Edinburgh Research Explorer The green airliner that never was: aerodynamic theory, fuel- efficiency and the role of the British state in aviation technology in the mid-twentieth century Citation for published version: Spinardi, G 2020, 'The green airliner that never was: aerodynamic theory, fuel-efficiency and the role of the British state in aviation technology in the mid-twentieth century', British Journal for the History of Science, pp. 1-26. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0007087420000035 Digital Object Identifier (DOI): 10.1017/S0007087420000035 Link: Link to publication record in Edinburgh Research Explorer Document Version: Peer reviewed version Published In: British Journal for the History of Science General rights Copyright for the publications made accessible via the Edinburgh Research Explorer is retained by the author(s) and / or other copyright owners and it is a condition of accessing these publications that users recognise and abide by the legal requirements associated with these rights. Take down policy The University of Edinburgh has made every reasonable effort to ensure that Edinburgh Research Explorer content complies with UK legislation. If you believe that the public display of this file breaches copyright please contact
[email protected] providing details, and we will remove access to the work immediately and investigate your claim. Download date: 27. Sep. 2021 The Green Airliner that Never Was: Aerodynamic Theory, Fuel-Efficiency, and the Role of the British State in Aviation Technology in the mid-Twentieth Century Graham Spinardi, Abstract Two aerodynamic concepts theorised in the early twentieth century – laminar flow control and flying wings - offer the potential for more efficient aircraft.