All aircraft currently are a compromise, but I'm wondering why we are doing so much compromising, and not enough futuristic innovation in aerospace engineering.
Yes, I know it cost millions of dollars to get something tested and passed through the FAA certification.
But we've waited long enough, and right now Boeing went ahead and produced the 787 Dream Liner an incredible aircraft in every regard, and it's completely made of carbon composite.
Yes, that's very forward thinking and an incredible leap, but why stop there? The University of Miami had a very interesting article on their website in their aerospace department titled; "Aerospace Engineer's Supersonic, Futuristic Flying Wing Design Wins Prestigious NASA Grant," which was posted on August 23, 2012 and explained a rather revolutionary concept, its originator was professor Ge-Chen Zha.
The concept is actually pretty brilliant in that the aircraft uses a wing with a large diameter camber for takeoff so it can lift large loads, and as it gets to altitude, it pivots and flies sideways with a very low-profile leading-edge.
Yes, this is one way to do it, but with material memory manufacturing techniques and the latest new materials such as carbon nano tubes and graphene coatings we'd be better off to design aircraft wings that were morphing and able to shape shift in flight.
Further, there is no reason to stop there, the wing might also morph one side at a time rather than having sophisticated ailerons for roll control.
Rather than having flaps the wing could reshape itself again.
The horizontal stabilizers could do the same thing, no need for elevators, trim tabs, or all those extra moving parts, all that hardware, all those cables, or mechanisms used for fly-by-wire control systems.
The rudder and fins could also be morphable surfaces.
This would make the aircraft safer at slow speeds, and very fast at high speeds.
You could carry an incredible amount weight like an air cargo transport aircraft used by our military, and yet once up to speed you could fly fast like the Concorde.
The Concorde was a dangerous aircraft because it had to go nearly 180 miles per hour just to takeoff.
This was very hard on the tires and quite dangerous, it required a long runway, lots of power, and quite a bit of fuel to get up to speed.
By having shape shifting wings and control surfaces we do away with all the danger, but we get all the benefits of efficiency, speed, and the ability to carry large loads.
So, I would like to challenge the University of Miami's aerospace professor to take us to the next step, and not to rest on his laurels just because NASA gave him an award.
Sure, his design is innovative, but it's time to take humankind and aerospace to the next step, we must.
Indeed I hope you will please consider all this and think on it.
Yes, I know it cost millions of dollars to get something tested and passed through the FAA certification.
But we've waited long enough, and right now Boeing went ahead and produced the 787 Dream Liner an incredible aircraft in every regard, and it's completely made of carbon composite.
Yes, that's very forward thinking and an incredible leap, but why stop there? The University of Miami had a very interesting article on their website in their aerospace department titled; "Aerospace Engineer's Supersonic, Futuristic Flying Wing Design Wins Prestigious NASA Grant," which was posted on August 23, 2012 and explained a rather revolutionary concept, its originator was professor Ge-Chen Zha.
The concept is actually pretty brilliant in that the aircraft uses a wing with a large diameter camber for takeoff so it can lift large loads, and as it gets to altitude, it pivots and flies sideways with a very low-profile leading-edge.
Yes, this is one way to do it, but with material memory manufacturing techniques and the latest new materials such as carbon nano tubes and graphene coatings we'd be better off to design aircraft wings that were morphing and able to shape shift in flight.
Further, there is no reason to stop there, the wing might also morph one side at a time rather than having sophisticated ailerons for roll control.
Rather than having flaps the wing could reshape itself again.
The horizontal stabilizers could do the same thing, no need for elevators, trim tabs, or all those extra moving parts, all that hardware, all those cables, or mechanisms used for fly-by-wire control systems.
The rudder and fins could also be morphable surfaces.
This would make the aircraft safer at slow speeds, and very fast at high speeds.
You could carry an incredible amount weight like an air cargo transport aircraft used by our military, and yet once up to speed you could fly fast like the Concorde.
The Concorde was a dangerous aircraft because it had to go nearly 180 miles per hour just to takeoff.
This was very hard on the tires and quite dangerous, it required a long runway, lots of power, and quite a bit of fuel to get up to speed.
By having shape shifting wings and control surfaces we do away with all the danger, but we get all the benefits of efficiency, speed, and the ability to carry large loads.
So, I would like to challenge the University of Miami's aerospace professor to take us to the next step, and not to rest on his laurels just because NASA gave him an award.
Sure, his design is innovative, but it's time to take humankind and aerospace to the next step, we must.
Indeed I hope you will please consider all this and think on it.