Bombardier's "Ecojet" project advances
The Canadian aircraft manufacturer Bombardier reports that it has conducted "promising flight tests" with an 18-foot-wide (5.5 m) demonstrator of its "Ecojet" that have generated "important results", contributing to the advancement of this "pivotal project" which started 15 years ago.
The sustainability-focused research and technology initiative aims to reduce aircraft emissions by up to 50% through a combination of aerodynamic, propulsion and other enhancements. It has materialised into a family of blended wing body (BWB) test vehicles.
The analysis of the data gathered from the current prototype will allow the engineering team to perfect its knowledge of new aviation control laws that are adapted to the radically different BWB geometry to be applied to more sustainable, future aircraft. (ah)