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A new report from the Institution of Mechanical Engineers suggests that the passenger plane of the future could be solar powered and capable of travelling at five times the speed of sound. However, if the UK’s aerospace industry is to have a chance of developing these aircraft then the British Government must act quickly to support the industry.
If the UK can maintain its global standing as a leading aerospace innovator, the country could be leading the next generation of greener and cleaner aeroplanes, providing greater comfort and affordability to airlines and passengers alike, according to the report. But this will only be achieved if the Government sets out a long-term strategic vision for investing in the UK’s aerospace sector; establishes a UK Advanced Technologies Aerospace Research Centre and ensures that the UK remains an attractive investment location and in turn restores research and development funding to pre-recession levels.
The UK’s aerospace sector is currently the largest in Europe and is second only to the US globally, generating revenues in excess of £29bn last year. However, the industry’s grip on the number two spot is far from guaranteed over the next 20 years. Research and development investment is at an historic low and core capabilities, key facilities and infrastructure are all slowly eroding. If the UK does not create an economic vision for the future, the report warns, then we may well see one of our most important industries fall into decline and at a time when it is being forecast that over the next 20 years the airline industry is expected to order over 25,000 new aircraft with a market value in excess of $3 trillion
The report goes on to suggest that state-of-the-art technology will allow airlines to travel in a V-shaped group formation similar to migrating geese, which would mean that passenger jets could save on fuel by flying in formation and following in each others' slipstream.
The IME study has also grouped aircraft into three types: subsonic planes that travel slower than the speed of sound; supersonic jets that fly faster than the speed of sound; and hypersonic aircraft that travel at more than five times the speed of sound.
According to the report, regardless of the aircraft type, a "blended wing" shape, where the wing and fuselage meld into one, will also make the planes more fuel-efficient and aerodynamic, although blended wing formats have been discussed by the industry for many years.
"Aircraft could be configured in a V-shaped, echelon formation when at cruise with following aircraft enjoying a drag reduction and lift advantage from the airflow generated by the aircraft in front," said the report, titled Aero 2075: Flying into a Bright Future?
Commenting Stephen Tetlow, said that the UK's position as a leading country in the aerospace industry was under threat from ambitious newcomers such as China. "Now is the time for industry and government to focus on sectors that can help lift the country's economy. The UK aerospace sector already employs over 100,000 people around the country and is worth over £29bn a year to our economy, but we need to take action now to ensure this sector can continue to thrive and grow."
