| Research Themes and Technical Challenges (TCs) |
| Theme |
TC Title |
TC Description |
| Lighter-Weight, Lower-Drag Fuselage |
Fuselage Structural Weight |
Reduce fuselage structural weight by 15% with neutral or positive drag impacts while not affecting certification and passenger comfort (TRL4*) |
| Higher Aspect Ratio Optimal Wing |
Optimal Aspect Ratio |
Enable a 1.5-2X increase in the optimal wing aspect ratio with certifiable structures and flight control (TRL 3*) |
| Quieter Low-Speed Performance |
Community Noise |
Reduce perceived community noise by 12 dB cum with minimal impact on weight and performance (TRL5*) |
| Cleaner, Compact, Higher Bypass Ratio Propulsion |
Low NOx, Fuel-Flex Combustor |
Reduce NOx emissions from fuel-flexible combustors to 80% below the CAEP6 standard with minimal impacts on weight, noise, or component life (TRL3*) |
| Cleaner, Compact, Higher Bypass Ratio Propulsion |
Compact, High OPR Gas Generator |
Enable reduced size/flow gas generators with 50+ OPR and disk/seal temperatures of 1500F with minimal impact on noise and component life (TRL4*) |
| Hybrid Gas-Electric Propulsion |
Electric Motor Power Density |
Achieve a 2X increase in the power density of an electric motor (TRL 3*) |
| Unconventional Propulsion-Airframe Integration |
Integrated Boundary-Layer Ingestion System |
Achieve a vehicle-level net system benefit with a distortion-tolerant inlet/fan, boundary-layer ingesting propulsion system on a representative vehicle (TRL3*) |
| Alternative Fuel Emissions |
Alternative Fuel Emissions at Cruise |
Fundamental characterization of a representative range of alternative fuel emissions at cruise altitude |
| * Learn About Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs)
|
Fixed wing research includes exploring and developing tools,
technologies and concepts for vastly improved energy efficiency and
environmental compatibility necessary for the sustained growth of
commercial aviation vital to the U.S. economy and quality of life.
to the No Fear Act