans, Herts, UK
Source: Flight International