Boeing unveils jet concept with ultra-thin wings

Airplane manufacturer Boeing shows a new iteration of an airplane wing system at the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics in San Diego, California, US. [Photo: Reuters]

SAN DIEGO- Boeing Co unveiled a speedier and higher-flying version of a concept plane on Tuesday aimed at sharply reducing fuel use thanks to its elongated ultra-light wings.

The so-called Transonic Truss-Braced Wing aircraft boasts a 170-foot (52 meter) wingspan that sits atop the fuselage and is braced from underneath by a truss in a design reminiscent of biplanes from the early years of aviation.