Aircraft design to become "more radical"

Aircraft design is set to become more radical, as manufacturers look to comply with environmental legislation, it has been claimed.

According to Tony Dixon, editor of Airline World magazine, engine design and the way that these are incorporated in the aeroplanes, is likely to be the area where the most radical approaches are seen.

In particular, Mr Dixon drew attention to the open-fan technology, which he said "is basically a jet engine with a propeller on it" and which uses "ten or fifteen per cent less fuel".

He said: "It is actually noisier, but they're going to put the engines up above the wings, which is a completely radical redesign.

"The engines are mounted above the wing, which means that the noise is blanked out below [the aircraft]."

News of Mr Dixon's comments comes after no-frills carrier easyJet recently unveiled a concept design for its ecoJet, which it is claimed would emit 50 per cent less CO2 than a 737 or A320.

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