An investigation was conducted to identify candidate technologies and specific developments which offer greatest promise for improving safety, fuel efficiency, performance, and utility of general aviation airplanes. Interviews were conducted with general aviation airframe and systems manufacturers and NASA research centers. The following technologies were evaluated for use in airplane design tradeoff studies conducted during the study: avionics, aerodynamics, configurations, structures, flight controls, and propulsion. Based on industry interviews and design tradeoff studies, several recommendations were made for further high payoff research. The most attractive technologies for use by the general aviation industry appear to be advanced engines, composite materials, natural laminar flow airfoils, and advanced integrated avionics systems. The integration of these technologies in airplane design can yield significant increases in speeds, ranges, and payloads over present aircraft with 40 percent to 50 percent reductions in fuel used.
A Feasibility Study for Advanced Technology Integration for General Aviation
1980
533 pages
Report
Keine Angabe
Englisch
Aircraft , Aerodynamics , Aeronautical engineering , Aircraft design , Avionics , Civil aviation , Feasibility analysis , Fuel consumption , Safety management , Technology utilization , Aerodynamic configurations , Aircraft industry , Airfoils , Composite materials , Engine design , Structural engineering , Technology transfer