According to Aerohome, Bombardier has unveiled the first research partners for its EcoJet program, which aims to reduce emissions from business jets by 50% through an aerodynamic hybrid wing-body (BWB) design. The Montreal-based manufacturer announced on January 24, 2024 that it has recruited two Canadian partners, the University of Victoria's Centre for Aerospace Research (CFA) and Quaternion Aerospace, to develop the Ecojet project.
Quaternion Aerospace is a British Columbia-based research and development company specializing in the design and manufacture of fuel-efficient aircraft. It provides consulting services to OEMs such as Bombardier.
At the same time, CFA has extensive experience in the development of autonomous unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) or unmanned aerial vehicles for research purposes, as well as for commercial and military applications. Over the years, the facility has designed, built and tested several technology demonstrators, including the first two EcoJet technology demonstrators.
Bombardier's EcoJet research project aims to develop a mixed-wing fuselage that could reduce emissions from a global 6000 business jet by 50%.
Through this collaboration, our students and researchers are gaining critical real-world skills while helping to push the frontiers of sustainability and redefine new boundaries for the future of global aviation," said AFZAL Suleman, Director of CFA. He teaches mechanical engineering at the university.
Bombardier launched the EcoJet program 15 years ago and flew its first small prototype, the 8-foot wingspan BWB drone, in 2017. The EcoJet team presented its second technology demonstrator at EBACE 2023. It is twice the size of its predecessor and has been flying since 2022.
Data from the flight test campaign helped the EcoJet team understand the aerodynamics and flight control quality of the BWB geometry, which Bombardier says could result in fuel savings of around 20 percent. While the demonstrator is powered by a pair of off-the-shelf jet engines converted from Bombardier, the EcoJet team has yet to decide on the propulsion system for the full-size BWB business jet.
Bombardier added that the use of sustainable aviation fuel and hybrid engines could reduce emissions by another 20%. Further fuel savings will come from advances in other technologies, such as weight-saving technologies and materials.
Stephen McCullough, senior vice president of engineering and product development at Bombardier, said: "Now that we have publicly disclosed some aspects of the first phase of the EcoJet flight test program, it is important for us to give credit and share this amazing response with our partners, who have been instrumental in this aspect of the research project. ”
Bombardier said the partnership with CFA and Quaternion is the first of many partnerships the company intends to establish with Canadian businesses and academic institutions. The company also involved a multidisciplinary team on the project, including Bombardier's engineers and technicians in Kuwait, as well as researchers and students in British Columbia.
"This collaboration marks a major step forward in our sustainability efforts, a greener future for aviation, and the development of cutting-edge technologies that advance the frontiers of science and engineering in British Columbia and across Canada," said Kevin Hall, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Victoria. ”
Article **From: Aviation House.