Faster and Cleaner
In the length of an average lifetime, the field of aviation had gone from being barely able to fly an aircraft for 100 feet to landing on the moon.
In the length of an average lifetime, the field of aviation had gone from being barely able to fly an aircraft for 100 feet to landing on the moon. Now, according to John Tracy, Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of the Boeing Company, the next few years will see equally radical developments in aviation.
“Airplanes will get more efficient, burn less fuel and become more environmentally compliant. The insides of the plane are being overhauled, with fly-by-wire being steadily replaced with fly-by-light technology, which means that many more controls will become electronically operated and lead to error-free flights,” he reveals.
At the same time, planes will also be lighter with companies such as Boeing and Airbus using composite materials to achieve lower costs by reducing weight, fuel use and environmental damage. Boeing’s ambitious 787 Dreamliner, for instance, will have up to a quarter of its body made of composites.
Aircraft firms are also experimenting with new fuels. A year ago, Boeing flew a Hydrogen-powered plane to see how it could power the auxiliary unit used by the plane when on the ground. “We will reduce fuel consumption by 15 per cent with every new generation aircraft,” says Tracy.
— Rahul Sachitanand
“Airplanes will get more efficient, burn less fuel and become more environmentally compliant. The insides of the plane are being overhauled, with fly-by-wire being steadily replaced with fly-by-light technology, which means that many more controls will become electronically operated and lead to error-free flights,” he reveals.
At the same time, planes will also be lighter with companies such as Boeing and Airbus using composite materials to achieve lower costs by reducing weight, fuel use and environmental damage. Boeing’s ambitious 787 Dreamliner, for instance, will have up to a quarter of its body made of composites.
Aircraft firms are also experimenting with new fuels. A year ago, Boeing flew a Hydrogen-powered plane to see how it could power the auxiliary unit used by the plane when on the ground. “We will reduce fuel consumption by 15 per cent with every new generation aircraft,” says Tracy.
— Rahul Sachitanand
