2012-06-08 16:06
Commercial jets to take flight in two decades
Aircraft engineers answered NASA’s challenge to reduce pollution, noise and fuel costs. These prototype models are next in line to become the commercial planes of the future, according to online science and technology news sourcePopular Science, May 1. Lockheed Martin, Box Wing Jet: Half the fuel of a passenger plane Target year: 2025 Passenger planes like Boeing 747 have horrible fuel efficiency, using up about 19ℓ per 1.852m. Lockheed Martin’s Box Wing combines lightweight materials used in fighter jets with a wider fan and a looped-wing design, allowing the plane to travel farther with the same amount of fuel. This means that the Box Wing has a 50-percent higher efficiency than the average plane. The jet also has a noise level 35 decibels lower than that of standard planes. The design of the plane allows it to take off and descend in a small amount of space. Boeing, name undecided: Fuel efficiency up by 30 percent Target year: 2025 Boeing’s new airplane design has no name yet, but resembles a stingray. It has a ‘Blended Wing Body’ design, which means the fuselage forms a smooth curve with the wings. The plans for this plane are actually quite similar to those of the unmanned ‘X-48’ underdevelopment by both Boeing and NASA. The thin, flat fuselage allows 30 percent more efficient fuel use than the average jet. The plane also minimizes the spread of engine sounds with vertical tail wings on either side of the turbofan engine. Northrop Grumman, name undecided: A retro look Target year: 2025 Northrop Grumman’s model is more retro than futuristic, with a 1930s-40s feel. But the flying wing aircraft is actually one of the most aerodynamic forms.It has High Bypass engines of Rolls-Royce. Plus, like all flying wing aircrafts, the engine is hidden inside the wing, reducing noise pollution. Lockheed Martin, Supersonic Green Machine: the speed of sound Target year: 2030 In 2010, Lockheed Martin came up with the Supersonic Green Machine, which will be able to travel 1,960km an hour. It can convert its variable-cycle engines into turbofan engines upon takeoff and descent, and reduces nitrogen oxide pollution by 75 percent. The upside-down V-shaped tail and engine will reduce sonic boom effect, meaning only the sound of a vacuum would be heard at ground level. Thus, it will not be a repeat of the 2003 supersonic jet, The Concorde, which made too much noise, polluted the air and used too much fuel. Boeing, Sugar Volt: Electric motor Target year: 2035 The Sugar Volt’s range is 6,480㎞. It will use both fuel and battery energy upon take off, but once it enters cruising altitude, it can operate on electricity alone, eliminating the need for fuel. It has a 55 percent higher fuel efficiency than the average plane, as well as 60 and 80 percent less carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxide. And although the Sugar Volt’s body is as big as a Boeing 737, it only needs about 1,200m for takeoff compared to the latter which needs 300m more. MIT D8: Double bubble Target year: 2035 MIT’s D8, with its symmetrical fuselage and tail, is affectionately called Double Bubble.It has Ultra High Bypass turbofan engines, and low, swept-back wings to contribute to fuel efficiency. Made up of a high-strength, lightweight material, the D8 design can travel a distance of 5,580km at 900km per hour with 180 passengers onboard, meaning it may make a better domestic flight plane than an international one. The designs and details can be found on the NASA website. |
|
||||||||||
