A new kind of plane that could drastically reduce fuel emissions and improve air travel is set to take its inaugural test flight this year. Researchers at Delft University in the Netherlands and KLM, one of Holland’s largest airlines, teamed up to design the V-Plane, a plane with wings in the shape of a V, and each seat placed within them.
V-Plane has two pairs of wings: one pair on the wingtips and two pairs of smaller wings in between. The seven-seat cockpit is placed on one side of this, while passengers are on the other. The idea is that these pairs of wings, when placed in this V shape, create a lot of lift. This means that when the plane turns, it will be able to do so at a much steeper angle than other planes. This gives pilots more space in the air to turn and maneuver. It’s more than just a pretty V shape: This new design means that the plane uses less engine power, which cuts down on the amount of fuel burned. Less fuel burned means lower emissions, and that’s a win for our planet.
The V-Plane is also much quieter than other planes and has a much smaller carbon footprint. After the test flight, if all goes well, the team hopes to have completed a full-size flying model by next year.