Airbus MAVERIC
Experimental blended wing body UAV demonstrator for future airliners.
The Airbus MAVERIC (Model Aircraft for Validation and Experimentation of Robust Innovative Controls) is an experimental, unmanned aircraft with a blended wing body shape. It serves as a test platform for a potential full-scale airliner of the same design. According to Airbus, this configuration could cut fuel use by as much as 20 percent.
Development started in 2017 under the AirbusUpNext research program. The aircraft was built to study how to improve control of blended wing body planes. It is radio-controlled, with a wingspan of 3.2 meters and a length of 2 meters. Its wing area is roughly 2.25 square meters. Two engines sit above the rear fuselage, each paired with a vertical stabilizer, forming a twin-tail layout. Airbus says a full-scale version would burn 20 percent less fuel than current single-aisle airliners and produce less noise, thanks to the engines’ position above the body.
The MAVERIC first flew in June 2019 at an undisclosed site in France. It was publicly unveiled on February 11, 2020, at the Singapore Airshow, where Airbus stated the research program would run until the second quarter of that year. On September 21, 2020—Zero Emissions Day—Airbus introduced three concepts for its hydrogen-powered ZEROe family; the largest of these was a blended wing aircraft based on the MAVERIC.
Quick Facts
- Aircraft Type
- Experimental unmanned aerial vehicle
- Manufacturer
- Airbus
- Number Built
- 1
- Construction Date
- 2017
- First Flight
- June 2019
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Development of the MAVERIC began in 2017 as part of the AirbusUpNext research program, according to an Airbus press release. Its primary purpose is to research controllability improvements for blended wing body aircraft. The MAVERIC is a radio-controlled aircraft with a wingspan of 3.2 meters, powered by two engines mounted over the rear of the aircraft, each having a vertical stabilizer, creating a twin tail arrangement.
The MAVERIC made its first flight in June 2019 at an undisclosed location in France. The public reveal of the aircraft took place on February 11, 2020, at the Singapore Airshow, where it was announced that the research program would continue until the second quarter of that year. On September 21, 2020, Zero Emissions Day, Airbus revealed three concepts for the hydrogen-powered Airbus ZEROe; the largest of which was a blended wing aircraft based on the MAVERIC.
Reader's Guide
The MAVERIC is significant as a demonstrator for a possible full-scale blended wing body airliner, a configuration that Airbus claims can reduce fuel consumption by up to 20% compared to single-aisle airliners. Additionally, the location of the engines above the fuselage would reduce noise pollution. Its development under the AirbusUpNext research program highlights a focused effort to improve controllability of BWB aircraft. The MAVERIC's legacy includes serving as the basis for the largest concept in the hydrogen-powered Airbus ZEROe family, announced on Zero Emissions Day 2020. As an experimental UAV, it contributes to research that may influence future commercial aviation designs, though no full-scale production has been announced.
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