KLM's Flying V takes to the skies for the first time

KLM and the Technical University of Delft, in the Netherlands, have successfully conducted the first test flights of a scale model of their Flying V concept.

Those of us that attended KLM’s 100th anniversary party in Amsterdam, last October, could already see a mock-up (although a bit larger than the one that flew today) of his is an experimental concept aircraft designed to make long-haul flight more efficient.

KLM’s Flying V, up in the air for the first time

Blended wing concepts have been proposed in the past for the commercial aircraft market, without much success (there are some challenges when it comes to the cabin configuration in such designs), this one reminds of those, but it is, actually, a proper V-shape, since the space between. the two arms of the “V” is hollow..

The scale model that flew today was barely larger than your average private-use drone, yet, everything starts with small steps.

When it comes to reducing aviation’s carbon footprint, there is a lot of activity on the electric segment, although for relatively low ranges and cabin sizes, and hydrogen is starting to draw interest as a possible alternative for longer haul flights. Concepts that, while still powered conventionally, increase fuel efficiency (KLM and TU Delft’s Flying V could be 20% more efficient than today’s most efficient airliners) can be also a path worth exploring.

The concept is explained in this video below, which contains footage also of the first flight of the Flying V.