Conceived by Industrial designer Shabtai Hirshberg, this new commercial aircraft is to herald a new era of aircraft design. The student of Faculty of Automotive Design Program MFA from the Detroit College for Creative Studies, Shabtai chose to design a new aircraft for commercial purpose. His aircraft of the future is a revolutionary improvement over the conventional commercial aircraft design. The concept is imagined to meet the flux of air travel in future which is expected to see 100% increase by 2030.
What seems to provide the aviation leap in future, the concept is to deal well with the increasing fuel prices which have already led many airlines across the globe to the doldrums. Designed for Virgin Atlantic, Shabtai Hirshberg’s aircraft design is based on the lifting body concept wherein the fuselage helps in general lift thereby reducing the fuel costs by 30% without compromising with passenger comfort.
What’s so unique about this aircraft concept is the lightweight nanocomposite material which allows the use of multi-layer laminated transparent material as strong structural component. Such a make helps save solar energy and also controls the transparency of electro-chromic window, which replaces the traditional windows. It helps reduce the air resistance and thereby drag. Adding more to the eco credentials are its highly efficient hybrid engines (Duct hybrid turboprop fans) that run on biofuel. Engines are further supported by an electric motor that gets vital juice from solar panels that harvests solar energy during the daytime and infrared at night.
Apart from an eye catching design and eco friendly credentials, the new aircraft design can land and take off from land as well as water. This is made possible with underwater wings that work like fins during landing and takeoff from water. This feature not only will reduce the dependence on the runways but will most likely double or triple the number of destinations all over the world. The concept aircraft is to be made of composite material as it can be easily formed and durable. The seating layout resembles the stadium but seat are far enough to create ample personal space. So, revolutionary aircraft design suits the future scenario best as it’s eco friendly and can land on water in case air traffic is too high.
