Boeing

The first phase of low- and high-speed wind tunnel testing on the Boeing Sonic Cruiser has been completed, marking an important milestone toward providing additional information on the aerodynamic characteristics of the revolutionary new airplane's design .

The Sonic Cruiser's new airplane concept is intended to change the way people fly, enabling passengers to travel non-stop directly to their desired destinations in less time. Likewise, it will allow airlines to maximize the economic performance of their airplanes. Environmental performance is an important factor in the design of the Sonic Cruiser; it will be quieter and cleaner than all anticipated regulations and provide excellent fuel efficiency.

The recent Sonic Cruiser wind tunnel tests provided valuable information that will be used in evaluating the general design concepts for the airplane. The specific size, range, capacity and performance attributes of the airplane will be developed and tested as needed. Boeing continues to work together with customers around the world as it evaluates this airplane concept and continues to gather input on airline needs and direction for future travel.

Initial results of the high-speed wind tunnel test are within the range typical for first tests of a new transport airplane design," said Walt Gillette, vice president and program manager of the Sonic Cruiser program. "The test results match the expectations we had based on our modeling approach for this new airplane. We continue to see this concept as a promising new airplane design that is consistent with our view of the future direction for passenger travel," Gillette said.