Editorial

Citation

Isikveren, A.T. (2014), "Editorial", Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology, Vol. 86 No. 1. https://doi.org/10.1108/AEAT-11-2013-0195

Editorial

Article Type: Editorial From: Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology: An International Journal, Volume 86, Issue 1

Greetings colleagues, I do hope that 2013 has been a productive and stimulating year for you all. As we enter 2014 the time has come to launch Vol. 86 of the Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology (AEAT) journal. I am very pleased to announce that this issue heralds the fifth year of my duty as Editor.

Upon perusal of what was offered in Vol. 85, I can report the readership was privy to an interesting array of technical topics that again covered a diversity of specializations. Indeed, out of a total number of 48 published manuscripts, five were devoted to aerodynamics and associated optimization, six covered structures and manufacturing, five articles were related to aerospace vehicle systems, seven presented research dealing with flight control and allocation protocols, five provided investigative work about conventional as well as advanced propulsion, ten addressed topics involving vehicle performance and reduced emissions, and ten offered some very interesting technical work associated with space flight, supporting systems and control of space vehicles. If one recalls each issue of the AEAT journal contains eight technical articles, this breakdown bodes well with the notion of offering a diverse and rather evenly distributed array of core topics.

A highlight was the special issue, Vol. 85 No. 6, where a select number of articles were published from contributions made at the 7th International Conference, “Supply on the Wings”, which was part of the International Aerospace Supply Fair (AIRTEC) held in Frankfurt, Germany on 6-8 November 2012. The annual conference “Supply on the Wings” is an ideal meeting place for professionals from the area of development, engineering, project management, business administration, production, manufacturing, procurement and related fields. The inclusion of this conference as part of the AIRTEC exhibition allows opportunity for meaningful dialogue between science and industry. Appreciations are forwarded to Prof. Richard Degenhardt of the German Aerospace Center (DLR) and Private University of Applied Sciences (PFH) and to Dr Leslie J. Cohen, Senior Vice President of Hitco Carbon Composites Inc., for their excellent work as Guest Editors of the special issue. The AEAT journal looks forward to continuing ties with the organizers of subsequent “Supply on the Wings” events, and it is worthwhile noting that AIRTEC 2013 will take place on 5-7 November 2013, at the Exhibition Centre Frankfurt in Germany.

Onto another matter that I addressed in a previous editorial, specifically Vol. 84, over two years ago now. The European Commission with its so-called Flightpath 2050 document and supplement entitled the Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA) provides elaboration of plausible strategies one could entertain in realizing a reduction of 65 percent in perceived noise, 90 percent reduction in NOx, 75 percent drop in CO2 emissions and emissions-free ground maneuvering. All quoted values are relative to the capabilities of typical aircraft in-service during year 2000. Upon examination of the SRIA document targets for CO2-emissions abatement are categorized into airframe, propulsion and power (PPS), air traffic management (ATM) and airline operations. In order to realize a total 60 percent reduction in fuel burn as well as CO2 per passenger-km for entry-into-service year of 2035, SRIA 2035 stipulates contributions of 25 percent from PPS, 25 percent from airframe, 7 percent from improved ATM and 3 percent from operational efficiency. If one extends beyond year 2035 in order to consider a plausible strategy for Flightpath 2050, according to SRIA 2050 a possible breakdown for the total 75 percent reduction in CO2-emissions would be 68 percent from advanced airframe and PPS, and the remaining 7 percent from improvements through ATM and operations. Upon scrutiny of the potential for airframes this reduction in fuel burn as well as CO2-emissions needs to have associated with it the adoption of innovative and high-risk aircraft morphologies (configurations), including novel materials and component technologies like flow control devices and various adaptive (or morphing) systems applied to lifting surfaces. SRIA 2050 does not partition contributions between airframe and PPS and various published studies indicate growing evidence that the improvement due to airframe will not be better than around 25 percent. This means the shortfall needs to be recovered by some other means: if one focuses on PPS the target becomes something like 43 percent in this respect.

I raise this topic with all of you because increasing evidence shows evolutionary developments based upon current propulsion technologies will potentially not deliver a reduction of around 43 percent by year 2050. In order to achieve ultra-low or even zero emissions gate-to-gate, it appears necessary for the research community to examine options other than advancements in the conventional Joule-Brayton cycle alone. Mindful of this, Riti Singh, Professor Emeritus of Gas Turbine Engineering at Cranfield University, who serves as one of the members on the AEAT Journal Editorial Advisory Board has undertaken the task of offering his perspectives as to how this ambitious target for PPS could be met. Prof. Singh’s views are held in high regard by the academic community and industry alike: early in 2013 he was awarded an unprecedented three-year research grant from NASA to investigate novel propulsion systems. In the brief article that follows this editorial, Prof. Singh discusses the prospects of distributed propulsion and reviews potential benefits that could be gained from hybrid-energy solutions employing, for example, alternative fuels like hydrogen, or even electrification as another means of providing energy to future aircraft motive power systems.

In closing, allow me take a moment to reiterate what the vision is for the AEAT journal. I continue to urge all readers and authors to regard AEAT as a platform for disseminating innovative scientific methods, research and technology ideas. Having stated this, the mission statement is extended such that some thought and discussion is given as to how said ideas benefit the design, and/or, development, and/or, project management, and/or, the manufacture, and/or, operation, of current or future aerospace vehicle systems. Furthermore, in order to ensure perpetuity of high standards with the coming generations of aerospace engineering academics and professionals I also call on those working with aerospace vehicle design and analysis pedagogy to consider submitting articles that cover topics related to novel educational initiatives.

On behalf of the Editorial Advisory Board and Editorial Team, it is our express wish you find Vol. 86 No. 1 interesting reading. We look forward to receiving your contributions in future.

Askin T. Isikveren