Silent airplanes could soon be taking off thanks to exciting new aviation tech
BRISTOL, United Kingdom — Airplane noise is more than just a momentary distraction — it can be downright bad for health. According to previous research, the sounds of planes flying overhead can ruin sleep quality for people who live near airports. Another study found that people exposed to airplane noise at night are more likely to suffer heart failure. So, is it possible for jets to one day have silent engines? This tantalizing prospect, believe it or not, is now one step closer to reality, thanks to innovative research conducted by a team of engineers at the University of Bristol in the United Kingdom.
Their findings, recently published in the Journal of Fluid Mechanics, shed new light on the noise generated by an innovative type of aircraft engine known as a boundary layer ingesting (BLI) ducted fan.
So, what exactly is a BLI ducted fan, and why is it generating so much excitement in the aviation industry? To put it simply, these engines are a bit like the ones you’d find on a typical modern airliner, but with a clever twist. Instead of being mounted under the wings, they are partially embedded into the main body of the aircraft. This unique configuration allows them to “ingest” air not just from the front but also from the surface of the plane itself. As a result, the engines don’t have to work as hard to propel the aircraft forward, leading to significant fuel savings.
