Defense and Aerospace : Tags : airplane

Printable UAV Aircraft

Posted by Eavesdropper Jul 29, 2011

A team from the University of Southampton has used 3D printing techniques to build a working UAV from the ground up in just under a week. The team, led by Andy Keane and Jim Scanlan, demonstrated their effort at an air strip just a little down the road from Stonehenge. The 1.5 meter wing span, ultra-low-drag, aircraft successfully flew showing it is possible to build for each individual application.

At 100 micrometers (4 thousands) at a time, a laser traces out the 2D cross section of the design. The laser can "print" with many different types of materials, from polyamide plastic to stainless steel or titanium powder. When forming parts with the metallic powder, the team stated that it is as strong as if the parts were machined from raw/bare metal. To create a stronger formed part, an electron laser sintering is used, instead of the conventional laser, to melt the powder completely.

Of course, the electronics in the craft are not printed. At least not yet. http://www.element14.com/community/community/doittogetherblog/blog/2011/07/14/grow-electronics-by-the-molecule

Eavesdropper

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American Airlines huge 460 airplane order, and what they are getting

Posted by Cabe Atwell Jul 21, 2011

Airbus A320neo (left). AA branded Boeing 737 (right) (images via each respective company)

The news has hit the airwaves, American Airlines (AA) wants 460 new jets for their fleet. United States based Boeing will build 200, while France based Airbus will get 260 orders.

Currently, AA has an entire fleet of Boeing built aircraft. With a previous order of 207 jets, Boeing still has 52 to produce on that request along with the 200 more. Not to over strip Boeing's capability, American Chairman and CEO Gerard Arpey said, "No single manufacturer could provide the number and variety of aircraft we need to fulfill our vision for the future." Now, some of the burden is placed on Airbus.

What AA will ultimately get are not all new aircraft, but slightly modified existing planes. From Boeing, they will get 100 regular 737s, with an option for 40 more. Also from Boeing, AA will get 100 "re-engined" 737s, with an option for 60 additional. Re-engined planes are existing platforms with new, modern engines.

From Airbus, AA will receive 130 A320 Family planes with 130 re-engined A320neos, with an option for 365 more.

The engine options are LEAP-X from CFM International and the Pratt & Whitney Pure Power PW1100G. These engines will give the jets they are used on better fuel efficiency and less of a carbon foot print.

AA plans to replace all of their mid-80s purchased 757 and 767-200 airplanes. Aprey wrote, "These new aircraft will enable us to reduce our operating and fuel costs and deliver state-of-the-art amenities to our customers, while maximizing our financial flexibility. ... These new deliveries are expected to pave the way for us to operate the youngest and most fuel-efficient fleet among our U.S. airline peers in approximately five years."

Having flown on an AA 767-200 recently, the upgrade could not come fast enough. Hopefully, AA will start introducing biofuels to their new fleet. At the average of 1.2 miles per gallon on previous generation jets, anything improvement is worth it.

Side note: Boeing 737 operators want a newly designed airplane, not re-engined aircraft. U.S. Washington Gov. Chris Gregoire said the 737 is a piece of history. He welcomes a re-engined 737. More on this, in the coming years.

Cabe

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Biofuel powered cargo airplane

Posted by Eavesdropper Jul 20, 2011

Boeing 747-8 via Boeing

Seeing a trend in aircraft biofuel usage?

Boeing has recently demonstrated the use of a camelina-based biofuel in one of their unmodified 747-8 Freighter airplanes. The camelina biofuel is a mixture of 85% kerosene fuel, called Jet-A, and 15% processed oils from the camelina organic plant. Camelina plant seeds have an oil content in the range of 37-41%, and it is rich in omega-3 fatty acids. When the oils are heated in the excess of 450°C in the absence of air (oxygen), it causes the molecules to break forming chemical compounds similar to those found in petrodiesel. This process is called pyrolysis, and sometimes thermal cracking or cracking.

Camelina plant, via Camelina Wiki

The camelina plant was grown in Montana, USA, and Honeywell's UOP processed the plant into the biofuel used in the demonstration. The 747-8 cargo plane made its 4,989 mile transatlantic flight without a single issue. The fuel comes from a 5 year program that Boeing and several other aircraft companies started as a way to develop sustainable biofuels.

Eavesdropper

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50/50 Biofuel mix on a passenger airline

Posted by Eavesdropper Jul 19, 2011

KLM Passenger Jet via KLM

The oldest airline with the same name since it started, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines founded in the Netherlands in 1919, is showing off the first use of a biofuel blend on a commercial passenger aircraft. 170 passengers on a Boeing 737-800 flew from Amsterdam to Paris on June 22, 2011. KLM managing director Camiel Eurlings spoke about the use of the fuel, "In November 2009 we demonstrated that it was technically possible to fly on biokerosene. Now, a year and a half after our first demonstration flight on Camelina, a new phase has been entered around the world, that of certification. Authorisation will soon be granted to operate commercial flights on biofuel. I am especially proud to announce that KLM will take this substantial step in September."

Biokerosene if a 50/50 blend of kerosene and biofuel made from used cooking oil produced by Dynamic Fuels, a Tyson Foods and Syntroleum Corporation partnership. The Biokerosene met the same specifications of standard kerosene, and required no modification to the aircraft. The end result was a substantial reduction of CO2 emissions and a minimum negative impact on biodiversity and the food supply due to the fuel source.

KLM's consortium that is seeking out and developing sustainable aviation biofuel, SkyNRG, supplied the fuel. After seeking the advice of an independent sustainability board consisting of Solidaridad, Copernicus Institute of the University of Utrecht, and the World Wide Fund for Nature, they were given the OK on the mix of Biokerosene.

KLM admits that the price of the Biokerosene is very high. To meet true sustainability, the price of the fuel has to "come down substantially and permanently." However, KLM's demonstration is an indicator of big changes on the way. No wonder KLM has been a sector leader of the Dow Jones Sustainability Index for the past six years.

Perhaps they should look into algae, as in the recent U.S. Navy's recent biofuel helicopter test fight.

Eavesdropper

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Another Airplane Car wants to hit the road

Posted by Eavesdropper Jul 18, 2011

BiPod on its test flight and car via Scaled Composites

While Terrafugia takes pre-orders on their Airplane Car, and Trek Aerospace consider civilian transport, Burt Rutan tests his last airplane before his retirement. BiPod, the flying car from Scaled Composites. A two seater, dual 15 kW motor driven hybrid-electric airplane that just happens to be drivable on the road.

In just four months from the inception of the BiPod, the craft took its first flight on March 30, 2011. Able to reach a 200mph speed, the BiPod can fly a distance of 530 miles. It also have an "overdrive mode," that lets the user fly 760 miles at a slower 100mph. In ground driving mode it can go 35 miles on battery charge alone, or up to 820 miles on a single tank of gas. Batteries in the nose of the craft privide enough power for takeoff, and a reserve of two possible landing attempts for safety.

Two 450CC internal-combustion engines, one in each fuselage, drive generators that in turn power electric motors on the driving wheels and propellers. The driving of a generator by a gasoline motor is also the concept behind the Chevy Volt, under certain conditions. Four propellers, one on each wing and two on the horizontal stabilizer linkage on the tails.

Flight and driving controls are separated between the two fuselage sections. Left side are the flight controls, and right side is for driving. When in driving mode, the wings must be removed and stored between the two halves.

Scaled Composites announced the ambitious project to gauge the response and viability of the BiPod. All the while Burt Rutan spends most of his time working away on his final legacy. Scaled Composite's President Doug Shane said, "[Rutan] was here all the time - he worked really damned hard - and that was a good lesson to all our young engineers that you don't get something for nothing."

Concept design for the BiPod via Scaled Composites

You might recognize some of the past eclectic airplane designs from Burt Rutan and the team at Scaled Composites in the below video. Now you know where they all came from.

Eavesdropper

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