The Faculty of Aerospace Engineering at Delft University of Technology has embarked on a four-year project to develop ‘the ultra-eco-friendly plane’. The faculty is currently hard at work with a special research team to develop these technologies for this innovative ‘green’ aircraft in a project called CleanEra. The research team, known as DELcraFTworks, started to work in May 2007.

The world is anxiously awaiting an ultra-green, medium-sized aircraft. Not just because of the high CO2 emissions from existing aircraft but also because there seems to be no end to the growth in air traffic and transport. In 2005 Statistics Netherlands reported that the Dutch fly off on holiday 5.5 million times a year. Almost 2 million more flights than in 1998.

The final design will probably bear no resemblance to conventional planes, because the current generation of aircraft has more or less exhausted its development potential.

‘A new aircraft might be wing-shaped with a fuselage which is part of a large, more or less triangular aerofoil and thus can boost the carrying capacity. The engines should also be integrated in this construction.’

That way, they will generate less air resistance and make less noise than when suspended from the wings. Yes, it has all been tried before – in vain. But this time, with new materials and intelligent software, success should be within reach.

The world is anxiously awaiting an ultra-green aircraft.

‘As this is a multidisciplinary project, the Delft researchers will report to eight professors, specialising in subjects ranging from aerodynamics to materials engineering. The researchers, in turn, will supervise groups of students who will concentrate exclusively on the project. All the spearhead technologies will come together in the CleanEra project. After the Nuna solar-powered racing car, the Wasub human-powered submarine, it is time to return to our roots – Aircraft Building.