Dassault Sees Composite Next-Gen Falcons
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Fred George/Paris fgeorge@san.rr.com
Although Dassault's Super Mid-Size [SMS] jet still is being designed on the firm's CATIA V workstations, engineers already are brainstorming concepts for a family of aircraft to be introduced in two decades, Bruno Stoufflet, VP scientific strategy, R & D and advance business, said today in Paris. The European Community's $2.2-billion Clean Sky joint technology initiative is a main driver. By 2015, Clean Sky seeks to develop technologies that will reduce carbon and noise emissions by 50 percent and slash nitrous oxide emissions by 80 percent.
Stoufflet said revolutionary changes will be needed to accomplish such goals. He believes the next generation of Falcon Jets will be built out of carbon fiber and other advanced composites to meet the aggressive weight reduction targets needed to accomplish the desired results. Such aircraft are likely to have wings with less sweep and natural laminar airfoils to improve lift to drag characteristics. Stoufflet didn't speculate as to whether the new aircraft would cruise as fast as, or faster than, today's Falcon Jets.
Airframe improvements only will yield a small part of the targeted reductions in noise and exhaust emissions. Most must come from advances in engine technology, Stoufflet said.
"The problem is that business aircraft makers only can design aircraft around what's available from engine manufacturers" Stoufflet said. In the commercial jetliner industry, the OEMs define the requirements and the engine makers build to suit, he explained.
Stoufflet believes future business jet turbofans will have considerably higher bypass ratios to improve fuel efficiency, thus reducing carbon footprint. He doesn't believe this necessarily requires use of reduction gear boxes to drive the front fans at lower speeds. But the gas generator cores of such engines will need to be radically redesigned to meet nitrous oxide emissions reduction goals.
Falcon 900DX photo credit: Dassault
