Abstract

Conceived by Switzerland’s Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Clip-Air proposes a plane with a single flying wing encompassing the airframe, cockpit, and three engines, attached to a maximum of three interchangeable capsules a more flexible and efficient method of fleet management and a faster loading rate, Clip-Air would drastically cut travelling time and costs and reduce the likelihood of vacant flights. The system would also be more eco-friendly than existing technology, with a trio of pods flying beneath one wing set to generate fewer emissions and consume less fuel than three individual planes with the same capacity flying at equal altitude and speed. EPFL is also exploring the idea of using cleaner fuel types such as liquid hydrogen and biofuels in lieu of traditional gasoline.

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