Aviation development

Looking at how the world-famous solar-powered aircraft Solar Impulse 2 has been around for more than a year (it flew on March 9, 2015) "completes" the world tour, you might think that the development of passenger aviation has stopped or even goes in the opposite direction. Of course, Solar Impulse 2 is not the future of aviation, but modern aircraft are slower than supersonic Concordes flying 30 years ago. Newer models of airplanes basically differ from old ones only by their higher fuel consumption efficiency. Airbus is not even going to develop a new aircraft for the 2020s. However, things are not so hopeless. The following are the most promising projects in aeronautics, demonstrating that the development of aviation still continues.

Electric airplanes

Airbus-e-fan


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Airbus is testing a small but all-electric Airbus-E-Fan. The latest achievement of the aircraft is a flight across the English Channel. So far, this model cannot be used for any lengthy flights, even by one person.
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DISPURSAL



But many aircraft manufacturers have no doubt that electric aviation has a future. To begin with, it is planned, like in cars, to make a hybrid engine. Airbus intends to conduct a “more electric aircraft” test as part of the DISPURSAL project in 2022. The contribution of the electric fan motor to the total thrust should be 23%.
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X-57 Maxwell



NASA in 2016 announced the beginning of the development of the X-57 Maxwell aircraft equipped with 14 electric engines. It will be a small four-seater. According to engineers, the introduction of electric motors will significantly reduce operating costs. In what time frame the plane will be created the agency does not inform.
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Lilium aviation



German startup Lilium Aviation received funding to build an electric private jet capable of taking off and landing without an airport. For takeoff and landing, the aircraft will need only 225 meters. The company has already created a prototype and plans to submit a full-size version at the end of 2018.
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Supersonic aircraft

Aerion AS2



Aerion AS2 is the first supersonic aircraft in a very long time from Airbus. This is a private jet, designed for 12 passengers. $ 4 billion will be invested in its development, and production is planned for 2023.
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QueSST



In early March, NASA announced the development of an almost silent, supersonic QueSST aircraft. The main reason for the prohibition of supersonic passenger aircraft (in addition to fuel economy) was too much noise during the transition to supersonic speed. NASA developed methods to get rid of noise and is going to build a prototype around 2020.
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Boom



Virgin Galactic-backed aviation startup boom is working on a supersonic aircraft. The startup is going to use the new aircraft for flights over the Atlantic 2.5 times faster than conventional aircraft. Investments in $ 2 billion should allow the company to build a prototype by the end of 2017.
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D-SEND 2



Japan is located far from world centers and therefore is very interested in getting supersonic aircraft. They even wanted to buy a Concorde, but in the end nothing came of it. Therefore, now the JAXA space agency is conducting tests of the D-SEND 2 supersonic glider. There is already success with noise reduction, the estimated release date of the commercial model is 2030.
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Skylon



According to its creators, the Skylon aircraft will be able to get to any point in 4 hours at a speed 5 times faster than the speed of sound. To create it, British engineers are testing a new type of engine. They announced the first tests for 2019. However, this project, despite an investment of 60 million euros from the British government, is the most long-term and difficult to implement.
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New passenger aircraft

The largest aircraft manufacturers believe that aeronautics is already a miracle and, although the new aircraft appears every 5-10 years, there is no need for any breakthrough improvements. More in the table.

Plane table

Boeing 737 MAX	2500 orders are already registered on the Boeing 737 MAX and it can become a market leader. Its stated superiority over the existing Airbus A320neo leader is that it consumes 4% less fuel. First customer deliveries will begin in 2017. 1
MS-21	The new Russian MS-21 will have a fully Russian engine. Putin declared that he would not yield anything to foreign counterparts. Rogozin told reporters that mass production will begin in 2020. 2
Mitsubishi Regional Jet	Japan will build the first in its history modern passenger jet airliner. It is small and does not pretend to anything. Planned start of operation in 2018. 3
Comac C919	But the first in a long time, the Chinese passenger liner Comac C919 is going to destroy the duapoly of Boeing and Airbus in the market. True, while 500 orders for it are mainly from the Chinese carriers. Release date - 2018. four
E2	The Brazilian company Embraer is not even going to create a new liner, but simply upgrades the current model and calls it the second generation. Expected new engines and more fuel savings. Nevertheless, contracts for more than 300 deliveries of these aircraft have already been concluded. Delivery to customers - from 2018. five
SSJ 100SV (Stretched Version)	The extended Dry Superjet will have up to 120 seats and will be released in 2019. For the rest of the specifications, it will be almost like the current superjet and will probably yield to the Boing 737 MAX, and in 2020 the Boing 777X will still be released ... in general, it will fly and be elongated, Aeroflot will will purchase. 6
Bombardier cseries	The aircraft of the Canadian company Bombardier exceeded expectations. The manufacturer promises that the aircraft will spend 10% less fuel than the Boeing 737 MAX and MS-21. Commissioning is expected in 2016. 7

Boeing 777X



The champion in the number of minor improvements will be the new Boeing 777X, scheduled for release in 2020. It will have a 5% stronger engine, 12% lower fuel and CO2 emissions, 17 tons more payload and 18% more seats.
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Private jets

Bombardier Global 8000



The Bombardier Global 8000 business jet for 8 passengers will be able to fly a record 14,600 kilometers without refueling at an average speed of 956 km / h. The company plans to start selling in 2019 at a price of about $ 65 million. The competition for the aircraft will be the Citation Hemisphere and the Gulfstream G600 - new business jets also marketed in 2018-2020. Planes will cost from $ 35 million to $ 55 million.
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Cobalt co50 valkyrie



The new Cobalt Co50 Valkyrie private jet is cheaper than its competitors ($ 600 thousand) and the fastest in its class, but its main innovation in design is that it looks absolutely like Bruce Wayne's. It can carry up to 5 passengers at a time. Exit date - mid 2017.
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Skigull



A private amphibian SkiGull will be able to land not only on the water, but generally on any surface (grass, snow, ice). He made the first flight in November 2015 and will soon be on sale.
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Icon A5



Another seaplane - a double Icon A5 is able to take off from the water and sits on the water, and can also come out of the corkscrew and is equipped with a parachute for the entire aircraft. He is recognized to be so safe that even a pilot’s license is not required for permission to fly; 20 hours of practice are enough. It costs $ 250,000 and is already being made. In 2016, the first 7 cars were assembled, but 1,850 orders have already been made for the aircraft.
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Cirrus SF50



The business jet Cirrus Vision SF50 will probably be the first mass personal jet. It will be capable of carrying up to 7 passengers should be significantly easier to operate than a regular private jet. It will also have a parachute for the entire aircraft. 4 prototypes were built and the first aircraft was delivered to the customer in June 2016. In total, more than 600 such machines have been ordered for $ 2 million.
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E-GO



The British single-seater e-Go is unique for its low price of only $ 70,000. Cheaper than many cars. The first buyer received the aircraft in June 2016.
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Epic E1000



At the other end of the price spectrum, a six-seat privately owned Epic E1000 for $ 3 million. The aircraft will be able to fly at a record speed for this class of up to 600 km / h over a distance of more than 3000 kilometers and, at the same time, can rise to an altitude of 10 km. So far, the prototype of the aircraft is being tested, but more than 60 orders have already been issued for it.
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VTOL

From the moment the helicopter appeared, people wanted to create a vehicle that was as fast as an airplane, but could fly and land anywhere like a helicopter. This vehicle even received the working name VTOL (vertical takeoff and landing) or simply a plane with a vertical take-off. Persistent but unsuccessful attempts to create this device are imprinted in the wheel of misfortune infographic.



VTOL must be “capable of anything in the air for what a bird is capable of” and fly at least 3 times faster than a regular helicopter

AW609



Formally, the Italian company AgustaWestland with the convertiplane AW609 approached the creation of VTOL transport. He is really able to vertically land and fly farther than conventional helicopters, but in terms of speed (509 km / h), it is still significantly inferior to airplanes. So far the convertibles have been made only for the needs of the American military. But the AW609 will be a civilian transport for business and the oil industry. Certification is expected in 2017 and already 70 orders have been received.
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Darpa



DARPA announced a competition to finally create an aircraft with a vertical take-off ( 1 ) and 4 large corporations (Boeing, Aurora Flight Sciences Corp, Sikorsky Aircraft Co. and Karem Aircraft) will present their full-size prototypes for testing in February 2017.
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Joby Aviation




Another attempt is an electric VTOL from Joby Aviation. The company says that it will cost $ 200,000 apiece, but does not name the release date.
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TriFan 600



Another challenger is a private jet with a vertical takeoff, the TriFan 600, which raised $ 18 million via crowdfunding. The company promises to transport up to 12 people per 3000 km. And to certify the aircraft in 4-6 years.
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Helicopters

S-97 Raider



An alternative to creating a VTOL is simply to increase the speed of the helicopter. This is achieved by Sikorsky aircraft. Their new helicopter S-97 Raider is able to fly at speeds of up to 450 km / h. The first test flight was made in May 2015. Initially, this model can only be used by the military.
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Helicopters also did not stop in development (especially the military, but here we are not talking about them). Perspective models in development are described in the table below:

Helicopter table

X6	Airbus Helicopters is going to create a new heavy helicopter by 2020. Major improvements will concern, as usual, a 25% improvement in fuel efficiency and also a payload capacity of up to 10 tons. 1 2
Mi-38	Russia is developing a new helicopter in the middle class - Mi-38. By 2017, its passenger version should be certified. One of the achievements of the helicopter - the rise to a height of 8600 meters that was previously impossible for a helicopter. 1 2
Bluecopter	In accordance with the general trend to save the planet could not do without an environmentally friendly helicopter. European light helicopter - Bluecopter will consume 40% less fuel and reduce carbon emissions gas. There will also be reduced noise by 10 decibels. So far, his prototype is being tested. 1 2
Ka-62	Another promising Russian K-62 helicopter made its first flight in mid-2016. The state corporation "helicopters of Russia" expects to sell this model worldwide. 1 2
SKYe SH09	Switzerland made the first in its history light helicopter SKYe SH09 and its quality was very good. The final certification of the helicopter is expected in 2018, but more than 90 cars have been pre-ordered. 1 2
Bell 525 relentless	The American helicopter Bell 525 relentless will be the first helicopter with an electric remote control system that reduces the load on the crew. There are already 60 pre-orders, and the helicopter certification will be held in Q1 2017. 1 2
H160	The parade of the newest helicopters is completed by another Airbus helicopter, this time in the middle class - the H160. He was supposed to make a revolution in helicopter, but as a result only turned out to be quieter, with less fuel consumption, new avionics and electric chassis. Release in sale is expected in 2018. 1 2

Total

Summing up, it is possible to note at least 3 trends in the development of aviation. The development of electric aircraft, the return of supersonic and the creation of a hybrid aircraft and helicopter (VTOL). Implementation, although one of these developments will be a major breakthrough for the industry. In addition to these revolutionary changes, airplanes and helicopters are gradually improving with the release of new models (greater fuel efficiency, more composite materials, cheaper operation, more automation, etc.),