But Airbus’ experts in aircraft materials, aerodynamics, cabins and engines have also come up with the design that is an ‘engineer’s dream’, to meet the expectations of the passengers of the future. More than a flight of pure fantasy, The Airbus Concept Plane illustrates what air transport could look like in 2050 – even 2030 if advancements in existing technologies continue apace. Ultra long and slim wings, semi-embedded engines, a U-shaped tail and lightweight intelligent body all feature to further improve environmental performance or ‘eco-efficiency’. The result: lower fuel burn, a significant cut in emissions, less noise and greater comfort.

It’s not a real aircraft and all of the technologies it features, though feasible, are not likely to come together in the same manner. It is designed to stretch engineers and push thinking beyond the usual boundaries. The Airbus Concept plane includes the following technological advances:

Longer and slimmer wingspan

It is configured with high aspect-ratio wings (ultra long and thing) to better glide through the air. They also improve fuel efficiency and the flow of air over the surface of the wing to reduce drag and fuel burn.

Intelligent materials

It is built using new lightweight ‘smart’ materials that sense the load they are under. This will make a lighter aircraft and reduce both fuel burn and emissions.

Manufacturing methods

New manufacturing methods will reduce the cost of building the aircraft in spite of the new advance materials and complex shapes.

Engines

The engines will be more reliable, quieter and fuel-efficient. They are installed at the rear of the aircraft, far from the cabin, which increases cabin comfort (lower noise levels). It is also more quiet externally thanks to the shielding from the empennage (tail surfaces). The positioning of the engines, at the rear and semi-embedded, fully optimises the aircraft for lower fuel burn. They can be semi-embedded because advances will have reached such a level that engine reliability will diminish the need for easy access.

Fuselage (central body of the aircraft)

The fuselage of the concept plane is not a simple tube, but is curved and shaped to provide more space inside for new cabin configurations in specific areas, with better aerodynamics outside to improve flight. It would be an all-composite aircraft to take advantage of composite’s ability to be shaped efficiently during manufacture.

Doors

The entrance doorways will be built as double doors, for faster access to ensure quick and easy boarding.

Empennage (tail section of the aircraft)

The aircraft has a U-shaped tail that acts as a shield to reduce noise. The concept plane does not include a vertical tail, as seen on the planes of today required because engines are installed on the wings, so it is needed for directional stability in case of engine failure. The engines of the future will have no risk of failure, so can be placed at the rear and remove the need for a vertical tail.

Electrical systems

The aircraft will continuously monitor its own state of health, predict any need for maintenance and automatically schedule this well in advance. The electronics and other systems on board will be very reliable, needing minimum or zero maintenance.

• Reference:
• http://www.airbus.com/……

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