Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-s2hrs Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-02T20:35:24.033Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

The optimum aeroplane and beyond

Part of: RAeS Lanchester Lecture Papers

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 February 2016

D. I. A. Poll
D. I. A. Poll*
Affiliation:
[email protected] University Beds, UK
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

A summary of the ways in which aviation impacts the environment is presented and the ratio of the energy liberated during a flight to the revenue work done (ETRW) is identified as a key indicator in the assessment of environmental impact. Using the ‘Breguet’ range equation, a number of theorems relating to ETRW are derived and discussed. This is followed by an approximate analysis to produce estimates for the ETRW of aircraft currently in service. It is found that the global fleet average value for ETRW is much higher than those estimated for existing individual aircraft. An explanation of the difference is presented, with the contributions from airline operations and air traffic management identified and quantified. Consideration is then given to the potential for future reduction in ETRW through advances in materials, alternative fuels, structures, aerodynamics and propulsion technologies and the likely benefits are quantified. The improvement in ETRW that could be achieved if this parameter was minimised in the design process with the current level of technology is also considered. Finally, the likelihood of performance improvements being introduced in the short, medium and long term is briefly discussed.

Type
Research Article
Information
The Aeronautical Journal , Volume 113 , Issue 1141 , March 2009 , pp. 151 - 164
Copyright
Copyright © Royal Aeronautical Society 2009 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1. Lanchester, F.W. Aerodonetics — constituting the second volume of a complete work on aerial flight, 1908, Archibald Constable, London.Google Scholar
2. Pritchard, J.L. Sir George Cayley — The Inventor of the Aeroplane, 1961, Max Parrish, London.Google Scholar
3. Airbus. Airbus Global Market Forecast 2007-2026, http://www.airbus.com/fileadmin/documents/gmf/PDF_dl/00-all-gmf_2007.pdf.Google Scholar
4. The Boeing Company. Current Market Outlook 2008-2027, http://www.boeing.com/commercial/cmo/pdf/Boeing_Current_Market_Outlook_2008_to_2027.pdf.Google Scholar
5. Ipcc. Climate Change 2007, Synthesis Report. http://www.ipcc.ch/pdf/assessment-report/ar4/syr/ar4_syr.pdf.Google Scholar
6. Schumann, U. On conditions for contrail formation from aircraft. Meteorol Zeitschrift, February 1996, NF 5, pp 4–23.Google Scholar
7. Roberson, W. Fuel conservation strategies: cost index explained. Boeing Commercial Aeromagazine, 2007, Quarter 2.Google Scholar
8. Cavcar, M. Bréguet range equation? J Aircr, 2006, 43, (5), pp 1542–1544.Google Scholar
9. Hileman, J.I., Katz, J.B., Mantilla, J.G. and Fleming, G. Payload fuel energy efficiency as a metric for aviation environmental performance, September 2008, 26th International Congress of the Aeronautical Sciences, Anchorage, Alaska, USA.Google Scholar
10. Us Department of Transportation. Air Carrier Summary Data, Form 41 Schedule T-2 for 1991-2008, July 2008, Department for Transportation, Washington, DC, USA.Google Scholar
11. Reynolds, T.G. Analysis of lateral flight inefficiency in global air traffic management, September 2008, Eighth AIAA Aviation Technology, Integration and Operations Conference, Anchorage, Alaska, USA.Google Scholar
12. Hileman, J.I., Wong, H.M., Ortiz, D., Brown, N., Maurice, L. and Rumizen, M. The feasibility and potential environmental benefits of alternative fuels for commercial aviation, September 2008, 26th International Congress of the Aeronautical Sciences, Anchorage, Alaska, USA.Google Scholar