• Home
  • Reviews
    • Flight Reviews
    • Hotel Reviews
    • Lounge Reviews
    • Trip Reports
  • About
    • Press
  • Contact
  • Privacy
  • Award Expert
Live and Let's Fly
  • Home
  • Reviews
    • Flight Reviews
    • Hotel Reviews
    • Lounge Reviews
    • Trip Reports
  • About
    • Press
  • Contact
  • Privacy
  • Award Expert
Home » Boeing » MIT Proposes Next Generation 737 – Increasing Fuel Efficiency by 70%
BoeingNewsTravel Technology

MIT Proposes Next Generation 737 – Increasing Fuel Efficiency by 70%

Matthew Klint Posted onOctober 7, 2010November 14, 2023 5 Comments

a silver airplane with windowsAlthough the prototype design appears unconventional based on the way we currently envision commercial aircraft, MIT is serious: the technology exists to substantially decrease fuel consumption while not compensating performance. Take a look at their proposal, at left, for the future of Boeing’s 737 program.

The new design would have a “double-bubble” shape instead of a single-fuselage cylinder, which would make possible a smaller tail (thus reducing drag) and longer/skinnier wings. Rather than placing the engines on the wings, a “boundary layer ingestion” technique would be employed, allowing the engines to sit at the top rear of the fuselage and draw in slower-moving air that passes over the aircraft. The result: less fuel for the same amount of thrust.

The plane would have to travel about 10% slower than current 737’s travel, but developers contend that the dual-aisle cabin would lead to faster loading and unloading.

What is missing from the article is an analysis of cost. This sounds like a great design, but if raw materials, engineering, and testing costs are too high, it is not even worth discussing further right now.

It is fun to speculate, though. Take a look at the link above for other futuristic aircraft designs, including an update on the 777 and supersonic designs from both Boeing and Lockheed that could be in production in less than 20 years.

Get Daily Updates

Join our mailing list for a daily summary of posts! We never sell your info.

You have Successfully Subscribed!

Previous Article What Not to Eat Before You Fly
Next Article XI: Buenos Aires to Washington, DC in United Economy

About Author

Matthew Klint

Matthew is an avid traveler who calls Los Angeles home. Each year he travels more than 200,000 miles by air and has visited more than 135 countries. Working both in the aviation industry and as a travel consultant, Matthew has been featured in major media outlets around the world and uses his Live and Let's Fly blog to share the latest news in the airline industry, commentary on frequent flyer programs, and detailed reports of his worldwide travel.

Related Posts

  • Air India 787 crash report

    Air India 787 Crash Update: Preliminary Report Shows Fuel Switches Flipped Seconds After Takeoff

    July 12, 2025
  • American Airlines Landline Bus

    United Airlines Ends Landline Bus Service As American Airlines Exapnds It

    July 11, 2025
  • several airplanes in a hangar

    Portugal Moves To Sell 49.9% Stake in TAP Air Portugal — Who Will Buy?

    July 11, 2025

5 Comments

  1. john Berger Reply
    October 8, 2010 at 2:26 am

    In 1990 fuel represented 15% of airlines’ overhead; today that figure is 50%. Saving 70% on fuel cost would save a whopping 35% in overhead costs. Think of all the amenities that would get reinstated!

  2. Michael D Reply
    October 8, 2010 at 5:26 pm

    [re Johb bergrs’ amenities]
    Hot Nuts for everyone!

    The illustrations show a plane with more windows and the text talks about a double aisle.

  3. Michael D Reply
    October 8, 2010 at 6:02 pm

    [oops-continuing]
    So the fuel efficiency is most likely dominated by per passenger as opposed to per mile traveled. Less flights, more pax per flight. At first I thought ‘wow trans pacific in a 737’ but in fact range could be shorter. The 777 looks like a triple barrel. Maybe +1,000 passengers?!

  4. Matthew Reply
    October 8, 2010 at 6:18 pm

    @John: I take a more cynical look–I think prices may stay the same, if we’re lucky, even though airlines will be pulling in more, but no amenities will be reinstated. The baggage fees and BOB are here to stay!

    @Michael: That’s an interesting point–the article doesn’t mention how many pax the planes will seat.

  5. Michael D Reply
    October 9, 2010 at 1:47 pm

    @Matthew
    I counted the windows and there are more windows in the illustration and the design is a double barrel with an extra aisle. So I think it will carry more pax. Also extra lift means carries more pax/freight especially given that it is 10% slower.

Leave a Reply

Cancel reply

Search

Hot Deals for July

Note: Please see my Advertiser Disclosure

Capital One Venture X Business Card
Earn 150,000 Miles Sign Up Bonus
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Earn 100,000 Points
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Earn 75,000 Miles!
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Earn 75,000 Miles
Chase Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card
Earn $750 Cash Back
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
Earn 120,000 Membership Reward® Points

Recent Posts

  • Delta Los Angeles Hong Kong
    Delta Air Lines Challenges United Airlines With New Los Angeles – Hong Kong Route July 12, 2025
  • a room with tables and chairs and a chandelier
    Review: Hôtel du Louvre (Hyatt Unbound Collection) July 12, 2025
  • Air India 787 crash report
    Air India 787 Crash Update: Preliminary Report Shows Fuel Switches Flipped Seconds After Takeoff July 12, 2025
  • Best Coffee Paris
    Great Coffee In Paris July 12, 2025

Categories

Popular Posts

  • Favorite Airline Commercials
    My 10 Favorite Airline Commercials June 15, 2025
  • a blue passport on a black surface
    All The Patriotic Quotes In Your U.S. Passport July 4, 2025
  • Qantas Lounge Review Hong Kong
    Review: Qantas Lounge Hong Kong (HKG) June 14, 2025
  • a row of seats in an airplane
    If You Abuse Company Travel Policy, Expect To Be Fired! June 16, 2025

Archives

July 2025
M T W T F S S
 123456
78910111213
14151617181920
21222324252627
28293031  
« Jun    

As seen on:

facebook twitter instagram rss
Privacy Policy © Live and Let's Fly All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Live and Let's Fly with appropriate and specific directions to the original content.