The Influence of the Engine on Aircraft Design: A review of the influence of advanced technology turbofan engines on the design of civil transport aircraft

THE rate of progress in civil aviation during the last decade has been largely determined by engine development. When the jet engine was first used in civil aircraft it was a means of obtaining higher speeds and improved passenger comfort at the expense of high fuel consumption and considerable annoyance to airport communities because of the noise. Significant improvements in fuel consumption and noise were obtained when the bypass concept was introduced, but there was a pause in development while the value of bypass ratio remained at about one. Another major forward step is being taken with the ‘new technology’ engines of bypass ratio five or more now under development, and it is timely to review the influence of these engines on the design of short range civil aircraft.