Until we have Star Trek type teleportation devices that can beam us around long distances, it looks like planes will be flying for quite a few more years. So it should be no surprise that airlines, airplane manufacturers and even NASA are looking at ways to make commercial flights more economical by using less fuel (or alternative fuels!), reduce harmful emissions, and hopefully be more comfortable for passengers.
This new design incorporates a smaller wing braced with a truss that will help reduce drag and improve fuel efficiency by up to 30% over current airliners of similar size and configuration. Unfortunately, it doesn't look like our boarding passes will allow us to get onboard until the 2030s.
The Boeing aircraft’s design looks, at a glance, like a traditional commercial jet. But has long, thin wings that reduce the craft’s overall weight. The wings’ thinness requires them to be supported from below by trusses. The design should also reduce the aircraft’s drag in the air. Taken together, these innovations should reduce the aircraft’s fuel consumption by about 30% compared to the most fuel-efficient single-aisle aircraft today, according to NASA.
https://gizmodo.com/nasa-boeing-transonic-truss-braced-wing-aircraft-1850007091
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