Flight Performance Evaluation of the Flying-V

This study evaluates the flight performance of a Flying-V aircraft designed for transonic passenger transport. The Flying-V is a disruptive aircraft configuration that has shown to possess promising aerodynamic performance during preliminary design. It is compared to a competitor aircraft reminiscent of the Airbus A350-1000, for the same thrust-to-weight ratio and a similar number of passengers. The most common performance metrics for the take-off, landing, climbing and cruise phases have been assessed using a modular flight mechanics model. Take-off and landing performance are evaluated through flight simulation using a simple Euler method, while climb and cruise performance are evaluated in trimmed, steady-state conditions. Only instantaneous performance is available for the latter two phases. The Flying-V outperforms its competitor for basically all investigated metrics. Take-off length is shorter, mainly due to a larger tail strike attitude that reduces the minimum unstick speed. Service and absolute ceiling are higher, and its superior lift-over-drag ratio results in a 21% increase in the cruise range parameter. Landing field lengths are similar for both aircraft, but the Flying-V has a significantly larger pitch angle during approach. This causes longer de-rotation length, and a large obscured segment of the pilot’s vision which could be problematic during operations.