Research and Development – Page 3

ILA 2016 – New inner-city airports and new aircraft – a glimpse into the future

001-Airport_FrontExterior_mod3 — Cent air station/Image: Bauhaus Luftfahrt

After its trade fair appearances in 2012 with “Ce-Liner” and 2014 with “Propulsive Fuselage”, Bauhaus Luftfahrt again wants to attract the attention of important trade visitors and the wider public at this year’s ILA Berlin Air Show form June 1st until June 4th.

In collaboration with twelve students from Glasgow School of Art, 25 scientists from Bauhaus Luftfahrt have developed a well-matched airport and aircraft concept: “CentAirStation” and “CityBird”. Their mission statement: New inner-city airports and new aircraft operating regionally between these new inner-city airports and conventional airports will contribute greatly to solve major air transport challenges in 2040 and beyond.

Please find more details related to “CentAirStation” and “CityBird” and more background informatoin in the links:

160527_CentAirStation_ILA 2016

160525_CityBird_ILA 2016

160529_Backgrounder_ILA 2016

At the stand of its industrial partner MTU Aero Engines (hall 2, no. 301), Bauhaus Luftfahrt will illustrate its concept based on a model in scale 1:200 as well as two animations in 3D and 360 degrees. jwm

New flight just a dream for the future?

1280px-E-Genius_take-off_at_2011_Green_Flight_Challenge_02 — The ‘e-Genius’ is a one-man electric aircraft, developed by the Institute of Aircraft Design at Stuttgart University. The first flight took place on 25 May 2011. Top speed: 270 km/h, span: 17 m, length: 8.1 m/Image: Institute of Aircraft Design, Stuttgart University

In the summer of 2015, Airbus sent an electrically driven two-seater, the “E-fan”, across the English Channel. At the same time, “e-Genius”, also a two-seater battery-powered aircraft, developed at the Stuttgart Institute, flew to Milan and back. Energy costs: only 20 Euro.

At present, the Stuttgart Institute is developing a hybrid aircraft. The lithium polymer battery is to be supplemented by a generator powered with diesel, kerosene or agrosprit. The biggest problem remains with the batteries, which are still too heavy. Another problem is the cost. Developing a new aircraft is very expensive. “The range is from 50 to 100 billion euros,” said Gernot Klepper of the Institute for World Economy in Kiel. Development requires a commitment of 20 years. Airbus, for example, expects standard operations for its electric aircraft to commence no earlier than the year 2050. Also, industry representatives demonstrate caution: it will be a while yet before any alternative, environmentally-friendly fuels are implemented. Until then, the industry is focusing on sustainable alternative fuels and “process optimization”. Continue reading “New flight just a dream for the future?”

Less Noise, Less Fuel

ATRA_OP-1_breit — DLR research aircraft Airbus A320 ATRA. Image: DLR

Two new research projects of the German Aerospace Center (Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt, DLR) aim to achieve less noise and lower fuel consumption.
Two research projects that the German Aerospace Center (DLR) and the Environment & Community Center (UNH) presented in Kelsterbach near Frankfurt on 24 November are aimed at reducing aircraft noise over residential areas.
On behalf of the UNH, a subsidiary of the state of Hesse, the DLR is expected to test a pilot assistance system called LNAS (Low Noise Augmentation System) with the A320 ATRA research aircraft during regular operations at Frankfurt airport in the summer of 2016). The system is supposed to offer a noise-optimized approach procedure. The researchers wish to find out Continue reading “Less Noise, Less Fuel”

Propulsive Fuselage: Adding an extra engine to reduce emissions

In view of the aviation industry´s ambitious “Flightpath 2050” emissions targets, new approaches for propulsion system design and integration are required to further improve aircraft efficiency. One promising idea proposed by academia and industry is to distribute the power of a single core engine to two or even more fans.

This would increase the propulsive efficiency due to a larger total fan area while main- taining a moderate increase in fan diameter and weight. Generally referred to as “distributed propulsion”, this would open up new options for optimization such as Continue reading “Propulsive Fuselage: Adding an extra engine to reduce emissions”