Embodiments of the present invention are related to a Y-shaped airliner including an elongate main fuselage bifurcated into two outwardly angled fuselage extensions defined as a first fuselage extension and a second fuselage extension. The airliner includes a NACA inlet, a medial fan, a pair of forward canard wings, and a pair of side wings each including at least one engine. The medial fan is positioned between the first fuselage extension and the second fuselage extension. The NACA inlet is positioned on the main fuselage rear skin and is structured to feed airflow into the medial fan.

A wide-body aircraft is disclosed with a fuselage section that includes a set of side-by-side fuselage lobes having a fuselage skin. A first woven composite preform positioned at a first intersection of the set of side-by-side fuselage lobes located at a first cusp of the side-by-side fuselage lobes. A second woven composite preform positioned at a second intersection of the set of side-by-side fuselage lobes located at a second cusp of the side-by-side fuselage lobes. Each of the first and second woven composite preforms are configured to receive a structural component, such that each of the first and second woven composite preforms accommodates vertical load imparted through the structural component.

A trunk route aircraft has at least one wing for supporting the aircraft during flight, and at least one propulsor for forward propulsion of the aircraft. The trunk route aircraft further includes a pressurized trunk route fuselage having a double-bubble cross-sectional shape and a generally vertically-oriented longitudinal bulkhead dividing the trunk route fuselage interior into two side-by-side trunk route payload compartments. The longitudinal bulkhead is loaded in tension when the trunk route fuselage is pressurized. The trunk route payload compartments are each configured to receive a plurality of lightweight ISO (International Organization for Standardization) geometry containers arranged end-to-end, or a plurality of container inserts arranged end-to-end, each container insert also configured to be received within the lightweight ISO-geometry container, or a combination of one or more lightweight ISO-geometry containers and one or more container inserts arranged end-to-end.

A trunk route aircraft has at least one wing for supporting the aircraft during flight, and at least one propulsor for forward propulsion of the aircraft. The trunk route aircraft further includes a pressurized trunk route fuselage having a double-bubble cross-sectional shape and a generally vertically-oriented longitudinal bulkhead dividing the trunk route fuselage interior into two side-by-side trunk route payload compartments. The longitudinal bulkhead is loaded in tension when the trunk route fuselage is pressurized. The trunk route payload compartments are each configured to receive a plurality of lightweight ISO (International Organization for Standardization) geometry containers arranged end-to-end, or a plurality of container inserts arranged end-to-end, each container insert also configured to be received within the lightweight ISO-geometry container, or a combination of one or more lightweight ISO-geometry containers and one or more container inserts arranged end-to-end.

A wide-body aircraft is disclosed with a fuselage section that includes a set of side-by-side fuselage lobes having a fuselage skin. A first woven composite preform positioned at a first intersection of the set of side-by-side fuselage lobes located at a first cusp of the side-by-side fuselage lobes. A second woven composite preform positioned at a second intersection of the set of side-by-side fuselage lobes located at a second cusp of the side-by-side fuselage lobes. Each of the first and second woven composite preforms are configured to receive a structural component, such that each of the first and second woven composite preforms accommodates vertical load imparted through the structural component.

Optimization of the use of the available volume in a flying wing for commercial passenger transport, in particular for short- or medium-haul routes. A flying wing is provided including a passenger cabin together with at least one hold for the transport of luggage and/or goods, in which the hold is positioned laterally relative to said passenger cabin.