Blended Wing Body Tech Under the Microscope in Academic Program

Bombardier has announced the first academic partner in its EcoJet Research project in the University of Victoria Centre for Aerospace Research.

The EcoJet project aims to explore the use of blended wing body aircraft, which are slated to be capable of slashing bizjet emissions by "up to 50%" by current company estimates. Victoria Centre for Aerospace Research is only the first to be unveiled, with British Columbia's SME Quaternion Aerospace announced not long after. The trio presented a small scale model of their vision for a blended wing body EcoJett, showing off the team behind a catfish-looking, uncrewed drone.

The EcoJet project debuted "around 15 years ago" according to Bombardier, but only began its first phase of flight testing in 2017. The 'catfish' is now twice the size of the initial 8-foot wide demonstrator, proving out the concept bit by bit as the team scales up to full size.

“Bombardier is proud to support forward-looking aerospace research all while involving a broad network of academic institutions,” said Stephen McCullough, Senior Vice President of Engineering and Product Development, Bombardier. “Now that we have publicly disclosed some aspects of the first phases of the EcoJet flight-testing program, it is important for us to give credit and to share the phenomenal response with our partners who are instrumental to this dimension of the research project. Collaboration between local businesses and top academic institutions is key in nurturing a strong and thriving Canadian aerospace industry. Our hand-in-hand work with the University of Victoria is a meaningful example of such innovation pathway that stimulates coast-to-coast skill transfer and talent development.’’

“For more than a decade, the Centre for Aerospace Research has grown from strength to strength, and our cutting-edge work with Bombardier represents the most significant research partnership in our history,” said Afzal Suleman, Canada Research Chair, Director and Professor, Centre for Aerospace Research, University of Victoria. “Through this collaboration, our students and researchers are gaining critical real-world skills while helping to push forward the frontiers of sustainability and redefining the boundaries of what is possible for the future of the global aviation industry.”

FMI: www.bombardier.com