Transonic Truss-Braced Wing Airplane Characteristics for Airport Operations

This study seeks to identify the major US airports where the Transonic Truss-Braced Wing aircraft could operate without folding its wings. Aircraft reference codes, which are based on the aircraft characteristics and dimensions, and the taxiway/taxilane design and runway to parallel taxiway separation specifications based on the reference codes are used to determine the operational compatibility of the aircraft design with airport design; these are described. The characteristics and dimensions of a conceptual Transonic Truss-Braced Wing aircraft are listed, and the reference codes based on them are given. Expressions for determining the wingspan and the wingtip height of the folded wing as a function of fold angle are provided. Two different approaches: (1) using historical air traffic data to associate the airport with the aircraft reference codes and (2) using the airport geometry for identifying airports suitable for Transonic Truss- Braced Wing aircraft operations are described. Results of analysis of 77 major US airports show the Transonic Truss-Braced Wing aircraft could operate at most of these airports without wing folding after landing.