Single-wing passenger jet

The Cambridge-MIT Institute this week unveiled plans for an innovative ‘single-wing’ aircraft, which it said could herald a much quieter, more energy-efficient generation of passenger jets.

The SAX-40 is designed to reduce noise for people living near airports, but also promises to cut fuel consumption by about 25 per cent compared with current aircraft.

In their quest for quieter flying, researchers at Cambridge University and MIT did not just look at engine design. Half the noise from some planes is caused by the way their airframes are structured. The decision to design an aircraft in the shape of a single wing enables the main body to provide additional lift, enabling a slower approach, which reduces noise. The shape also improves fuel efficiency in cruise.

Other improvements include the elimination of flaps and slats, which are a major source of airframe noise during landing. Additionally, the SAX-40 has a simplified undercarriage with improved aerodynamics, and the engines are mounted on top of the aircraft so less noises reaches the ground.