Abstract
A unified approach to aircraft mission performance assessment is presented in this work. It provides a detailed and flexible formulation to simulate a complete commercial aviation mission. Based on optimal control theory, with consistent injection of rules and procedures typical of aeronautical operations, it relies on generalized mathematical and flight mechanics models, thereby being applicable to aircraft with very distinct configurations. It is employed for an extensive evaluation of the performance of a conventional commercial aircraft, and of an unconventional box-wing aircraft, referred to as the PrandtlPlane. The PrandtlPlane features redundant control surfaces, and it is able to employ Direct Lift Control. To demonstrate the versatility of the performance evaluation approach, the mission-level benefits of using Direct Lift Control as an unconventional control technique are assessed. The PrandtlPlane is seen to be competitive in terms of its fuel consumption per passenger per kilometer. However, this beneficial fuel performance comes at the price of slower flight. The benefits of using Direct Lift are present but marginal, both in terms of fuel consumption and flight time. Nonetheless, enabling Direct Lift Control results in a broader range of viable trajectories, such that the aircraft no longer requires cruise-climb for maximum fuel economy.
Highlights
The determination of optimal aircraft trajectories and the quantification of related performance metrics have always been of fundamental interest for all aircraft operators
Commercial aviation stakeholders have in mission performance optimization one of the most natural ways to gain a competitive advantage, by minimizing operative costs and maximizing profits
In order to meet ambitious sustainability goals, increasingly stringent requirements have been imposed on the operational efficiency of present and future aircraft [1,2,3]
Summary
The determination of optimal aircraft trajectories and the quantification of related performance metrics have always been of fundamental interest for all aircraft operators. The well-refined tube-and-wing aircraft configuration seems to have reached its maximum potential, and its efficiency seems stagnant nowadays [6,7,8,9,10] For this reason, disruptive aircraft configurations have lately received renewed attention as a possible solution towards the sustainable future of commercial aviation [11,12]. Disruptive aircraft configurations have lately received renewed attention as a possible solution towards the sustainable future of commercial aviation [11,12] With these unconventional aircraft, potential benefits can be achieved in essentially two, non-mutually exclusive ways: a straightforward improvement in aerodynamic or propulsive characteristics and the capability to employ innovative piloting techniques
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
