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SUMMARY 7 Despite decades of technological progress, there are important areas for continued advance that will improve reliability of aircraft and air travel as well as increase fuel efficiency and efficiency in operations. The integrated effects of a variety of advances in aircraft could improve fuel efficiency by as much as 30 to 50 percentâand some studies are even more optimistic. Introduction of advanced turboprops or propfans could provide up to 20 percent additional improvement, and the experimental unducted propfan engine could raise this figure. Aeronautical technology is conventionally categorized into seven major areas: design techniques, aerodynamics, flight controls, structures, air frame- propulsion integration, avionics, and propulsion. Design Techniques High-speed computers make possible the use of sophisticated computational analysis that reduces dependence on empiricism and experiment. This technology is applicable to all classes of aircraft. The United States is thought to have a slight lead over Europe (and probably a larger lead over Japan) at this time. Nevertheless, European efforts are very good, as shown by the aerodynamic efficiency of the A300 and A310. Japanese strength in electronics provided the foundation for Japan to develop greater capability. Computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacture (CAD/CAM) permits rapid and effective evaluation of many different designs and allows selected designs to flow directly to manufacturing. The combination of these two technologies permits development of more effective designs at lower cost, with fewer errors and less lead time. CAD/CAM was pioneered in the United States but has been adopted rapidly in Europe (Airbus Industrie) and Japan. The hardware and software for CAD/CAM are rapidly diffused throughout the free world, and foreign manufacturers can be expected to stay competitive in this technology. Aerodynamics Improved understanding of the laminar-to-turbulent-flow transition and development of methods to delay the transition can lead to improved aerodynamic efficiency for cruise conditions. The United States is thought to be far ahead in boundary layer management, but the United States and Europe are generally comparable in wing design. For example, the Airbus A310 wing incorporates the latest in high-lift systems to provide excellent takeoff and landing performance.
