Aces High Bulletin Board

General Forums => The O' Club => Topic started by: Skyguns MKII on October 17, 2011, 03:44:36 PM

Title: What do YOU think aircraft of the future will look like?
Post by: Skyguns MKII on October 17, 2011, 03:44:36 PM
i found this interesting, http://www.youtube.com/ge%3Fx=us_whatsnew_1967. Different frames and different powerplants. Let alone smart self repairing tech.
Title: Re: What do YOU think aircraft of the future will look like?
Post by: AKKuya on October 17, 2011, 04:21:03 PM
I like the kid's reply that the future propellers will be made out of bologna sandwiches. :D
Title: Re: What do YOU think aircraft of the future will look like?
Post by: curry1 on October 17, 2011, 06:43:55 PM
Unmanned.
Title: Re: What do YOU think aircraft of the future will look like?
Post by: FYB on October 17, 2011, 06:55:49 PM
Unmanned.
The last generation of jet pilots is here. Unmanned aircraft are dominating.
Title: Re: What do YOU think aircraft of the future will look like?
Post by: Wildcat1 on October 17, 2011, 06:59:51 PM
Unmanned.

The systems can get hacked into, and as long as that happens, there will always be a need for pilots
Title: Re: What do YOU think aircraft of the future will look like?
Post by: PuppetZ on October 17, 2011, 07:08:37 PM
In the future we'll all live in vats like in the Matrix.... or are we.... :noid
Title: Re: What do YOU think aircraft of the future will look like?
Post by: titanic3 on October 17, 2011, 09:24:10 PM
Unmanned recon vehicles, manned armed vehicles.
There are already developments in invisible objects, give it 50 years and we might see invisible planes.
Planes armed with laser weaponry, on fighter planes that is.
Entire network of planes linked globally.
2:1 thrust to weight ratio planes capable of amazing stunts.
Supersonic cruise becomes a must on all planes.
Maximum speed increases.
I would assume they would figure out a way for planes to run without using fuel or using extremely small amounts of fuel.

Title: Re: What do YOU think aircraft of the future will look like?
Post by: BoilerDown on October 17, 2011, 09:43:49 PM
Other than going with electric power plants in prop planes, I don't think there's a lot more that can be done.  Just squeezing the last drops out of the lemon at this point.  Which is one reason why I transferred out of Aeronautical Engineering.  Lighter, more fuel efficient, using standard instead of aircraft-grade fuels, sure, but the aircraft themselves will look pretty much identical to now.
Title: Re: What do YOU think aircraft of the future will look like?
Post by: Jayhawk on October 17, 2011, 09:56:33 PM
Other than going with electric power plants in prop planes, I don't think there's a lot more that can be done.  Just squeezing the last drops out of the lemon at this point.  Which is one reason why I transferred out of Aeronautical Engineering.  Lighter, more fuel efficient, using standard instead of aircraft-grade fuels, sure, but the aircraft themselves will look pretty much identical to now.


"Heavier-than-air flying machines are impossible."
-- Lord Kelvin, president, Royal Society, 1895.

"Airplanes are interesting toys but of no military value."
-- Marechal Ferdinand Foch, Professor of Strategy, Ecole Superieure de Guerre.

"Everything that can be invented has been invented."
-- Charles H. Duell, Commissioner, U.S. Office of Patents, 1899.

Title: Re: What do YOU think aircraft of the future will look like?
Post by: titanic3 on October 17, 2011, 10:00:24 PM
Its going to take two more World Wars to compete with the levels of advancement during the 20th century. It scares me to think how people will kill each other 89 years from now.
Title: Re: What do YOU think aircraft of the future will look like?
Post by: GNucks on October 17, 2011, 10:02:34 PM
There are already developments in invisible objects, give it 50 years and we might see invisible planes.

See... invisible... what?  :confused:
Title: Re: What do YOU think aircraft of the future will look like?
Post by: saggs on October 17, 2011, 10:22:31 PM
For GA..   I think diesel powerplants will become more and more popular. No lead keeps the EPA happy, the fuel is common everywhere, is not a niche market like 100ll and can made from plants and leftover fry oil.   Even Continental has a certified diesel now.  Electric powerplants may have a future too, if they can develop much, much better battery technology.  I remember reading about a prototype electric 172,  I think the total run time on a full charge was like 30 minutes... and that was with solar panels all over the top of the wing helping it.  Also I bet we will see more and more stronger, lighter composites in airframes.  Cheaper small turbines (think Allison 250) for small singles would be great too.

For airlines...  Personally I hope that ultra-high bypass and unducted fan (propfan) engines make a comeback,

remember this guy...
(http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BVfAsw-Milw/Tbl6b6LABaI/AAAAAAAAACk/mWtRX4EhZTo/s1600/ge_udf_turbine_rear_prop_engine.jpg)
Back in the 80s after the oil embargo they where all the buzz and where gonna be the future because of their superior efficiency, but that all faded out when fuel got cheap in the 90s.  Now that fuel prices are high again I keep thinking they will try and develop them some more.  The biggest issue as I understand it is that they are just to dang loud.  Also I bet after the 787 all new airliners will be composite.

For the really long term I think pulse jet powered hypersonic airliners would be pretty neat.


For military fighters/attack planes I predict that the F-35 will be the last major manned fighter development, and pulse jets and scram jets will replace turbojets and turbofans
Title: Re: What do YOU think aircraft of the future will look like?
Post by: DREDIOCK on October 18, 2011, 06:11:46 AM
The systems can get hacked into, and as long as that happens, there will always be a need for pilots

Self contained Pre programed artificial intelligence
Title: Re: What do YOU think aircraft of the future will look like?
Post by: coombz on October 18, 2011, 06:17:46 AM
(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/7/79/IT_(South_Park%3B_The_Entity).jpeg)

it beats dealing with the airlines...
Title: Re: What do YOU think aircraft of the future will look like?
Post by: Angus on October 18, 2011, 07:10:58 AM
The systems can get hacked into, and as long as that happens, there will always be a need for pilots

It takes the same hacking to render a manned jet unusable. Remember that today an air-to-air kill is normally not so well visible.

Just as well, a drone can be equipped with characteristics that allow much higher g-tolerances than a manned aircraft, as well as not having to worry about the pilots life or comfort/environment.

Still, there will always be a need for pilots. But as frontline meat, I think it will be ging down....
Title: Re: What do YOU think aircraft of the future will look like?
Post by: dedalos on October 18, 2011, 09:55:06 AM
The systems can get hacked into, and as long as that happens, there will always be a need for pilots

Have you hacked into a lot of systems like that?  :lol.  It is easier to pay off/brain wash/black mail/you name it, a pilot than it is to hack into a system like that.  Hacking is very easily prevented by not connecting that network to the rest of the world.  Unless you think those systems also include a browser so you can check your email  :lol

And btw, what exactly do pilots do now?  These things almost fly them selves, they target buy them selves, etc.  Oh, right, someone has to press the button.
Title: Re: What do YOU think aircraft of the future will look like?
Post by: clerick on October 18, 2011, 10:01:19 AM
Have you hacked into a lot of systems like that?  :lol.  It is easier to pay off/brain wash/black mail/you name it, a pilot than it is to hack into a system like that.  Hacking is very easily prevented by not connecting that network to the rest of the world.  Unless you think those systems also include a browser so you can check your email  :lol

And btw, what exactly do pilots do now?  These things almost fly them selves, they target buy them selves, etc.  Oh, right, someone has to press the button.

There is a report out now that a large number of UAV's have a virus.  Last I heard, the DOD can't figure out how it got there, why it's there and how to get rid of it.
Title: Re: What do YOU think aircraft of the future will look like?
Post by: dedalos on October 18, 2011, 10:21:42 AM
There is a report out now that a large number of UAV's have a virus.  Last I heard, the DOD can't figure out how it got there, why it's there and how to get rid of it.

Unless the people in charge of these systems are complete morons, all I can do is  :lol at the report.  If they are, well, you can't fix stupid but that is not a fault of the systems and stupid but you can remove it.  Most likely the report does not even exist or is fake though.
Title: Re: What do YOU think aircraft of the future will look like?
Post by: clerick on October 18, 2011, 10:55:32 AM
... Most likely the report does not even exist or is fake though.

http://www.cnn.com/2011/10/10/tech/innovation/virus-hits-drone-fleet-wired/index.html (http://www.cnn.com/2011/10/10/tech/innovation/virus-hits-drone-fleet-wired/index.html)
Title: Re: What do YOU think aircraft of the future will look like?
Post by: dedalos on October 18, 2011, 11:37:36 AM
http://www.cnn.com/2011/10/10/tech/innovation/virus-hits-drone-fleet-wired/index.html (http://www.cnn.com/2011/10/10/tech/innovation/virus-hits-drone-fleet-wired/index.html)

you realize that if what this article is saying is indeed true, we are doomed? lol  What idiot is working on and managing these systems?  It better be an inside job to either test security or someone with security access.  Not to mention that these things should be running on their own OS and not commercial OSs that are well documented and have people dedicated writing viruses for.  I sure hope this is a joke or inside job other wise it is a testament to the stupidity of the people we put in charge.  They should all get fired.  Shot, if these things are running on windows.
Title: Re: What do YOU think aircraft of the future will look like?
Post by: Shuffler on October 18, 2011, 11:49:36 AM
(http://www.ufocasebook.com/redbudillinois042350.jpg)

(http://thumbpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/ufo7.jpg)
Title: Re: What do YOU think aircraft of the future will look like?
Post by: Blackwulf on October 18, 2011, 06:34:09 PM
As far as the airframes, carbon nanotubes look promising.  But it is going to be a while before they are practical and economical.  Of course, that is what they said about carbon fiber a few years ago, too.
Title: Re: What do YOU think aircraft of the future will look like?
Post by: Greebo on October 19, 2011, 03:59:43 AM
It is hard to see planes looking a lot different to how they do now. Sure, the structures, engines and electronics will evolve but the shape of an aircraft is largely controlled by aerodynamics and that is a pretty well understood science. Concorde apart, the shape of airliners hasn't changed much since the Boeing 707. Fuel costs, sonic booms and environmentalism will stop most airliners getting faster and passenger resistance will prevent blended body flying wings becoming popular. A hypersonic, edge-of-space type airliner might be something that could have a radically different look though.

It's the same with military aircraft, the F-22 isn't vastly different to an F-15 to look at despite the stealth, the Eurofighter has echoes of the Saab Viggen and F-16 and so on. Even odd looking planes like the B-2 have been done before (Horten, YB-49 etc.) The latest transport aircraft and helicopters all look much the same as their predecessors. UAVs have some scope to look different but even most of these have echoes of previous manned designs as well.

Title: Re: What do YOU think aircraft of the future will look like?
Post by: uptown on October 19, 2011, 08:04:29 AM
(http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/kk121/TheAmish/fleshgordon1.jpg)
My prediktion.
Title: Re: What do YOU think aircraft of the future will look like?
Post by: Raptor on October 19, 2011, 10:26:37 AM
(http://images.cryhavok.org/d/5564-1/Motivator+-+Happy+Airplane.jpg)
Title: Re: What do YOU think aircraft of the future will look like?
Post by: Shuffler on October 19, 2011, 11:22:22 AM
Another possibility.....

(http://www.prconsultantsgroup.com/storage/weiner-mobile.jpg?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1294354977347)
Title: Re: What do YOU think aircraft of the future will look like?
Post by: clerick on October 19, 2011, 02:13:39 PM
or this... :noid
(http://www.remarkablecars.com/main/volkswagen/volkswagen-00005-1.jpg)