Blended Wing Body, Geared Turbo Fan powered C-130 Replacement

Boeing X-48B

One way to pave the way for the introduction of the Blended Wing Body into mainline service is as a C-130 replacement and A400M competitor. Using a Pratt & Whitney Geared Turbo Fan engine, it can be sized between the C-130 and the A400M.

Lockheed C-130 Hercules

Boeing as the one handling the Blended Wing Body experiments with NASA and the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory, can combine it with the Dreamliner technology to produce another game changing airplane. Being a cargo plane, it can fly at a lower safety requirement level as compared to a civilian airliner.

BWB artist concept

After utilization as a cargo plane, it can be matured later as an airliner - the B797, replacement for the venerable 737.