Economics of Propulsion Systems for Air Transport: A survey of the advances made in powerplants since the introduction of gas turbines and the effect on airline economics, first presented at the Dublin branch of the R.Ae.S.

Abstract

COMPARED with most other industries a distinguishing feature of the air transport business throughout its history has been the rapid development and replacement of its flying equipment. Aircraft have evolved to meet the needs of expanding traffic and each generation has been succeeded by different, newer and better versions. The thirties saw the appearance of the all metal monoplane with piston engines and propellers. As we all know this was developed to a high degree during the World War II years and afterwards culminating by the early fifties in such aircraft as the DC‐6, DC‐7 and Constellation series among many. During the fifties the turboprop emerged in successful aircraft such as the Viscount, Vanguard, Electra and Britannia but at the end of that decade the turbojets entered the picture — first at long ranges and then progressively over shorter stages during the sixties. Speed (Fig. I) and size (Fig. 2) have all increased with time, of course, and, no less important, what might be considered less obvious factors such as operating cost, reliability and maintainability have all improved as well. In parallel with and indeed essential to this process there has been a perhaps even more remarkable development in propulsion systems as illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4 and there is no need to elaborate on these at this point.

Citation

Huddie, D. (1970), "Economics of Propulsion Systems for Air Transport: A survey of the advances made in powerplants since the introduction of gas turbines and the effect on airline economics, first presented at the Dublin branch of the R.Ae.S.", Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology, Vol. 42 No. 6, pp. 25-30. https://doi.org/10.1108/eb034644