The Fizzled-Out Promise of the Lockheed ‘Flatbed’

The concept aircraft would utilize an open platform and various modules to carry a wide variety of loads ranging from military equipment to passengers.

Jason McDowell

Tuesday, September 19, 2023 at 12:14 PM ET

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Unconventional in many respects, an initial study found the Lockheed ‘Flatbed’ concept both technically and economically feasible. [Credit: Lockheed]

Key Takeaways:

In 1980, Lockheed developed the "Flatbed" concept aircraft, designed as a highly versatile transport combining passenger, standard cargo, and outsized military equipment capabilities via an open platform and modular systems.
A core innovation was its ability to transport large military vehicles, such as tanks, exposed to the elements, which, despite increasing drag and fuel consumption, was deemed aerodynamically plausible through wind tunnel tests and proposed solutions like vortex control.
The aircraft was designed for rapid loading and unloading using a swing-away nose and interchangeable modules, including passenger pods that could facilitate efficient multimodal transport from city centers.
A detailed study by Lockheed and NASA concluded the "Flatbed" concept was technically and economically feasible and offered operational efficiencies, though it never progressed beyond the theoretical stage.

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In 1980, a small team of engineers from Lockheed explored a bizarre concept, the likes of which had never been studied before.

The group recognized that the transport aircraft category traditionally comprised three separate subcategories—passenger, cargo, and outsized cargo. It then created a concept that would combine all three. Aptly called the “Flatbed,” the concept aircraft would utilize an open platform and various modules to carry a wide variety of loads ranging from military equipment to passengers.