The U.S. Air Force will invest $235 million to help a start-up manufacturer build a jet with a blended-wing body that officials say could provide greater range and efficiency for military tankers and cargo planes and perhaps eventually be used to carry airline passengers.
Cargo? Sure. Passengers? I’m not betting on it. I sure wouldn’t want to the guy farthest from the center of the aircraft. Every banking turn would become a roller coaster ride. Plus airport infrastructure would have to change. And tubes are easy to build.
I work for a subcontractor that’s been consulting for this project since November and even virtually attended some of the Wednesday briefing mentioned in the article. The body is actually designed specifically to work with existing airport infrastructures… Much much much cheaper not to reinvent the wheel when you don’t have to. The passenger airline is actually their biggest long-term goal: the air force/refuelling use case is how they plan to fund the long-term goals.
Also, I believe this is roughly the size of a 737 - the passenger deck is no wider than a 747s, and it’s not like window seats on the bigger jets aren’t comfortable.