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Cost effective, high‐technology civil transports
Author(s) -
Swihart John M.
Publication year - 1988
Publication title -
polymer engineering and science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.503
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1548-2634
pISSN - 0032-3888
DOI - 10.1002/pen.760280903
Subject(s) - turbofan , propulsion , aerodynamics , automotive engineering , fuel efficiency , cost reduction , avionics , computer science , aerospace engineering , mechanical engineering , engineering , business , marketing
This paper discusses the cost of high technology and its benefits to commercial air transportation. The manufacturer's dilemma today is that, while one could pay a 16 percent price premium to obtain a 10 percent reduction in fuel cost in the late 1970s, in 1985 that price premium has diminished to only 2‐1/2 percent to achieve a 10 percent fuel saving. Consequently, we must obtain the benefits of high technology at an extremely low cost. Four areas are discussed in some depth: Aerodynamics, including the effects of computational fluid dynamics, wing design, and laminar flow; structures, including the effects of new materials, both metallic and nonmetallic, and the automated tools necessary to build the nonmetallic structure; avionics, including both fly‐by‐wire and fly‐by‐light, and the improvements due to high‐speed digital computers as well as flat panel flight deck displays; and propulsion systems, including the effects of high‐bypass ratio, high‐pressure ratio turbofan engines, and single and counter rotation turbopropellers. The final result is an integration of these four areas of technology into a composition transport aircraft and the resulting performance.