Airbus futuristic studies (NACRE, E2, A30X...)

[Trident]

Ask and ye shall receive From FlugRevue 1/2001 (apologies for the crappy scans):

 

[Trident]

More:

 

[flateric]

Airbus E2 (E-squared) concept, answer to SonicCruiser, ca.2001

 

[Antonio]

Thanks a lot Trident and Flateric!!.

 

[Matej]

New pictures, mostly from:

http://www.airbus.com/en/gmf2009/
http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2008/07/16/225693/farnborough-2008-reshaping-the-future.html

 

[hesham]

Also we have this;

http://www.secretprojects.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,181.75.html

 

[T-50]

nice design proposals!

 

[Demon Lord Razgriz]

That A30X looks a lot like the fictional R-501 Rhincodon from Ace Combat 3.

Any idea when that A30X concept was made?

 

[archipeppe]

That A30X looks a lot like the fictional R-501 Rhincodon from Ace Combat 3.

Any idea when that A30X concept was made?

It looks "Colanish" in sense that seems to be connected with some intriguing concept of mid 70's carried on by Luigi Colani, a very well known German designer (despite to his Italian name).

Anyway, look at this concept remind me always a sense of sadness. From the '70s is possible to see a very large amount of innovative aeronautical solutions, proposed by the biggest group as Boeing, Airbus, ecc. and always the SAME TWO configurations (2 or 4 engines as well) realized, the well known B 707 & derivatives (up to A380) and the Caravelle & derivatives (DC9, MD 80, Fokker 100, Embraers and so on).

Nothing new under, and also over, the Sky....

 

[Michel Van]

It looks "Colanish" in sense that seems to be connected with some intriguing concept of mid 70's carried on by Luigi Colani, a very well known German designer (despite to his Italian name).

Luigi Colani was born as Lutz Colani in 1928 at Berlin
His Father is from Switzerland, precise the Italian Graubünden.
so there is a littel bit Italian in him ;D

 

[Kokoro]

Anyway, look at this concept remind me always a sense of sadness. From the '70s is possible to see a very large amount of innovative aeronautical solutions, proposed by the biggest group as Boeing, Airbus, ecc. and always the SAME TWO configurations (2 or 4 engines as well) realized, the well known B 707 & derivatives (up to A380) and the Caravelle & derivatives (DC9, MD 80, Fokker 100, Embraers and so on).

Nothing new under, and also over, the Sky....

Shame yes. But then the above are concepts that were or have been rejected because of some reason or another they are not as good as a normal configuration airliner.

Take the position of the engines for example. It is far easier to maintain and replace engines when they are hanging off a wing. the engine pylon would also be shorter meaning less drag and the weight of the engines counteracts the lifting forces on the wing extending life. I don't think we are going to see any changes to the basic airliner config for a long time to come no matter how cool they look.

feel free to counter the argument though ^_^

 

[archipeppe]

feel free to counter the argument though ^_^

Absolutely not.
I full agree with you.

The design of civil aircraft is conservative because, due to the highest level of safety reached in the last 40 years, any configurational change costs too much for both airports (in terms of means and procedures) and airlines (for the same reasons).

All the things are taylored for the two basic architectures and airlines are rather conservatives.

For military aircraft the things running differentely, due to more budget it possible to explore rather effective configurations than save money only recycling means and procedures from previous programmes.

 

[Jemiba]

From FlugRevue July 2010, two concepts for the A30X series, which is intended
to replace the A320, the upper one with open rotor engines, the lower with advanced
turbofans. The necessary technologies aren't expected to be available before 2025 ...

 

[Triton]

Airbus embedded-engine airliner concept, Airbus Concept Plane, released at the Farnborough International Airshow 2010.

Source: http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/blogs/farnborough/?plckController=Blog&plckBlogPage=BlogViewPost&newspaperUserId=af81e61b-7188-4a72-8f39-d3869b7980c2&plckPostId=Blog%3aaf81e61b-7188-4a72-8f39-d3869b7980c2Post%3a55c24e57-cc17-4da4-a607-6da2763d8c45&plckScript=blogScript&plckElementId=blogDest

 

[XP67_Moonbat]

I swear some of these designs remind of Tony Stark's private jet in the first IRON MAN.

 

[Triton]

Additional artist impression's of Airbus Concept Plane of what a future airliner might look like in 2050, or 2030 if technology progresses at it's current rate.

The ultra-long passenger plane, has slim wings, semi-embedded engines, a U-shaped tail and is built out of light weight "intelligent" materials.

Source: http://www.pocket-lint.com/news/34390/airbus-concept-plane-flight-future

 

[Triton]

New pictures, mostly from:

http://www.airbus.com/en/gmf2009/
http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2008/07/16/225693/farnborough-2008-reshaping-the-future.html

The RS-002 was a concept developed by the Royal Aeronautical Society, not Airbus or NACRE.

For more information see:

"Royal Aeronautical Society Concepts"
http://www.secretprojects.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,8856.0/highlight,rs-002.html

 

[Triton]

Concerning the Airbus Concept Plane concept, Wired writes:

Beyond the interesting overall design, Airbus talked about new interiors. It mentions morphing seats that change shape to fit passengers and “walls that become see-through at the touch of a button, affording 360 degree views of the world below.” We’d like to see the “holographic projections of virtual decors” that let passengers “transform their private cabin into an office, bedroom or Zen garden.”

Source: "Airbus Concept Has Weird Wings, Morphing Seats"
http://www.wired.com/autopia/2010/07/airbus-concept-plane-2050/#ixzz0uFM4ZGRp

 

[piko1]

This is awesome it looks like hotrod i fell in love with the engines placing if this one make it to a real prototype i just have no words...

 

[flateric]

http://www.airbus.com/fileadmin/media_gallery/files/reports_results_reviews/THE_FUTURE_by_Airbus_consumer_report.pdf

 

[Triton]

Artist's impression of Airbus airliner concept with solar panels that could provide electricity to the aircraft while at altitude.

Source: http://www.airbus.com/fileadmin/media_gallery/files/reports_results_reviews/THE_FUTURE_by_Airbus_consumer_report.pdf

 

[Schorsch]

"Solar-powered" is bullshit, it will never work.
Generally, everything that gets published is dead. Airbus will not show any serious design study.
And don't be fooled by "futuristic" designs, the design space of a Future Projects Office at Airbus is rather small.

If we go open rotor with an A320 replacement, it will have rear mounted engines. Never understood who needed H-tail and all that stuff.

 

[AeroFranz]

The rationale (at least what we are told) for U- or H-shaped tails is noise shielding. otherwise it's just more interference drag (more corners) compared to conventional or T-tail.

 

[Schorsch]

The rationale (at least what we are told) for U- or H-shaped tails is noise shielding. otherwise it's just more interference drag (more corners) compared to conventional or T-tail.

Yes, but noise isn't that of a problem. Even the open rotors are projected 10dB below current single aisle engines. A bigger problem than engine noise is airframe noise as that affects people at landing.

The next Airbus or Boeing B737/A320 will have 3 dominating criteria:
> fuel burn
> fuel burn
> fuel burn

Our new masters in Asia don't mind noise so much like we Europeans.

 

[Triton]

Slide featuring future Airbus A30X concepts.


Sources:
http://www.aero.de/news/Airbus-hebt-kurzfristiges-Absatzziel-fuer-A380-Programm-an.html

 

[Triton]

Model of Airbus Concept Plane.

Source:
http://blog.flightstory.net/1529/images-airbus-concept-plane/

 

[Triton]

Models of Airbus A30X concepts.

NOTE: Larger images beyond the maximum attachment size allowed by this forum are available at the link.


Source:
http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/blogs/commercial_aviation/ThingsWithWings/index.jsp?plckController=Blog&plckScript=blogScript&plckElementId=blogDest&plckBlogPage=BlogViewPost&plckPostId=Blog%3A7a78f54e-b3dd-4fa6-ae6e-dff2ffd7bdbbPost%3A7f240a27-f774-4f71-b7d7-2c6c77d352cd

 

[sferrin]

Model of Airbus Concept Plane.

Source:
http://blog.flightstory.net/1529/images-airbus-concept-plane/

That one's kinda cool. Where are the engines? ???

 

[Triton]

Model of Airbus Concept Plane.

Source:
http://blog.flightstory.net/1529/images-airbus-concept-plane/

That one's kinda cool. Where are the engines? ???

You can see the engine air intakes of the Airbus Concept Plane in this artist's impression.

http://www.secretprojects.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,8206.msg98609.html#msg98609

 

[Triton]

Airbus Concept Cabin

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=cAGT5A589xE#at=67

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uLANvnpvYwM&feature=player_embedded#at=68


The Airbus Concept Cabin X-ray: Airbus predicts that the aircraft in 2050 will have a bionic structure that mimics bird bones to allow for lighter weight structure and open panoramic views.

Passengers in 2050 can sit back and enjoy the night sky when travelling to destinations due to bionic structure and interactive membrane of the Airbus Concept Cabin.

The Vitalising Zone by Day: Vitalising Zone at the front of the aircraft. An intelligent cabin membrane can become transparent to give passengers open panoramic views.

The Vitalising Zone by Night: Passengers in 2050 can sit back and enjoy the night sky when travelling to destinations due to bionic structure and interactivity membrane of the Airbus Concept Cabin.

Smart Tech Zone: Morphing seats can harvest passenger's body heat to power aircraft systems such as holographic pop-up pods as shown here in the Airbus Concept Cabin "Smart Tech Zone".

The Interaction Zone / Virtual Golf: The centre interactive zone provides space for social scenrios, such as a virtual game of golf with people on ground or even with passengers in other aircraft.

Source:
http://www.airbus.com/galleries/rss_high_res_photos.xml

 

[fightingirish]

But where is the cockpit? ???

Under the main deck á la A300-600ST Beluga, that shiny ball in the front á la EDI from the movie Stealth or in a container at Creech AFB, Nevada? :

 

[Triton]

The Future by Airbus website
http://www.thefuturebyairbus.com/

From the Airbus website:

In a new report, “The Future by Airbus,” Airbus looks forward to the year 2050 and beyond, and highlights the anticipated global needs of a better-connected and more sustainable world – with a forward written by Charles Champion, Head of Engineering at Airbus.

http://www.thefuturebyairbus.com/media/43393/brochure_the_future_by_airbus.pdf

 

[Triton]

Airbus Concept Cabin 2050

Source:
http://www.gizmag.com/airbus-concept-cabin/18919/

 

[LowObservable]

The RS-002 design has appeared frequently on my doodle pad, particularly when I'm thinking of the high speed rail scam, and figuring out what you'd design today for best efficiency on a 500-mile sector.

With the rear engines, short gear and high-set canard, you could design a low-level dock like a station platform and board through two doors.

M=0.7x cruise, two TP400s = non-recurring cost probably less than one 500nm HSR line.

 

[Matej]

But where is the cockpit? ???

Do we need some in 2050? Eurocopter is already developing the real cockpitless helicopter, so why not Airbus? And if the pilot is still required (because of the passenger's prejudice), he can be placed everywhere in that kind of fully digital aircraft.

BTW I proposed that kind of panoramatic cabin in the front part of the plane years ago, when I was only a teenager

 

[dragon72]

But where is the cockpit? ???

It looks like it's under the passenger deck but more importantly - where's the toilets?

 

[fightingirish]

Some more videos:
The Future by Airbus - What future for air transport?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dSUeZWU5eO8

Because air transport takes up less ground area and fewer building materials, it's only logical we should use the sky's unlimited space, and leave the ground for farming and preserving biodiversity. Today, civil aviation represents 2% of greenhouse gas pollution, but it has nevertheless undertaken to half its carbon emissions by 2050. So, tomorrow's aviation industry depends on the solutions it finds to the energy problems. There are so many possible futures.

The Future by Airbus - New cabin vision
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhRQ2L8-ruI

Passenger comfort has increased since the 1960s and Airbus promises to make future aircraft cabins even more ecological. New materials will get many other properties that might transform travel into a unique experience. There are so many possible futures.

I think, Airbus mixed up the crystal ball with a hubble-bubble.

 

[Triton]

View: http://youtu.be/Q5K1ZDs-li0


Artist's impression of Airbus Concept Cabin

 

[Triton]

Artist's impressions of Airbus Concept Plane.

Source:
http://www.airbus.com/galleries/photo-gallery/?p=11#open=company/americas/us/alabama/photo-gallery/dg/idp/24820-concept-plane-london-eye-fly-by/

 

[Triton]

http://www.airbus.com/galleries/photo-gallery/?p=11#open=galleries/photo-gallery/dg/idp/24824-airbus-concept-plane-london-from-cabin/?backURL=galleries/photo-gallery/?p=11