MIT Team Designs Airliner That Uses 70 Percent Less Fuel

Massachusetts Institute of Technology researchers recently released a concept aircraft design that could use 70 percent less fuel than current commercial airliners. The simple secret, they say: Optimize the aircraft for modern, efficient jet engines.

Jet engines these days burn much less fuel at slightly slower speeds than the original designs that influenced the swept-wing designs of the ’50s and ’60s. One of the main problems is that most airliners still use leftovers from those designs even though the older jet engines they were designed around haven’t been used by most airlines for many years.

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CrazyNeutrino said:

MIT Team Designs Airliner That Uses 70 Percent Less Fuel

Massachusetts Institute of Technology researchers recently released a concept aircraft design that could use 70 percent less fuel than current commercial airliners. The simple secret, they say: Optimize the aircraft for modern, efficient jet engines.

Jet engines these days burn much less fuel at slightly slower speeds than the original designs that influenced the swept-wing designs of the ’50s and ’60s. One of the main problems is that most airliners still use leftovers from those designs even though the older jet engines they were designed around haven’t been used by most airlines for many years.

more…

That’s an old story CN. I remember that from the Science Forum. Another kite flying exercise by the MIT publicity machine. Could, might, in the future…

in the future people will wear shiny underpants

true story

>>>That’s an old story CN.

righteo

the engines are known as turbo fans, the tiny true jet engine drives a giant fan

a turbo prop is a small jet engine driving a propeller

a propeller is more efficient at lower altitudes a jet is more efficient at higher altitudes

the engines are known as turbo fans, the tiny true jet engine drives a giant fan

a turbo prop is a small jet engine driving a propeller

a propeller is more efficient at lower altitudes a jet is more efficient at higher altitudes

wookiemeister said:

the engines are known as turbo fans, the tiny true jet engine drives a giant fan

a turbo prop is a small jet engine driving a propeller

a propeller is more efficient at lower altitudes a jet is more efficient at higher altitudes

Prop fans are the go, but they’re very noisy.

This news item is dated 4 years ago.

I notice that MIT has not during that 4 year span revolutionised the nature of air travel.

dv said:

This news item is dated 4 years ago.

I notice that MIT has not during that 4 year span revolutionised the nature of air travel.

Wouldn’t matter. Airlines can’t afford to update constantly. Air force planes tend to get new innards rather than scrap the planes for quite a long period. Examples are flying everywhere.

The blended wing-body shape would be far better at reducing fuel consumption.
They have other problems with getting the punters out inside the 90 seconds required and also the ability to stretch the airframe for future version though. And pretty difficult to part at existing airports.

Ejector seats and a paint brush