Airbus shows off a see-thrrough plane of the future

Telegraph
June 14, 2011

Airbus has begun to show off its version of the plane of the future. It is somewhere between cool and disturbing, depending on who you ask, but it definitely represents some interesting new technology that could make flying more energy efficient and a give you something a lot more interesting to look at then the in-flight movie.

The presentations, which took place in London, feature concept art from the design that the company hopes one day to make into a flying model. The plane would be almost completely see-through, thanks to the creation of a biopolymer membrane. This membrane would make every seat into a window seat by default and allow you to see the world below as you pass it by.

The real power saving innovation was alluded to by Charles Champion, head of engineering for Airbus. When he described the plane to Telegraph he described a section of the plane known as the SmartTech zone. In this zone users body heat is converted in to power for the plane. Mr. Champion was not specific about in which systems would use body heat as a power source and which would not, which has raised some speculation as to what exactly humans will be the power source for.

The plane is not expected to be released until the year 2050, if it ever makes it off of the drawing board to begin with, so do not expect to be getting rides in a see-thru plane any time in the near future.

Rolls-Royce in costly A350 engine redesign - sources

Reuters
June 6, 2011

Rolls-Royce is set to bow to airline pressure by building a new engine for the Airbus A350, a costly rethink of strategy for Europe's newest airliner, aviation industry sources said on Monday.
The plan would involve a major overhaul of Rolls-Royce's largest civil jet engine and give the Airbus A350 some missing muscle to compete with Boeing's popular long-range 777-300ER.

Two smaller versions of the A350 will broadly compete with Boeing's revolutionary new 787 Dreamliner from 2013 onwards.

But airlines have criticized a one-size-fits-all policy that they say would leave the third and largest model, the A350-1000, unable to reach its goal of competing with the popular Boeing 777-300ER mini-jumbo because it is saddled with the same engine.

"My understanding is that Rolls-Royce has agreed to build a new engine," the chief executive of a major A350 customer told Reuters at an IATA airlines industry event on Monday.

Airbus and Rolls-Royce declined comment.

A new engine typically costs up to $2 billion (1.22 billion pounds) to develop, according to engine industry executives.
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Airbus sponsored electric concept aircraft “eGenius” takes up to the sky for the first time

EADS
May 26, 2011

Airbus supports basic research activities for a greener and emission free aviation industry.

Six weeks after its first public presentation at the international Aero-Expo in Friedrichshafen, Germany, the Airbus sponsored technology demonstrator “eGenius” performed its maiden flight yesterday in the late afternoon from the airfield in Mindelheim, Bavaria, Germany. During the 20 minutes flight the main focus was on checking the handling qualities and proving the unique propulsion system in flight.

The “eGenius” features an electric propulsion system which pushes the limits of electric flight to a power level of 60kW. In the following flight test campaign the flight envelope will be enlarged continuously by verifying the flight performance and reliability of the electric propulsion.

Designed by the Institute of Aircraft Design at the University of Stuttgart, Germany, the “eGenius” project is supported by Airbus as main sponsor in the frame of the manufacturer’s overall engagement to reduce emissions and develop a greener aviation industry. Airbus examines the long-term potential of electricity as alternative major onboard energy source. The data collected from the practical operation with the “eGenius” aircraft will be analysed by Airbus’ Future Projects teams to further develop the technology and better understand its opportunities.

Airbus is supporting various research and technology projects in close cooperation with universities and research institutes. Besides the monitoring of the electric propulsion technology, Airbus is also developing fuel cell technology as alternative energy source, enabling an emission-free aircraft operation on ground. In addition, Airbus is strongly engaging in implementing and testing bio-fuel technology and actively supports the installation of local bio-fuel value-chains around the world.

Notes for editors: Facts & Figures for “eGenius”aircraft:

• Wing span 16,86m
• MTOW 850 kg
• Wide fuselage for two pilots sitting side by side
• Range 400 km
• Cruise speed up to 235 km/h
• Engine power 60kW
• Equivalent energy consumption per 100km and passenger: 0.6 l fuel

Strong, Tough, and Now Cheap: Caltech Researchers Have New Way to Process Metallic Glass

Caltech
May 13, 2011

Stronger than steel or titanium—and just as tough—metallic glass is an ideal material for everything from cell-phone cases to aircraft parts. Now, researchers at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) have developed a new technique that allows them to make metallic-glass parts utilizing the same inexpensive processes used to produce plastic parts. With this new method, they can heat a piece of metallic glass at a rate of a million degrees per second and then mold it into any shape in just a few milliseconds.

"We've redefined how you process metals," says William Johnson, the Ruben F. and Donna Mettler Professor of Engineering and Applied Science. "This is a paradigm shift in metallurgy." Johnson leads a team of researchers who are publishing their findings in the May 13 issue of the journal Science.
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Interjet and Airbus Conduct First Biofuel Flight in the Country

Mexico City, Mexico (SPX) 
May 03, 2011

 

The Consejo de Promocion Turistica de Mexico praised Mexico's domestic carrier, Interjet, and Airbus for joining the ranks of Air New Zealand and Continental Airlines in leading the way for the international aviation industry by using more sustainable energy. Last month Interjet affirmed its commitment to sustainable energy in Mexico by conducting the first biofuel flight in the nation with an Airbus A320 aircraft using 30 percent biofuel developed from the jatropha plant.
The biofuel, made from locally-sourced jatropha harvested in the southern Mexican state of Chiapas, is an oil-producing plant used for everything from basketmaking by the indigenous Seri people of Sonora to tanning leather.
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Spain seeks to develop value chain for aviation biofuel

The Engineer
March 30, 2011

The Spanish government, Iberia Airlines and Airbus have signed an agreement to develop a complete Spanish ‘value chain’ for sustainable and renewable aviation biofuel for commercial use.

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