New Efficiencies to Expect in Aircraft Design & Construction

The issue between our need for aircrafts and their impact on the environment has got some of the cleverest minds across the world thinking of a solution. After all, the world cannot simply stop allowing people to fly between countries, but the global warming ramifications are too high to ignore. So, what can be done? In this blog, the team at Airport Metals Australia breakdown the new efficiencies to expect in aircraft design & construction.

Turning Focus Away from Propulsion onto Engineering

Boeing’s chief executive David Calhoun recently stated that, “[he] expect[s] the next product will get differentiated in a significant way on the basis of the way it’s engineered and built [and] less dependent on the propulsion package that goes with it.” Plans for new aircraft designs are shifting to embrace new technologies to reduce the cost of both construction of the aircrafts, but also on their environmental footprint, in a far greater way than would be accomplished through lower fuel-burn engines.

Bio-Composites Introduced Alongside Traditional Materials

One of these technologies is bio-composites. As a greener, more efficiently built aircraft will need to embrace lightweight, yet highly durable materials in their construction, bio-composites fit the bill as they are made from raw, recyclable materials. These include biomass, plants, crops, minerals, and even bio-wastes. The bio-composites would then be composed of components such as natural fibres, bio-resins, or biomass carbon fibres.

What Does this Mean for Traditional Aircraft Materials?

In recent history, almost 70% of an aircraft was made purely from aluminium, thanks to its lightweight and high strength features. With greener initiatives taking place, however, this may continue to reduce, as bio-composites can be fitted into cabin and cargo areas, used as auxiliary materials, and as primary and secondary structures.
But sturdy, reliable and cost-effective aluminium will likely always be needed for areas that cannot comprise on their integrity, such as the hull or fuselage. Aircraft manufacturers should only opt for aluminium sourced from the best mills with the highest applicable standards and test documentation.

Learn More About the High-Quality Aluminium Products Available from Airport Metals

If you would like to learn more about the aluminium products available from the reliable team at Airport Metals, please do not hesitate to contact us today by calling 03 9310 5566, sending an email to [email protected], or by leaving your details on our easy to complete online enquiry form.

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