EADS is developing a successor to the Concorde
Paris rally in Tokyo in 2:30. It may be possible around 2050. EADS, the parent company of Airbus, has initiated studies to develop a prototype that physically resembles the Concorde, whose last commercial flights stopped in 2003. The engine of the aircraft of the future for business travel with a capacity of 50 to 100 seats, would at once to fly at high speed while being environmentally friendly, since its goal is zero tailpipe emissions. It will take at least ten years of development before considering the first test flight.
The project is called ZEHST through a partnership between EADS, ONERA, the French aerospace research lab as well as Japan. A feasibility study financed by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and its counterpart Japanese, was launched.It is based on the initial results of research carried out by Astrium, a subsidiary of the giant European space aeronautics, as part of its program of sub-orbital aircraft, the Space plane.
Three types of engines
The unit will have three types of engines already on the market that will be used during different phases of flight: take-off up to 5000 meters with a turbo-jet close enough to those fitted to aircraft today, but "these engines will be powered by biofuels third generation developed from growing algae so clean," said Jean Botti, chief technology officer of EADS business card design. When climbing in altitude beyond 20,000 feet at 0.8 Mach, the unit will use cryogenic engines such as the Ariane launcher, powered by hydrogen.Then for the transition to its high speed (mach 4) and a very high altitude (32,000 meters) use ZEHST called Ramjet engines (now fitted to cruise missiles). A model is on display at Le Bourget.
Meanwhile, EADS is working on another concept known as Voltaire, an all-electric machine whose engine would not be placed under the wings but in the tail. The wings would obey the principle of morphing itself adapting to the different phases of flight, said Jean Botti in substance. The device is designed to make short trips with 50 to 70 passengers.
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Published on 19 Jun 2011 in finance, opinions, resources, special, technology, by admin
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