Turbulence in the Gulf
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Come and see us at the Dubai Airshow on Stand 2018 AEROSPACE November 2017 FLYING FOR THE DARK SIDE IS MARS GETTING ANY CLOSER? HYBRID-ELECTRIC PROPULSION www.aerosociety.com November 2017 Volume 44 Number 11 Volume TURBULENCE IN THE GULF SUPERCONNECTOR AIRLINES BATTLE HEADWINDS Royal Aeronautical Society Royal Aeronautical N EC Volume 44 Number 11 November 2017 Turbulence in Is Mars getting any 14 the Gulf closer? How local politics Sarah Cruddas and longer-range assesses the latest aircraft may 18 push for a human impact Middle mission to the Red East carriers. Planet. Are we any Contents Clément Alloing Martin Lockheed nearer today? Correspondence on all aerospace matters is welcome at: The Editor, AEROSPACE, No.4 Hamilton Place, London W1J 7BQ, UK [email protected] Comment Regulars 4 Radome 12 Transmission The latest aviation and Your letters, emails, tweets aeronautical intelligence, and feedback. analysis and comment. 58 The Last Word Short-circuiting electric flight 10 Antenna Keith Hayward considers the Howard Wheeldon looks at the current export tariff spat over MoD’s planned Air Support to the Bombardier CSeries. Can a UK low-cost airline and a US start-up bring electric, green airline travel Defence Operational Training into service in the next decade? On 27 September easyJet revealed it had (ASDOT) programme. partnered with Wright Electric to help develop a short-haul all-electric airliner – with the goal of bringing it into service within ten years. If realised, this would represent a game-changing leap for aviation and a huge victory for aerospace Features Cobham in meeting or even exceeding its sustainable goals. Those with longer memories Irkut may recall when, in 2007, easyJet revealed the ‘ecoJet’ concept airliner featuring two open-rotor engines shielded by a twin U-tail designed to halve CO2 emissions and cut fuel burn by 15%. The airline was reported at the time to be talking to Airbus and Boeing, as well as Rolls-Royce, about this concept with the news that it could be ready for service by 2015. However, both Airbus and Boeing opted to re-engine their existing narrowbody designs in the form of the Airbus A320neo and 737 MAX respectively, dashing the hopes of those 22 who dreamed of exotic new shapes gracing the skies. Hopes for fast tracking 34 Open Rotor technology have also been unfounded with a planned fly-off Flying for the dark side Onboard a Cobham Falcon between Rolls-Royce and Safran Open Rotor demonstrator engines in the 20 providing operational Russia unwraps its new EU’s Clean Sky project now reduced to just ground tests by Safran’s model. Will readiness training. MC-21 battery-powered electric airliners suffer the same curse as easyJet’s ecoJet? What are the commercial prospects for the new Irkut Championing this leap to electric flight is a bold and visionary move – and 26 Flying light MC-21 civil airliner? easyJet must be praised for its commitment to sustainable aviation goals. The Are UK GA airfields in crisis? innate conservatism of some parts of the aerospace industry, too, means that it is easy to knock radical future concepts – when they may help shape the Zenum Aero debate, stimulate competition and spark innovation. The electric flight revolution 38 may be progressing faster than expected in some areas (GA and ‘aerial taxis’) 30 but, for larger passenger aircraft, there still remain significant obstacles. (See Charge of the electric flight brigade, p 30) Tim Robinson, Editor-in-Chief Charge of the electric flight brigade Defence showcase [email protected] Jet engine manufacturers NEWS IN BRIEF research into hybrid electric A report on the 2017 DSEI defence exhibition. Editor-in-Chief AEROSPACE is published by the Royal 2017 AEROSPACE subscription propulsion. Tim Robinson Aeronautical Society (RAeS). rates: Non-members, £160 +44 (0)20 7670 4353 Chief Executive Please send your order to: [email protected] Simon C Luxmoore Chris Male, RAeS, No4 Hamilton Place, Deputy Editor Advertising London W1J 7BQ, UK. 41 Afterburner Bill Read Simon Levy +44 (0)20 7670 4352 +44 (0)20 7670 4351 +44 (0)20 7670 4346 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Any member not requiring a print Publications Manager Unless specifically attributed, no version of this magazine, please 42 Message from our President Chris Male contact: [email protected] material in AEROSPACE shall be taken 43 Message from our +44 (0)20 7670 4352 to represent the opinion of the RAeS. USA: Periodical postage paid at [email protected] Chief Executive Reproduction of material used in this Champlain New York and additional Production Editor offices. Online publication is not permitted without the 44 Book Reviews Wayne J Davis written consent of the Editor-in-Chief. Postmaster: Send address changes Additional features and content +44 (0)20 7670 4354 to IMS of New York, PO Box 1518, 47 Library Additions [email protected] Printed by Buxton Press Limited, are available to view online on Palace Road, Buxton, Derbyshire Champlain NY 12919-1518, USA. 48 Streamlining the Specialist www.media.aerosociety.com/ Book Review Editor SK17 6AE, UK aerospace-insight Brian Riddle Awards ISSN 2052-451X Including: Expanding the envelope, Defeating Editorial Office Distributed by Royal Mail 50 Corporate Partners drones, Can easyJet short circuit electric Royal Aeronautical Society airliner flight?, Billion dollar in-flight broadband, No.4 Hamilton Place 52 Diary In the October issue of AEROSPACE, London W1J 7BQ, UK 56 RAeS Elections UK GA sector in crisis, DSEI 2017 +44 (0)20 7670 4300 [email protected] show report, UK aerospace research www.aerosociety.com after Brexit, Swedish air Front cover: Emirates control. @aerosociety i Find us on LinkedIn f Find us on Facebook www.aerosociety.com NOVEMBER 2017 13 Radome INTELLIGENCE / ANALYSIS / COMMENT Long and elegant The concept features high-aspect ratio wings for aerodynamic efficiency along with split winglets to cut drag. A reduction in wing sweep, to optimise energy and increase efficiency means that this airliner will cruise at slower speeds than current jet aircraft. AIR TRANSPORT easyJet’s electric vision In September, UK budget airline easyJet revealed that it had teamed-up with US-start-up Wright Electric to help accelerate the drive towards zero-carbon commercial airline flight. Unveiling a concept for a 120-seat short-haul electric airliner, easyJet believes that such an airliner could be developed and operational within the next decade. Powered by batteries, the airliner would be optimised for short flights of two hours or less, which makes up 20% of the carrier’s network in Europe. As well as being greener and quieter than existing jets, easyJet's concept electric narrowbody would also, says Wright, see a 10% reduction in operational costs. Such is the pace of progress with battery and power technology that, within 20 years, predicts the airline, every short-haul flight could be electric-powered. easyJet 4 AEROSPACE / NOVEMBER 2017 Specifications Passenger capacity 120 Range 335miles Swappable batteries Underfloor battery packs with‘ advanced cell chemistry’ provide power and are swappable – a necessary feature to provide rapid turnarounds for low-cost operations. Embedded fans EasyJet's concept sees the aircraft using distributed electric propulsion, with eight ducted fans embedded in the wing each side. Buried fans and electric power mean that noise will be reduced by a staggering 50%, says Wright Electric. @aerosociety i Find us on LinkedIn f Find us on Facebook www.aerosociety.com NOVEMBER 2017 5 Radome AIR TRANSPORT AEROSPACE AF A380 suffers serious Airbus swoops in to rescue CSeries engine failure An investigation has an emergency landing at begun after parts from an Goose Bay, Canada. None Air France A380 engine of the 496 passengers detached over Greenland and 24 crew onboard were on 30 September during injured in the incident. The a flight from Paris to French aviation accident Los Angeles. Following investigation agency the incident, which saw BEA, has now assumed large components shed responsibilty for the inquiry. from the Engine Alliance Meanwhile, Air France GP7200 No 4 including is now preparing to ferry the front cowling, and fan the A380 back on three disc, the aircraft made engines. Airbus DEFENCE In a surprise announcement on 16 October, Airbus revealed that it is to take a 50.01% stake in Bombardier's CSeries programme, entering a historic partnership with BAE Systems is to cut almost 2,000 jobs in BAE Systems the Canadian manufacturer and opening an assembly military air, maritime and intelligence arms, line for the airliner in its Mobile, Alabama, site. Describing as part of organisational changes to ‘boost to axe nearly it as a “win-win-win situation for everyone” by CEO Tom competitiveness, accelerate technology 2,000 jobs Enders, Airbus will take a majority stake in the CSeries in innovation and improve operational return for its global marketing, sales and support muscle. excellence’. A total of 750 jobs are to go at The move is a shot in the arm for the CSeries, which is the BAE’s Warton and Samlesbury plants which centre of a international tariff row after the US Commerce assemble the Eurofighter Typhoon. Department imposed nearly 300% import tariffs on all An additional 400 jobs are to be lost from Brough, 230 from RAF Marham and 15 from Bombardier CSeries regional aircraft sold in the US. It RAF Leeming with the remainder in its maritime and Applied Intelligence divisions. follows a protest from Boeing that the aircraft was being The news comes after a surprise announcement by Qatar in a Statement of sold below cost to Delta Air Lines. The tariffs have been Intent to purchase 24 Typhoons and six Hawks from the UK.