# Transonic Truss-Braced Wing Aircraft

**URL:** <https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/t/transonic-truss-braced-wing-aircraft/2753>\
**Category:** Context\
**Tags:** boeing, airliners, transonic-truss-braced-wing, nasa\
**Created:** [15 February 2023 12:44 UTC](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/t/transonic-truss-braced-wing-aircraft/2753 "2023-02-15T12:44:58Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![johnwalker](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/user_avatar/scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/johnwalker/32/17415_2.png) [@johnwalker](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/u/johnwalker)\
**Post date:** [15 February 2023 12:44 UTC](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/t/transonic-truss-braced-wing-aircraft/2753/1 "2023-02-15T12:44:58Z")

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[![](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/uploads/default/original/2X/0/08d0bd3d77f502959ff5e770ac15480e30f6fbfd.jpeg "Revolutionary Breakthrough: Boeing's Transonic Wing in Partnership with NASA!") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkrdIw8LWrM)

With a goal of reducing total fuel burn by 30% or more, NASA has contracted with Boeing to develop two full-scale prototypes of narrow-body airliners using the [transonic truss-braced wing](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_Truss-Braced_Wing) concept to increase the [aspect ratio](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aspect_ratio_(aeronautics)) (wing span to chord) of the plane’s wing, supporting it by a truss which will also generate lift. NASA is spending US$ 425 million of money borrowed by the insolvent state for which it works, while Boeing (which is carrying US$ 77.3 billion in debt on its balance sheet) and its partners are “investing” US$ 725 million in the project.

The wings will be so long that a production plane based upon the design will require hardware to fold them beyond the strut attachment point so the aircraft can use taxiways and gates designed for narrow body aircraft. I have not seen a statement whether or not the experimental planes will incorporate wing folding. The fuselage and landing gear will be adapted from the discontinued MD-90 airliner, acquired when Boeing merged with McDonnell-Douglas in 1997.

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**Author:** ![Mooselake](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/user_avatar/scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/mooselake/32/5958_2.png) [@Mooselake](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/u/Mooselake)\
**Post date:** [18 February 2023 18:04 UTC](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/t/transonic-truss-braced-wing-aircraft/2753/2 "2023-02-18T18:04:05Z")

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The MD-95 was the basis for Boeing’s 717, from Wikipedia it was a shortened MD-90 that held (around) 134 passengers. Delta was the biggest operator