The proposed Lockheed Stratoliner, designed by William Brown, is a vision of the theoretical future of aviation. Designed not to run on conventional petrol-intensive engines, but instead on four Cryogenic Hydrogen Turbofan engines (do you know what those are? Because I don’t), the aircraft will produce zero emissions while being able to travel anywhere in the world without refueling.
Its iconic form is inspired by the migratory bird, the Godwit, which holds the record for longest non-stop flight at over 11,000 km. Like the Godwit, the Stratoliner makes use of very large, oversized wing which produce large amounts of lift and allow for higher altitude flight, where air resistance is negligible. These wings and the engines’ ability to run in a low-power state, similar to fighter jets allow the aircraft’s long-jump abilities.
Courtesy of William Brown
Courtesy of William Brown
