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August 2019
AEROSPACE
PARIS AIR SHOW NEWS
BOEING T-X – BREAKING
THE MOULD?
AI AND LEGAL LIABILITY
www.aerosociety.com
SWOOPS TO
August 2019
CONQUER
Volume 46 Number 8
AIRBUS UK IMAGINES THE
FUTURE OF AIRLINERS WITH
ITS HYBRID BIRD OF PREY
Royal Aeronautical Society
EXPERT FORUM
MODERATOR: DR. RAFAEL RAMIREZ, DIRECTOR, OXFORD SCENARIOS PROGRAM
On 14-15 November 2019, the world’s aviation industry leaders will gather at the London home
of the Royal Aeronautical Society for a forum on the global megatrends and their
importance to our industry.
WHY SHOULD YOU ATTEND?
The objective of the forum is to develop a plausible
investigation of these potentially disruptive trends and to
co-create a shared vision of the future. Senior Aviation
Executives with a strategic perspective will want
their voices to be heard in this important dialogue.
14 –15
NOVEMBER 2019
NO.4 HAMILTON PLACE,
LONDON
Registration
Non-member
£1450.00 + VAT
RAeS Corporate Partner or Member
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www.aerosociety.com/megatrends
Please contact
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Volume 46 Number 8 Inspiration nation Plane speaking
UK Govt
Airbus
August 2019 Airbus reveals the An interview with
14 revolutionary Bird of
Prey hybrid-electric
36
the UK’s new
Minister of Aviation.
passenger aircraft Baroness Vere of
concept designed in Norbiton.
the UK.
Contents
Correspondence on all aerospace matters is welcome at: The Editor, AEROSPACE, No.4 Hamilton Place, London W1J 7BQ, UK publications@aerosociety.com
Comment Regulars
4 Radome 12 Transmission
The latest aviation and Your letters, emails, tweets
aeronautical intelligence, and feedback.
analysis and comment.
The green challenge for aviation 10 Antenna
62 The Last Word
Keith Hayward looks at
the development of the
Howard Wheeldon reviews
The past half century or so has been a triumph for the democratisation of nations currently seeking to European guided weapon
upgrade their air forces with sector.
air travel – opening up foreign countries and experiences and stimulating the latest generation jets.
trade and tourism. Yet, there is an underlying sense that, at least in the
Western hemisphere, the tide may be beginning to turn against unrestricted
growth in air travel – much of it connected to the growing sense of
Features
environmental crisis. But what might have been dismissed in previous
decades as just ‘typical students’ or the ‘usual green protesters’ now
seems to be gathering momentum in other parts of society. The ‘flight- 20 28
shaming’ eco-movement is spreading from Sweden’s middle classes to
other countries – encouraging people to take other forms of transport or
not travel at all. Another aspect, perhaps underappreciated, is that, while
Boeing
electric cars, e-bikes, recharging stations and zero-emission vehicles have
proliferated in cities – aviation’s reliance on kerosene has become more Breaking the mould?
Is Boeing’s new T-X military Paris electrifies
and more visible. This is despite the fact that aviation has developed more A report on the sales
trainer revolutionary or
fuel-efficient and quieter aeroplanes which are a far cry from the polluting, evolutionary? announcements, aerospace
noisy aircraft of 50 years ago. Indeed, aviation has been long aware of news, latest aircraft and new
technology on display at the
these challenges and is already signed up to tough sustainable aviation 2019 Paris Air Show.
targets such as ACARE 2050. Yet there is a sense that this message is not
getting through and that incremental improvements are too slow for today’s 24
environmentally conscious consumers. It is no longer business as usual. 40
Radical ideas, such as Airbus UK’s Bird of Prey (see p 14) – which could
offer up to a staggering 50% cut in fuel burn – are thus likely to be the
RAeS/NAL
only way in which aviation can square passengers’ growing concern for the
environment with guilt-free freedom to travel by air.
Tim Robinson, Editor-in-Chief The birth of air travel
When the first international
It’s the Robot’s Fault! passenger flight took off from
tim.robinson@aerosociety.com How the rise of artificial London to Paris August 1919,
intelligence may affect there was still debate over
liability and risk in the whether the future of flight lay
NEWS IN BRIEF aerospace sector. with aircraft or airships.
Editor-in-Chief Editorial Office Printed by Buxton Press Limited,
Tim Robinson Royal Aeronautical Society Palace Road, Buxton, Derbyshire
+44 (0)20 7670 4353
tim.robinson@aerosociety.com
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Distributed by Royal Mail 45 Afterburner
Deputy Editor 2019 AEROSPACE subscription
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Bill Read rates: Non-members, £170 46 Message from our President
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+44 (0)20 7670 4351 Please send your order to:
bill.read@aerosociety.com AEROSPACE is published by the Royal
Wayne J Davis, RAeS, No.4 Hamilton 47 Message from our Chief Executive
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Production Manager
Chief Executive
Place, London W1J 7BQ, UK. 48 Book Reviews
Wayne J Davis +44 (0)20 7670 4354
51 Library Additions
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52 Obituaries
Publications Co-ordinator version of this magazine, please
Chris Male
partners@aerosociety.com contact: membership@aerosociety.com 54 H SA1011 project Additional features and content are
+44 (0)20 7670 4352 Unless specifically attributed, no USA: Periodical postage paid at 55 Women and aviation available to view online on
chris.male@aerosociety.com material in AEROSPACE shall be taken Champlain New York and additional in Pakistan www.aerosociety.com/aerospaceinsight
to represent the opinion of the RAeS. offices.
Publications Executive 56 Diary Including:
Annabel Hallam Reproduction of material used in this Postmaster: Send address changes Walking on the Moon again, Getting the balance
+44 (0)20 7670 4361 publication is not permitted without the to IMS of New York, PO Box 1518, 57 Sir Michael Marshall right, Shapeshifting supersonic airliner, Apollo 11
annabel.hallam@aerosociety.com written consent of the Editor-in-Chief. Champlain NY 12919-1518, USA. Lecture competition on the big screen, RAeS flies the flag for diversity,
58 Blue Streak and other In the July issue of AEROSPACE, Flight to
Book Review Editor ISSN 2052-451X
Brian Riddle launch vehicles aftermarket profits, Five blogs on
brian.riddle@aerosociety.com 60 Elections news from the 2019 Paris Air Show.
Front cover: Airbus’ Bird of Prey hybrid-electric airline concept. (Airbus)
@aerosociety i Find us on LinkedIn f Find us on Facebook www.aerosociety.com AUGUST 2019 13
Radome
INTELLIGENCE / ANALYSIS / COMMENT
Safety fast
As well as the F1-style carbon monocoque
chassis to provide crash protection for the
pilot, the Airspeeder Mk4 also features
advanced safety features, including an
augmented reality (AR) display for the pilot
and LIDAR-based anti-collision sensors.
Prop power
The Airspeeder Mk4 is powered by eight 50Kw
electric motors which drive eight 60in two-
bladed propellers.
Battery swaps
The Airspeeder Mk4 features 500Kw
swappable battery packs, which provide
enough charge for 15mins of flying time. The
creators envisage races of 30mins with a
‘pitstop’ to swap batteries.
W
4 AEROSPACE / AUGUST 2019
August 2019 news pages.indd 2 06/08/2019 09:07
Race days
The Airspeeder Grand Prix, set to begin in
2020, will see five teams of ten pilots racing
four metres above the ground at motorsport
circuits and global landmarks.
Airspeeder Mk4
specifications
Pilot 1
Top speed 200km/h
Weight 250kg
Racing altitude 4m
W
GENERAL AVIATION
Flying car air racing
Launched at the UK's Goodwood Festival of Speed in July was Airspeeder − an aerial racing
championship for piloted electric quadcopters, able to fly up to 200km/h and with a greater
power to weight ratio than a F1 car or jet fighter. The new air sport for ‘flying car’ eVTOLs
is the creation of Australian start-up Alauda Racing, which has already been testing an
unpiloted three quarter scale version of the Airspeeder. The Airspeeder Mk4 (pictured above)
is planned to fly in the Airspeeder Grand Prix series, set to begin in 2020. Flight testing of the
Airspeeder
piloted version is set to begin in Mojave later this year.
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5
August 2019 news pages.indd 3 06/08/2019 09:07
Radome
GENERAL AVIATION AIR TRANSPORT
Gulfstream G600 BA fined £183m in data breach
receives certification
On 28 June the US control sidesticks. The
Federal Aviation Pratt & Whitney Canada
Administration (FAA) PW800-powered aircraft
awarded both type racked up some
and production 3,200hr of
Gu
certificates to airborne flight
lf s t r
Gulfstream's testing and
eam
Airbus
newest 100,000hr of
product, the ground based British Airways has been hit with a record £183m fine after criminal hackers managed to
G600 business simulation, breach its IT systems and steal 500,000 customers’ personal data that was revealed in
jet. Launched in says Gulfstream. September 2018. The fine, imposed by the UK Information Commissioners Office (ICO),
2014, the 6,500nm First deliveries to is the largest to be handed out and the first to be publicly announced under new rules
range G600 features the customers are expected following the introduction of GDPR. The fine, 1.5% of BA’s 2017 turnover, is still less
touchscreen Symmetry to commence later this than the 4% maximum punishment that could be imposed. BA has 28 days to appeal the
Flight Deck and active year. fine.
DEFENCE AEROSPACE
As AEROSPACE goes to press, Sweden and the UK have signed a memorandum of China to develop
understanding to strengthen and deepen co-operation on future combat air systems.
The ten year MoU will not see Saab, join the UK Team Tempest passenger SST
industrial consortium at the moment but FCAS work will According to Chinese supersonic passenger
continue in parallel. state media, the country is airliner’ was one of 20 key
aiming to launch its own national technical goals
indigenously developed revealed at the annual
supersonic airliner in meeting of the China
the 2035 timeframe. Association of Science
The design of a ‘green and Technology.
Chinese state media
Sweden partners
BAE Systems
with UK on future combat air
NEWS IN BRIEF
The incident occurred on the aging CC-155 Buffalo range at Edwards Air Force Namibia, Malawi, Ethiopia,
Boeing’s airliner deliveries 30 June when a body and CC-130Hs in the Base in California. Zanzibar, Tanzania and
for the first six months of was found in a garden in RCAF SAR role, will be Uganda.
this year 2019 fell by 37% Clapham. delivered later this year. A kit-build light aircraft
from 378 in 1H 2018 to built by South African high NASA and the FAA
239 in 1H 2019. The main Airbus has flown the first Virgin Orbit has school students has flown have conducted a
reason for the fall was a prototype of its modified successfully conducted 6,500nm from Cape Town, crashworthiness test
reduction in 737 deliveries twin-engine C-295 tactical a drop test of a full-scale to Egypt. The Airplane involving dropping a
which fell from 269 to 113. transport for the Royal model of its LauncherOne Company Sling 4 kitplane Fokker F28 regional jet
Canadian Air Force’s Fixed small satellite launcher. was assembled in three from a gantry 150ft in
A suspected stowaway Wing Search and Rescue The launcher, which was weeks by 20 students and the air. The aircraft, which
was killed after falling (FWSAR) programme. filled with water and then flown in stages by six was acquired by NASA
from the landing gear The first flight took place antifreeze instead of fuel, of the students who had from Canadian Regional
well of a Kenya Airways’ on 4 July from Airbus’ was dropped from a pylon qualified as pilots under Airlines in 2000, was
flight from Nairobi while Seville factory in Spain. on the wing of the ‘Cosmic the name of the U-Dream populated with 24 crash
it was flying over London The first C-295 of 16 Girl’ modified Boeing 747 Global project. The journey dummies designed to
towards Heathrow Airport. aircraft, which will replace on 10 July above a test to Egypt included stops in simulate a range of adults
6 AEROSPACE / AUGUST 2019
August 2019 news pages.indd 4 06/08/2019 09:07
Dragon
SPACEFLIGHT DEFENCE
Japanese probe lands First S400 SAMs
on asteroid − again delivered to Turkey
On 12 July, the first flown in to an airbase
elements of a Russian- near Ankara, where the
built long-range S400 e Ministry S400 missile system
c
en
surface-to-air D
ef will reportedly
is h
missile battery be deployed.
Turk
began arriving Meanwhile,
in Turkey, in the US has
defiance of US previously
protests over the warned that taking
JAXA
NATO member and delivery of this SAM
On 11 July the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) announced that its F-35 partner accquiring would be a ‘red line’ and
unmanned spacecraft Hayabusa 2 has landed for a second time on the Ryugu asteroid this system from Moscow. would see Turkey removed
185million miles from Earth. The probe made a brief touchdown in February when it fired The first components were from the F-35 programme.
a 5g ‘impactor’ pellet to stir up dust for collecting before
returning to a holding position above the surface.
The aim of the mission is to collect pristine materials from
AEROSPACE
beneath the surface of the asteroid which could provide US electric-aircraft startup, Zunum Aero has run out of funding and virtually ceased
insights into what the solar system was like at its birth operations, according to news reports. The company was developing a nine-passenger
4.6bn years ago. Hayabusa 2 is due to return to Earth in hybrid-electric regional aircraft. Boeing's Horizon X venture capital arm, JetBlue and
2020. the State of Washington had all invested money into the programme.
AIR TRANSPORT
Singapore, Malaysia
Airlines deepen ties
Flag carriers Singapore partnership areas between
Airlines and Malaysia Airlines the two airlines include
have signed a memorandum cargo, maintenance and
of understanding to extend
their codesharing agreement
expansion of code-sharing
beyond Singapore- Zunum pulls plug
Zunum Aero
and co-operation.
Potential strategic
Malaysia and frequent flyer
programme.
on electric dreams
and children. The test was narrowbodies at the Paris 22-satellite navigation killing all eight passengers Swiss-based aeropsace
carried out at the Landing Air Show in June. positioning network which and eight crew. According group, which has the
and Impact Research went out of service on 12 to reports, the twin-engine Swiss state as its only
Facility at NASA’s Langley Embraer has secured July due to a technical aircraft reached a height shareholder, realigns itself
Research Center in the first international problem relating to its of 200ft before veering to focus on aerostructures
Hampton, Virginia. customer for its KC-390 ground infrastructure down into an empty hangar and space.
tactical transport/tanker, in Italy. Galileo's critical and catching fire. The US
Saudi low-cost carrier with Portugal having seach and rescue NTSB is now investigating China Southern Airlines
flyadeal has cancelled signed up to for five services were unaffected the crash. has taken delivery of the Europe
an order for up to 50 aircraft. First deliveries in the widespread outage, first of an order for 20 budget
of Boeing’s 737MAX are set for 2023. which was down for six France's Dassault Aviation Airbus A350-900s. The Ryanai
airliners. The airline will days. has acquired Switzerland’s aircraft will begin operating loss of
now switch to Airbus As AEROSPACE goes RUAG business aviation on domestic routes from for 201
A320neos after its parent to press, engineers have A Beechcraft King Air 350 division. The divestiture of Guangzhou to Shanghai first qu
March
group Saudi Arabian now restored services crashed on take-off from its business aviation MRO and Beijing, followed by
passen
Airlines placed an order from the European Addison airport, north of operations in Geneva and flights to international 32.7m
for up to 50 of the Airbus Galileo GNSS orbiting Dallas in Texas, on 30 June Lugano, comes as the destinations. for 201
rose 9
€1.53b
@aerosociety i Find us on LinkedIn f Find us on Facebook www.aerosociety.com AUGUST 2019 7 Ryanai
August 2019 news pages.indd 5 06/08/2019 09:07
AEROSPACE
Radome
AEROSPACE DEFENCE
EASA publishes eVTOL RAF Poseidon makes first flight
‘flying car’ rules
The European Aviation people-carrying VTOL with
Safety Agency (EASA) nine or fewer passengers
has published a final and a maximum certified
Special Condition to take-off mass up to
act as a framework for 3,175kg.
manufacturers to develop EASA says that it is
new hybrid and electrical ‘actively engaging with the
vertical take-off and landing industry to develop the right
(VTOL) aircraft. Opened technical requirements to
for public consultation take benefit of the new
Royal Air Force
in October last year and technologies bringing safety
published on 2 July, the and environmental benefits
Special Condition applies to to the community’.
GENERAL AVIATION On 12 July the first of eight Boeing P-8A Poseiden
multi-mission maritime patrol aircaft, ZP801, named 'Pride
Researchers at the Technical University of Munich, Germany, have sucessfuly demonstrated an of Moray' for the Royal Air Force, made its first flight
optical-imagery-based system able to auto-land a twin-engine DA-42 with a safety pilot. The from Boeing Field in Seattle. The first aircraft is set to be
formally handed over to the RAF in October, and arrive in
system uses cameras (including one infra-red) and satellite positioning data, rather than ground-
the UK at RAF Lossiemouth in 2020.
based navigational aids to recognise a runway and perform an approach and landing.
SPACEFLIGHT
Arianespace Vega rocket
lost on launch
An Arianespace Vega the UAE FalconEye-1
launcher failed to reach spy satellite in what was
Technical University of Munich
orbit on 10 July after the described as a ‘major
Vision-based second stage failed to ignite
two minutes after lift-off
anomaly’. The Vega rocket
had previously flown 14
system lands DA-42 from Korou, French Guiana.. times successfully since
autonomously The rocket crashed into
the Atlantic Ocean carrying
2012. An investigation into
the cause is now underway.
NEWS IN BRIEF
lifted off from Cape as well as other tweaks to launcher from Cape
Saab Digital Air Traffic Canaveral on 2 July for a reduce the lst price below Bulgaria has approved Canaveral, Florida.
Solutions has won an four-minute flight during $10m. the acquisition of eight The launch, the third
order to install a digital which the abort system Lockheed Martin F-16V overall for Falcon
tower at NATO Air Base was used to separate Safran is to open a new fighters. The $1.25bn deal Heavy, saw the rocket
Geilenkirchen in Germany. the capsule from the carbon brake manufacturing includes six single-seat successfully put 24
The digital tower, which refurbished Peacekeeper factory in Lyon, France. To and two two-seat fighters, satellites into orbit –
is due to be delivered in test booster and then to by operating by 2024, the together with training including payloads from
2020, will operate while separate the abort system factory will employ up to and support packages. the USAF, NASA and The
the current control tower is from the capsule. 200 workers. The aircraft will replace Planetary Society. Two
being refurbished. Russian-built MiG-29s, side boosters successfully
Bombardier has unveiled Romanian carrier TAROM which date back to the landed back vertically at
NASA has successfully a new more affordable is to lease nine new ATR 1980s and 1990s. Cape Canaveral, while
completed a test flight of version of its Learjet 75 72-600 turboprops. The the central core booster
the abort system for the − the Liberty. It features aircraft will be delivered On 25 June SpaceX narrowly missed landing
Orion ascent capsule. The two fewer seats than the from October through to conducted the first night on SpaceX’s drone barge
unmanned test booster normally eight-seat aircraft 2020. launch of its Falcon Heavy landing pad in the Atlantic.
8 AEROSPACE / AUGUST 2019
August 2019 news pages.indd 6 06/08/2019 09:07
OSPACE
SPACEFLIGHT AIR TRANSPORT
On 27 June, NASA announced that the next space mission in its New Frontiers Qantas to boost pilot
exploration initiative will land a robotic quadcopter on Titan – Saturn’s largest moon. The
Dragonfly mission, would see a flying lander equipped with rotors to fly short hops in training pipeline
Titan’s dense nitrogen-based atmosphere. Launch is scheduled for
Australian flag carrier September which will train
2026 with arrival at Titan in 2034.
Qantas is to open a second up to 250 pilots a year. The
pilot training academy airline notes that around
in the coastal town of 790,000 more airline
Mackay, Queensland. The pilots will be needed over
airline already has one the next 20 years, with
academy in Toowoomba, one-third of them being in
which is set to open in Asia-Pacific.
On 4 July, the Light Armed Helicopter,
developed by Korean Aerospace
Industries (KAI) made its first flight at
the company facility in Sacheon, South
Korea.The first flight saw the LAH,
developed from the Airbus H155, get
airborne for 20 minutes. South Korea is
NASA to send rotorcraft to Titan expected to acquire over 200 LAHs.
NASA
AEROSPACE GENERAL AVIATION
Boeing to donate $100m INFOGRAPHIC: One More Orbit
to 737 MAX families circumnavigates globe to mark Apollo
An ex-NASA astronaut and team of aviators has broken the 1977 record for
Boeing has announced it is over multiple years, will see circumnavigating the globe via both north and south poles in a time of 46
to make a $100m charitable Boeing partner with local hours, 39 minutes and 38 seconds. The One More Orbit used a Qatar Airways'
Gulfstream G650ER to set the record, starting and ending the challenge from the
donation to the families of governments and NGOs to
Kennedy Space Center in honour of Apollo 11.
the 346 victims that died in provide living and education
both Ethiopian Airlines and expenses for families
Lion Air 737 MAX airliner affected by the tragedies,
crashes. as well as fund community
The donation, to be released projects.
ON THE COO is to leave his job at
the end of this year.
MOVE
Powerscourt's Ben
The CE of Norwegian Air, Griffiths is to become
Bjørn Kjos, has stepped the new Head of
down after 17 years in Communications at
charge at the airline. 2Excel Aviation.
Boeing 737 MAX NASA’s Director of
programme chief Eric Human Spaceflight,
Lindbald, is to retire. Bill Gerstenmaier,
His place will be taken has been replaced by
by Mark Jenks, Vice Ken Bowersox. Bill
President of Boeing’s Hill, Deputy Associate
New Mid-market Airplane Administrator for
One More Orbit
(NMA) programme. Exploration Systems
Development, is also to
Peter Bellew, Ryanair be replaced.
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August 2019 news pages.indd 7 06/08/2019 09:07
antenna: Global Outlook and
Analysis with
HOWARD WHEELDON
Fighter replacement
dogfights heat up
W
ith the UK planning to order The decision taken earlier this year by the Danish
further F-35 Joint Strike Fighter Government to purchase 27 Lockheed Martin F-35A
jets from Lockheed Martin over fighter jets for delivery between 2021 and 2026 to
the next few years, Belgium replace an ageing fleet of Lockheed Martin F-16s.
having decided to follow the UK, This followed an intense competition that saw both
Netherlands and Italy in buying F-35s, the French Boeing’s F/A-18F Super Hornet and Eurofighter
Air Force and Navy continuing to receive deliveries Typhoon lose out.
of Rafale jets, Germany planning to replace its 90 Undoubtedly, the constant flow of verbal and
Panavia Tornado jets with more Eurofighter Typhoons tweeted warnings from US President Donald Trump
and Finland looking to replace its ageing fleet of has played a part in forcing European governments
Boeing F/A-18s, Western governments can hardly be to rethink defence strategy. There are pros and cons
accused of failing to modernise their fast jet fleets. in this and, while there is a general consensus and
The UK and, separately, Germany, France and understanding that European NATO members must
Spain have also realised the importance of investing pay more for the defence of Europe, it is important
in sixth-generation jet fighter technology. To that to ensure that European defence is not allowed to
end Germany, France and Spain signed a deal at become more fragmented. NATO must remain the
the Paris Air Show that aims to jointly develop a overarching alliance for European defence, no matter
sixth generation European fighter jet and air combat what.
system known as the Future Air System (FCAS).
Last summer, the UK formally launched Team A Swiss decision
Tempest, a consortium that includes HM Government,
the Royal Air Force Rapid Capability Office (RCO), Although not a member of NATO, Switzerland has,
IT IS PLEASING BAE Systems, Rolls-Royce, Leonardo and MBDA, to just as it also does with the European Union, long
TO SEE THAT develop a next generation manned/unmanned stealth collaborated with NATO strategy. Even so, while
MORE WESTERN fighter jet. The UK is unlikely to do this alone and is the Swiss Government and Swiss Air Force rarely
currently talking to a number of potential international produce headlines in relation to defence, the Swiss
NATIONS, NOT partners, the first of which is quite likely to have been Government’s decision to call for bids for up to 40
JUST THOSE announced at the Royal International Air Tattoo held at new military jets in a programme – suggested to be
IN NATO, ARE RAF Fairford in July. worth CHF 8bn – to replace a fleet of very elderly
NOW ACTIVELY Northrop F-5 Tiger fighters and Boeing F/A-18s
Future jet planning has aroused considerable interest among military jet
PLANNING manufacturers.
TO REPLACE While France, Germany and Spain and, separately, The result is an intense competition in which the
AGEING FLEETS the UK, are busy sorting the requirements for future French fighter manufacturer, Dassault, is bidding the
sixth generation fighter requirements, it is pleasing Rafale, Airbus the Eurofighter Typhoon, Boeing the
OF MILITARY
to see that more Western nations, not just those in F/A-18E Super Hornet and Lockheed Martin the
JETS NATO, are now actively planning to replace ageing F-35A. The Swedish-based aircraft manufacturer,
fleets of military jets. A resurgent Russia, combined Saab, had also entered the Swiss Government’s
with concerns over China and an increased focus Air2030 fighter competition with its Gripen E fighter
in Middle East instability, with eyes on Iran, may be but later withdrew.
seen as a wake-up call to some, while warnings The assessment phase of the Swiss Government’s
and increased pressure exerted on European NATO Air2030 programme is due to be completed by
members by the US that Europe must take more the end of 2020. As has become customary in
responsibility for its defence have combined to play a Switzerland with regards to large defence equipment
part in forcing governments to increase spending on purchases, a referendum will be held to allow voters
defence. to decide whether the country should acquire new
While questions remain on whether countries such military jet. However, assuming the decision is positive,
as the UK have sufficient available fast jet capacity, it is they will not be asked to decide on the aircraft type.
particularly good to see NATO member countries such Finland is yet another hugely important non-NATO
as Denmark, Finland and Canada launching major new country currently seeking to replace an ageing fleet
fast jet equipment procurement programmes. of Boeing F/A-18C Hornets. To that end the Finnish
10 AEROSPACE / AUGUST 2019US Gov/ Jovante Johnson
Government has called for bids for up to 64 new Two US Air Force F-35A of the BAE-designed Canadian Surface Combatant
multirole fighter jets in a procurement deal expected Lightning II fighter aircraft, ships for the Royal Canadian Navy, to enter the F-35
to be worth somewhere between $9bn and $12bn for assigned to the 421st into the combat jet competition.
the eventual winner. Again, interest has been intense Fighter Squadron, Hill Air These specific changes announced will allow for
Force Base, Utah, right,
with no fewer than five competing jets. Lockheed a more flexible approach in determining the value
fly in formation with two
Martin has entered its F-35A, BAE Systems is bidding Finnish F/A-18 Hornets. of the benefits bidders are able to offer Canadian
the Eurofighter Typhoon, Saab has entered the Gripen defence firms: they come after a series of discussions
E, Boeing the Super Hornet and Dassault its Rafale. with the US Government and threats by the Pentagon
to withdraw the jet from consideration.
The Canadian restock Under the current terms, bidders were required
to offer industrial benefits to Canada as part of
Across the pond and notwithstanding that a Federal the competition. That system, which would have
election is due to take place sometime during later in disadvantaged the F-35, will now be amended,
the year, meaning that most formal business of the sources say. However, those companies that do
Canadian Parliament has already been completed, guarantee work for Canadian firms will receive more
the Canadian Government has been pressing on with consideration under the new rules.
its hugely important fast jet procurement competition US officials had warned that the agreement
at the time of writing, hoping to have despatched Canada signed to be a partner nation in Lockheed
the final bidding criteria and the formal requests for Martin’s development of the F-35 prohibits those
proposal by late July to the various competing jet partner nations from imposing requirements for
manufacturers, calling on them to submit bids for up industrial benefits in fighter jet competitions. “We
to 88 new fighter jets. cannot participate in an offer of the F-35 weapon
In what will no doubt be another politically system where requirements do not align with the
charged competition between US and European F-35 Partnership,” US Navy Vice-Adm Mathias Winter
military aircraft manufacturers, the procurement told Canadian officials in a letter sent in December.
plan is based around replacement of ageing Boeing
CF-18 Hornet jets by the mid 2020s. Canada was Luftwaffe requirements
forced to acquire some F/A-18s from Australia
to supplement the existing fleet of CF-18s. The The decision by Germany to knock the F-35
importance of acquiring new aircraft to replace these Joint Strike Fighter out of the Panavia Tornado
was highlighted by a report recently issued by the replacement competition which has left an upgraded
Canadian Auditor General, Michael Ferguson which version of the hugely successful Eurofighter Typhoon
suggested that, without combat upgrades the CF-18 to compete against the Boeing F/A-18E/F Super
fleet will be less effective against adversaries in Hornet, caused significant initial surprise. However, if
domestic and international operations. The report Germany does decide to go for Eurofighter Typhoon,
also highlighted the serious shortages of pilots, the question arises that the aircraft is not currently
technicians and maintainers. certified to carry US-made nuclear bombs for the
The Canadian Government has already been NATO nuclear mission. The most likely outcome
forced to change the terms of what is expected to be is that Germany will probably acquire additional
a competition worth in the region of $19bn to allow Eurofighter Typhoons and a fleet of Boeing F/A-18E
Lockheed Martin, which was recently awarded build Super Hornets.
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11Transmission
LETTERS AND ONLINE
i
Helicopter conference
737 MAX MCAS software upgrades
Philippe Mairet [On
The news item in the June that it should be perfectly
RAeS Onshore helicopter
issue of AEROSPACE possible to establish a
safety conference 3-4
refers to Boeing having correlation relating flow
July] Interesting!
completed work on development about the
upgrading the software fuselage nose to aircraft
f
involved in the MCAS incidence. However, such
system(1). Presumably, a correlation would need
this refers to the to apply to the possible
algorithm interpreting flow development at all HSA1011
aircraft incidence from relevant flight conditions,
Geoffrey Wardle [On
measurement of flow and this might be more
shapeshifting supersonic
development on one or tricky. Alternatively,
airliner(3)] An interesting
both sides of the fuselage upgrading the software
article on the HSA1011.
nose. The nose-down might simply involve
Given all the issues of
movement needed to correcting an error, or
weight growth that dogged HSA1011(3)
reduce the incidence the stalling incidence, to errors, in the program
the Boeing 2707 due
below the stalling angle allow the flow to stabilise algorithm or text, or
largely to its variable Steve Howe It’s just a fly
will, of course, generate and the aircraft incidence something else altogether.
geometry configuration, it faster Trident!
upwash about the nose. to be deduced. Having a I believe that it is
would be interesting to see
I understand that this is fair amount of experience incumbent upon Boeing
where a VG HSA1011,
taken into account by of interpreting aircraft flow to clarify what is meant by
would have led. Also the Namviator Petty
freezing the movement for development from CFD ‘upgrading the software’.
extreme area rule fuselage Tjitemisa Concorde... this
a certain amount of time predictions and wind-
may well have presented is why the Concorde was
at a few degrees below tunnel test data, I believe Allan Bocci
aircraft evacuation issues. way too early...
A tribute to Roger Béteille of Airbus
It was quite a coincidence old terminal building at on the Concorde project
Airbus
that in the July 2019 Toulouse airport to keep from 1968 to 1972, it
edition of AEROSPACE, them isolated from the was always obvious to
which contained Howard main Airbus offices (or so me that Concorde would
Wheeldon’s article on ‘New I was told). I produced the be a commercial failure. I
Management for a new first marketing brochure for was one of a few at Filton
age of Airbus’(2) there was the A320 and supported who agreed with Mary
also the announcement early marketing missions Goldring of The Economist
of the death of Roger to Australia, Japan and in 1968. It was reassuring
Henri Béteille at 97 (an Scandinavia. The A320 that Aérospatiale had
obituary of Béteille is was finally launched in come to the same
on p52 fof this issue). 1984 and it is with my conclusion. We should
Roger Béteille was one great satisfaction that the accept that Concorde
of the founding fathers A320 family has sold well was a commercial failure
of Airbus Industrie. I was over 14,000 aircraft. It is with totally unacceptable
employed by Aérospatiale Roger Béteille, left, secured the first US sale of the Airbus one of the most successful noise and pollution and we
in 1982/83 and worked A300 with Frank Borman of Eastern Airlines in 1977. commercial aircraft ever. should stop romanticising
in Airbus Industrie’s It was also interesting to about it. Instead, we should
Blagnac headquarters the presence of a giant sales in 1982 were more note that during an Airbus celebrate the contribution
under Dennis Little, Head of the aviation industry. interested in promoting employee ‘family open day’ made by the Airbus
of Sales Technology. I often passed him in the twin-aisle market in Blagnac in 1982, only founding fathers and the
Dennis was a wonderful the corridors of Airbus rather than the single- Airbus A300 aircraft were fantastic success of the
and inspirational leader headquarters and he was aisle concept. One of my on display. I noticed a real Airbus aircraft, especially
and was very effective a quiet, polite but very tasks was to work with Concorde aircraft hidden the A320 family, and the
in Airbus. On occasions, impressive gentleman who the 12 staff members of in the back of a hangar, huge commercial benefits
Roger Béteille visited masterminded so much the single-aisle project not to be seen by the they have brought us.
Dennis to discuss issues of the Airbus we know team under Derek Brown’s families. It was clear that
and it was, for me a today. It was interesting to Directorship. The small the future was with Airbus. Adrian Sayce
great privilege to be in note that many in Airbus team were housed in the Although I had worked FRAeS
12 AEROSPACE / AUGUST 2019Pre-Concorde supersonic swing-wing design(3) @MichaelJPryce
Mike Stanberry
Designed by Jim Floyd,
who also designed the
Avro Arrow and led the
Hawker Siddeley team on
the M2.0 SST competition,
realised through that work
that the boom would be a
show stopper. So this…
Sweden and Tempest
@chodpollard [On The 1961 HSA1011 model photoshopped against a sky background. @Trokii_UAV Shades of
Sweden joining UK Team Backfire/Blinder in that...
Tempest project] Huge @PaulMarks12 @PaoloNurra One looks @BurkhardDomke Was wouldn’t mind it taking me
boost, no? Fascinating. It has like a Valkyrie that configuration really on holiday!
something of an evolved about noise or about area
VC10 about it. ruling and low(er) drag?
@maou42 We could do @graysonottaway I’d @AusRailHistory Looks
worse when it comes to suggest HS at the time like the perpetually ill-fated
partners. The Gripen is @tropicostation That is were more than capable of @AvHistorian Shades of ‘Fireflash’ from the original
a very decent airplane. just lovely. Concorde meets doing it too! the Carreidas 160? Thunderbirds series.
Model of cheap and fast Hawker Hunter.
maintenance/modularity
and sensibly priced.
Moon landing films Quad racing RAeS Pride flag
@PhSw2016 Sweden @LettersfromTim [On @jonowstrower [On
could contribute at Armstrong and Apollo 11 Airspeeder piloted
least Saab’s software film reviews(4)] Exactly the quadcopter racing] Humans
architecture which makes right guy to take that first might be the only species
those quicker-than- step. Ad Astra Neil that dreams up more and
competitors updates more fun ways to limit their
possible. life expectancy.
Launch your own Saturn V rocket @daveoflynn Bill Booth (a
@Flyingarchivist That’s seminal figure in the history
@wraillantclark [On @PrideInAviation You
one short flight for an app of sport parachuting) refers
RAeS Flies the flag would be most welcome at
but the stairs to the top to it as risk homeostasis –
for diversity blog(5)] @PrideInAviation event
floor are exhausting... as you make an endeavour
Great to see so many @city_airport on 18th
safer, humans deliberately
inclusive tweets August – World Helicopter
add more risk.
coming from the British Day
@steerwithmyrear I’ve #aviation community
just downloaded that and today! #PRIDEinSTEM
it is wonderful! Blowing so Airbus 50 years book #PrideInLondon @Joshlesh This means
many minds at RIAT HQ. the world. Well done and
@JetCityStar [On Airbus
pulling 50th anniversary thank you
book] Lawyers firmly in @HurleyRob YES!! You
@JohnChinner It’s did it! Great work
control of both Airbus and
gonna need more than a @JeffinerB !!! @AeroSoph Fame at
Boeing. Sad times.
roll program to get out of last!
there. Love it.
1. AEROSPACE, June 2019, p 6, Boeing completes 737 MAX software update
@RichardGearing As an 2. AEROSPACE, July 2019, p 10, Antenna
3. https://www.aerosociety.com/news/shapeshifting-supersonic-airliner/
@AeroSociety Trustee, I’m The lobby of No.4 4. https://www.aerosociety.com/news/apollo-50th-on-the-big-screen/
glad there was no damage Hamilton Place as seen 5. https://www.aerosociety.com/news/raes-flies-the-flag-for-diversity-in-aerospace-and-aviation/
to the building Look out through a Smithsonian
@SpaceCornwall – you
might have a competitor as
a UK launch site!
app showing a virtual
reality launch of an Apollo
11 Saturn V rocket.
Online
Additional features and content are available to view
online at http://media.aerosociety.com/aerospace-insight
@aerosociety i linkedin.com/raes
Find us on LinkedIn f facebook.com/raes
Find us on Facebook. www.aerosociety.com
www.aerosociety.com AUGUST 2019 13AEROSPACE
High value design
Inspiration nation
UK experts imagine the future of passenger flight – a hybrid,
bio-inspired green airliner for sustainable aviation that could cut
fuel burn by up to 50%. TIM ROBINSON reports on the Airbus ‘Bird of Prey’.
A
irbus has revealed a visionary concept engineering with creativity to define a product.
from its engineers in Filton for a Explains Martin Aston, Senior Manager, Airbus and
ultramodern, green airliner of the future project lead for Bird of Prey: “It’s that combination of
– one possible outcome of where imagination, innovation and awareness of science,
today’s advanced technology may take then converting that into a viable product.”
us when designers’ imaginations are truly unleashed. Thought up by Airbus engineers at the UK’s Filton
The Bird of Prey is a 80-seater, 1,500km range site who were given a brief to imagine the future of
hybrid-electric regional airliner that incorporates the flight without any limits, the Bird of Prey was brought
latest thinking in aerodynamics and flight control, to life by a British superyacht and industrial designer –
structures and distributed propulsion to create the Rob McPherson of BezierLab. McPherson remarked:
greenest ever future airliner. Using technology now “When I was approached to see if I’d be interested in
under development, the Bird of Prey could provide creating a vision for a future airliner I jumped at the
a 30-50% reduction in fuel burn compared to chance,” adding: “The brief was to create a concept
equivalent aircraft today – a major leap in efficiency. which would be technically possible if we pushed
Says Jeremy Greaves FRAeS, Vice President, ourselves to the limits but futuristic enough to inspire.
UK Corporate Affairs and Strategy, Airbus: “This is It was delightful to be encouraged to think freely and
a visioneering project where we asked our talented could only be done with such a visionary client!”
flight physicists to imagine what the future could look The company stresses that the Bird of Prey should
like.” The Bird of Prey then, is an example of critical not be seen as a firm Airbus programme, “or even as
High Value Design (HVD) that combines preliminary having an entry-into-service date assigned to it.” Says
14 AEROSPACE / AUGUST 2019Greaves: “It may not be real in current Airbus strategy Biomimicry as design inspiration
or financial planning but it provides a headmark for
future inspirations.” “The birds fly a lot better than we do,” observes Leslie
As well as Airbus, the initiative (which includes a Howard as legendary Spitfire designer Reginald J
large 2.5m wingspan static model unveiled at RIAT) Mitchell in the film ‘First of the Few’, “See how they
is supported by the UK’s Air League, Aerospace wheel and bank and glide. Perfect. And all in one:
Technology Institute, IET, Whitehall’s ‘Britain is Great’ wings, body, tail. All in one. And when we try, we build
campaign and the Royal Aeronautical Society. This something all stuck together with strings and struts
model will make for an impressive talking point and and wires. But, you wait. Someday, I’m going to build
centrepiece at future aviation events and functions. A a plane that will move just like a bird.” That aircraft,
‘Phase 2’ of the initiative, says Airbus, could see this of course, was the iconic Spitfire, a paradox in being
non-flying model transformed into a flying prototype perhaps one of the world’s most beautiful aircraft but
as an exciting student design project for control built with a deadly purpose.
systems. ‘Strings and struts and wires’ may have been
Says Aston on the model and Bird of Prey replaced today by ‘nacelles, engine pylons and
concept: “What we want to do is get people to look fuselage belly fairings’, but, some 83 years after the
at that and say, ‘right, how would I design that’? What Spitfire’s first flight, modern design tools, advanced
technologies would I put on there? How would I make materials, 3D printing, brought together with ‘high
it work? How would I make it? How would I maintain it, value design’ (HVD) may allow tomorrow’s aircraft
how would I make sure that it’s reliable?” engineers to pursue Mitchell’s vision of a perfectly
The aviation industry has set itself tough targets streamlined ‘bird-like’ aircraft to its ultimate form for a
to reduce its environmental impact – such as the EU’s more peaceful role, the Bird of Prey.
Flightpath 2050 – which calls for a reduction in CO2 Says industrial designer McPherson: “During
by 75%, NOx by 95% and noise by 65% by 2050. the initial meeting at Airbus I was briefed on the
Above: Airbus’ incredible
Concepts such as Bird of Prey will help turn these technology that was currently being developed and
Bird of Prey concept
airliner on which The Royal aspirations into reality by showing what might be one aspect was biomimicry. The talk was about making
Aeronautical Society is possible and inspiring a new generation of aerospace wings more flexible/adaptive like a bird’s wing. Wing
proud to be a partner. professionals to dream big. tip ‘feathers’ were discussed which led me to create a
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High value design
couple of concept sketches of a more natural looking may be ‘spray painted’ on using today’s automated
wing. I wanted something that would look powerful systems.
and purposeful, so decided to look at birds of prey for
inspiration.” Moveable wingtips
This is no mere aesthetics but would result in
improved aerodynamics by taking cues from nature. Perhaps one of the most radical aspects of the Bird
An albatross, with wing aspect ratio of 18:1 compared of Prey is in its individual wingtip ‘feathers’ – which
to around 9.5 on an A320 is able to travel 1,000s of combine the drag-reduction function of traditional
kilometres by barely using any energy. Blending the winglets, seen on many aircraft today, with the control
wing and fuselage in an arch, mirrors how a bird’s and stability function of a bird’s feathers, replacing
body blends into its wings and provides for maximum traditional ailerons and flaps. Only recently an idea
aerodynamic efficiency. Instead of hinged ailerons like this might have seemed like science fiction.
or flaps, the Bird of Prey would use highly-efficient However, advances in active and passive ‘morphing’
wing-tip feathers to ‘morph’ and control its flightpath, using shape-memory materials has now brought this
as well as shaping the wing for various phases of advanced control system technology, a call-back to
flight. Control using these active wingtip devices and the Wright brothers ‘wing-warping’, closer to practical
distributed propulsion applications.
would also allow the As well as NASA in the US, the UK is making
tail empennage strides in this field. Earlier this year Airbus revealed that
to be it had flown AlbatrossOne – a sub-scale demonstrator
reduced in developed by its British
size and Filton engineers which
weight featured a movable
hinged wingtip. The
‘semi-aeroelastic hinge’
on the AlbatrossOne
allows the wingtips to
freely flap – cutting down
on turbulence and
gusts, while
and radically reimagined into
a bird’s tail feathers to provide precision control. No
vertical tail, as in the B-2 stealth bomber and various also reducing overall weight. Airbus Filton engineer
UAVs, would allow for reduced drag and increased Tom Watson explains: “The Airbus demonstrator is the
aerodynamic efficiency. first aircraft to trial in-flight, freely-flapping wing-tips
As Mitchell’s Spitfire demonstrates, taking ideas to relieve the effects of wind gusts and turbulence”,
from nature is nothing new for aerospace, but todays adding: “We drew inspiration from nature – the
scientists are constantly discovering new applications albatross marine bird locks its wings at the shoulder for
of biomimicry. Sharks and whales, for example, have long-distance soaring but unlocks them when wind-
rough skin that paradoxically reduces drag in the gusts occur or manoeuvring is required.”
water. That adaptation has been investigated by Airbus “The AlbatrossOne model will explore the benefits
in a series of operational trials using test patches of unlockable, freely-flapping wing-tips – accounting
of ‘riblets’ applied to aircraft surfaces. A further for up to a third of the length of the wing – to react
All images used by kind permission
from Airbus unless stated. development is that these rough drag-reducing skins autonomously during inflight turbulence and lessen
16 AEROSPACE / AUGUST 2019the load on the wing at its base, so reducing the need Lower fuel burn would also translate into lower
for heavily reinforced wing boxes.” operating costs, lower ticket prices for passengers and
Combining these wingtip functions of gust thus potentially open up wider networks of regional
response, drag and load reductions, with roll control airports for point-to-point travel.
functions, as well as locking for long-range cruise, thus As well as its incredible fuel efficiency, the Bird
brings an aeroplane close to the ultra-aerodynamic of Prey would also be a greener neighbour, as its
efficiency of birds that are able to constantly reshape short-take-off capability would also allow it to climb
their wings for different phases of flight. Bird of Prey out steeper, thus reducing the noise footprint on
could be thought of as the ultimate extrapolation of the ground. With distributed power, the propellers,
AlbatrossOne. too, could potentially act as yaw controllers, allowing
smoother and more stable landings in crosswinds.
Hybrid-electric power Indeed, with distributed hybrid-electric propulsion
there may even be ways to ‘tune’ the propellers as
The Bird of Prey would use a next-generation hybrid a form of ‘active noise control’ to redirect or reduce
electric propulsion system for eco-efficient power, noise downwards to the ground. Germany’s DLR
driving four A400M-style scimitar-shaped propellers. lab is already investigating this concept for a small
The benefits of hybrid-electric propulsion is that regional airliner with distributed propulsion. An ultra-
kerosene-powered engines (whether turbofans or quiet regional airliner would open up the possibility of
turboprops) can be resized and optimised for the 24hour operations or increased frequencies at a far
cruise phase of flight, rather than take-off and climb wider number of airports.
where electric power is added to boost performance. Finally, a distributed hybrid-electric propulsion
Fuel savings could thus be as much as 30% compared system would also provide additional levels of system
to today’s designs – a massive jump compared to the redundancy and safety. A (highly unlikely) propeller
average 1% that engine manufacturers can squeeze failure on one, two or even three propulsors could just
The 2.5m wingspan Bird
out of turbofan architectures each year. see the system reroute power to the other remaining of Prey model is set to
Airbus is already leading the charge towards propellers. Four-engined aircraft (like the B-17) have provide an inspirational
hybrid-electric propulsion with its E-Fan X landed before on single engines but a distributed talking point. A flying sub-
demonstrator which it is set to fly in 2021 with propulsion system able to reconfigure and reroute scale demonstrator may
partner Rolls-Royce. That ‘X-Plane’ which will fly with power dynamically as needed would provide far higher follow.
the world’s largest (2Mw) airborne turbogenerator margins of safety.
as a demonstrator for this large and powerful hybrid-
electric system. 3D printing and geodesics
Moving to a hybrid-electric propulsion system also
allows aircraft designers to decouple the ‘propulsor’ Another advance that could be used on the Bird of
(fan, ducted fan or propeller) from the ‘engine’ Prey is 3D printing and advanced composites to create
(turbogenerator or battery), opening up radical an ultra-lightweight, almost ‘bird-like’ skeleton and
new configurations in distributed propulsion structure in place of traditional fuselage frames, or
that optimise aerodynamics, increase wing spars and structures. Parts made by additive layer
redundancy and boost fuel manufacturing (ALM) or 3D printing have the potential Hybrid-electric propulsion
technology is being
efficiency. “We are at the to be up to 55% lighter than traditional parts. Already
investigated with Airbus/
dawn of a new age in small 3D printed parts are appearing on aircraft such Rolls-Royce E-Fan X
aviation,” says Rolls-Royce’s as the Airbus A350 – and these will continue to demonstrator, set to fly in
Chief Technology Officer, expand in numbers and applications. 2021.
Paul Stein.
While long-haul, twin aisle aircraft
will still need to rely on kerosene-powered
aircraft, Airbus’ Chief Technology Officer, Grazia
Vittadini, notes that the benefits of hybrid-electric
power are such that: “It is definitely one of the
configurations we are exploring injecting into our
core products” when Airbus finally comes to design a
replacement for its short-haul A320neo family.
Distributed propulsion
Distributed propulsion, too, may have other benefits.
Much like an A400M or C-130J can perform short
landings and take-offs using its propellers, so too
could a propeller-driven hybrid airliner. This would
enable it to operate into smaller airports and airfields.
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High Value Design
Even more excitingly, as well as using 3D printing aerospace, rather than sub-system design or ‘build to
to replace existing parts on conventional configuration print manufacture’ where work can be easily shifted
aircraft, ALM can free designers from thinking about around the world to cheaper workers. AlbatrossOne
traditional shapes for structures, ushering in a new era Airbus’ Aston explains: “In 1998 the Ford Motor – a sub-scale
of organic-looking aircraft. Airbus has already hinted at Company produced a study. What they found is that
future possibilities with its 2050 concept airliner which 70% of a product’s complete life cycle costs are
demonstrator
features a geodetic-style fuselage structure. locked in at the preliminary or HVD phase. Which developed by
Interestingly, the Bird of Prey’s geodesic (or means that, if you control that part of the process, you Airbus’ British
geodetic) structure harks back to another famous are very, very influential. If we don’t do that, all we do Filton engineers
aircraft built at Airbus UK’s Broughton site in the is become a build-to-print nation, take other people’s
1940s – the Vickers Wellington bomber. Geodetic designs and make them. Whereas, if we control the
featuring
technology, developed by Barnes Wallis, produced a product definition, we control what comes next.” advanced passive
light but immensely strong and durable structure able However, that position (and the UK’s part in it) is movable wingtips.
to take large amounts of punishment and damage, yet not guaranteed. Leaving the politics of Brexit aside,
still remain airworthy. it is clear that the UK has been ‘living on past glories’
Twenty-first century 3D printing and computer where key decisions and research made years ago
design make it feasible that this lattice-work style have allowed Britain to retain its crown as the designer
structure could return in a more elegant form, and manufacturer of Airbus wings. The incremental
combining beautiful organic shapes with extreme improvements to airliners such as the A320neo and
strength. A330neo have resulted in conservative safe design
choices, rather than radical configurations. Even the
The need for HVD A350 XWB, while sporting elegant winglets, conforms
to the ‘dominant configuration’ of tube, wings and
To help develop an aircraft like the Bird of Prey, the UK engines set in the 1950s by the Boeing 707. Says
needs to refresh and reinvigorate its shrinking HVD Aston: “We’ve taken the Wright brothers, aeroplane
pool of talent. It is estimated, for example, that between and got it about as far as it’s going to get for now. It
1990 and 2015, UK HVD capabilities declined by now needs the next generation to come along and do
around 30%. This is a relatively recent development. something really clever.”
For the UK, its HVD contribution to Airbus has centred Today though, there are new challenges. The
around wings, engines (via Rolls-Royce) and landing retirement of skilled and experienced aerospace
gears. Research, begun decades ago with wind tunnels engineers and intense competition from new sectors
and design tools which has allowed Airbus to soar to a such as IT or web start-ups, have stoked fears of a
position where it commands a duopoly with Boeing. future skills gap for aerospace engineers. There is also
HVD − or the ability to apply advanced competition from new entrants, such as China, which
engineering from concept to market, is the ‘noble work’ is innovating at an incredible pace. China, although its
that truly creates long-term value, growth and jobs in new C919 airliner looks highly conventional, is already
looking to a future replacement with a potential V-tailed
airliner model. It has to be remembered that it was
COMAC
Airbus’ willingness to take risks with a widebody twinjet,
composites, a two-person flightdeck and FBW that
allowed it to leap-frog over US competitors and see off
both Lockheed and McDonnell Douglas as commercial
rivals. Stagnating is a sure-fire way to decline. Says
Aston of the UK’s position: “We’re on the edge. I think
Far left: HVD never stands
at the moment there is still real excellence in UK still. China’s COMAC,
engineering, certainly in aerospace. But, unless we for example, is studying a
actually invest in that capability and actually put it ahead V-tailed design airliner to
of the global competition, we risk going into decline.” follow the C919.
18 AEROSPACE / AUGUST 2019You can also read
