AIRCRAFT 2
Running Head: AIRCRAFT 1
AIRCRAFT
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Introduction
In the aerospace, industry performance is specified by many things such as fuel, speed, payload, and range. Environmental capabilities are regulated by aviation authorities in each country or state. For any aircraft manufacturer to remain competitive in the industry, there are several issues in design, assembly, and manufacturing that need to be addressed. Aircraft are designed in a complex manner where there are systems and subsystems that have several parts and components. The systems are multidisciplinary where disciplines are performance oriented. Such disciplines include; assembly and manufacture, aerodynamics, cost modeling, flight mechanics, technology transfer, material, reliability structure, maintainability, system architecture, and the list are endless. In the design, the disciplines are highly interwoven. Behavior disciplines are quite subjective and highly experience oriented and on the other hand performance disciplines depend on mathematic analysis (Dimino, 2017). Disciplines that are performance oriented are established on academics and research while the behavior-oriented disciplines rely on the experience that the manufacturer has.
In order to reduce the cost in every stage of aircraft development and manufacturing, there is a need to introduce technology to reduce the cost. For that to happen, the two disciplines, behavior discipline and performance-oriented discipline, have to be linked together. Sometimes, there are delays in development due to the certification process and accurate cost estimation. The high risks in the aerospace industry have made manufacturers call for partnership in many states and countries.
Aircraft technology
There have been several technologies that have been integrated into aircraft to increase the comfort of passengers and their safety (Ebrary, 2001). Technology has also been included in order to increase efficiency and reduce the overall cost of transport for companies in this industry. Below are some of the technologies that have been in aircraft;
Transponder
This a very important device during flight. An in-flight transponder, there is an automated transceiver which emits a signal in response to an incoming signal. It is the system that is used to identify and a friend or a foe during a war. This device is used in may application such as in marine vessels and satellites. There is a transponder code that is sent by the transponder depending on the type of interrogation. This code contains information about the altitude, and it helps the traffic controller to maintain separation between planes and also to identify planes. This is a helpful device since in military it determines how the country responds (Solway, 2012). This device also contains information about what the pilot or the captain were saying after a plane crash or a vessel sink.
Engines
It is well known that during takeoff or landing, aircraft make very high noises that may destroy the hearing capability of the people on board if they are not wearing safety equipment and also those at the airport. There are deep researches that have been conducted time and again to reduce this noise. This is especially advantageous in the military since attacks can take place without the enemy knowing it. Engineers and other technologies have worked tirelessly to enhance the speed of engines in order to cut the fuel cost (Staff, 1900). This has been achieved in that fighter jets with some of them acquiring a speed greater than marc 3 are being used today. This is approximately 720m/s.
Wings
It is a common knowledge that difference in the pressure causes a plane to fly from the ground and to remain floating in the air. There have been several modifications on the wings to ensure that the maximum pressure difference is maintained. The common shape of an aircraft wing or helicopter propeller is lob shaped. The tips of the wings are tilted somehow in order to reduce the drags and eddy currents that increase fuel consumption.
Use glass fiber to strengthen the structure
While strength is of great importance to the aircraft in order to avoid collapsing, weight plays a very significant role in design. The heavier the aircraft, the more the fuel it consumes. Materials such steel offers the required strength. However, they are very heavy. In order to reduce the weight, aluminum had to mix with glass fiber in order to keep the plane very light and very strong at the same time (Baker, Dutton & Kelly, 2004). Aluminum on its owner is light but does not offer the required strength. The pressure in the plane is very different from that of the surrounding atmosphere. If the structure is not strong enough, the plane may explode or implode.
Autopilot
This is a recent phenomenon in the aviation industry. The trajectory of the aircraft is maintained automatically without having the pilots place their hands on the control. This system did not eliminate human operators but was meant to assist them during flight. With autopilot in place, pilots can concentrate on other aspects such as the systems and weather (Baker, Dutton & Kelly, 2004).
A detachable body frame from wings
In almost all plane crashes there has been fire. This fire is mainly from the fuel in the wings. There is a recent development though not well adopted where the frame containing the passenger can be detached from the wings. This body structure has parachutes attached to slow down the landing. This can save lives and prevented greater destruction that comes from crushes.
Future modifications
There has been increasing comfort in air travel due to several changes that have been put in place. Speed is always of the essence and with improved engine speed, time is always saved.
Wings modifications have increased the movability of fighter jets and other planes in the sports. Stronger structures mean that aircraft can fly in higher altitudes and therefore save fuel and time. Safety has been specially enhanced safety where in case of emergency landing, the pilot can get to know the nearest airstrip and save lives. There are researches that are being carried all through in order to increase safety and speed in the aviation industry. All this is geared towards better flights and reduced overall cost.
Conclusion
In the recent years, research in the aerospace industry has been driven by the customer requirement. The research is aimed at meeting the increased demand for safety, enhanced performance, reduction in fuel and environmental capabilities. This will be solely based on the appropriate technology (Baker, Dutton & Kelly, 2004). The development of an aerospace technology will call for a deeper study of physics and other disciplines such as manufacturing, material, aerodynamic and structure. The importance of system engineering laws is well understood and documented as well. There are, however, several areas that are not well understood such as linkages are not well understood. This linkage exists between the decision analysis schedule and many other things.
References
Solway, A. (2012). Aircraft. London: Raintree.
Dimino, I. (2017). Morphing wing technologies – large commercial aircraft and civil helicopter.
Staff, N. R. C. (1900). High-Stakes Aviation: U.S. – Japan Technology Linkages in Transport Aircraft. Washington: National Academies Press.
Ebrary, Inc. (2001). 2001 assessment of the Office of Naval Research’s Aircraft Technology Program. Washington, D.C: National Academy Press.
Baker, A. A., Dutton, S., & Kelly, D. (2004). Composite materials for aircraft structures. Reston, VA: American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics.