The ‘Silent’ Aircraft Initiative asks what would an aircraft look like if a radical reduction of noise were a primary design goal. The activity is focused around five interlinked research themes: Airframe, Engines, Integration, Operations and Economy, and is being carried out by researchers Cambridge University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), in collaboration with an extensive network of partners. The ‘Silent’ Aircraft Initiative addresses conceptual aircraft and engine design for low noise. Avoiding some traditional aircraft noise sources requires a radical rethink about the configuration. An all-lifting design, as pictured below, has many benefits enabling a closer integration of airframe and engine than the traditional ‘tube and wing’. Low-noise design includes taking advantage of shielding of engine noise by the airframe; engines with large, low speed jets; an order of magnitude increase in absorption by liners; and operations for low-noise informing the design – all to be achieved while keeping the aircraft technically feasible and economically viable.

The next meeting of the Silent Aircraft Initiative Knowledge Integration Community will take place on Friday 3 February 2006 at St John's College, Cambridge. We will review the latest design options for the 'Silent' aircraft, with an update on the research on low-noise technologies, economics and flight operations.

Please note that attendance at this meeting is by invitation only. For information on how to register, please contact Jackie Ouchikh, the Events Co-ordinator at CMI.

For further information on the Silent Aircraft Initiative, please click here.

---

Agenda

Please click here for the agenda.

 

---

Venue

This meeting will take place at St John's College in Cambridge. If travelling by car, please use the Playing Fields Car Park.

For location and parking information, please click here.

 

---

Presentations

Presentations will be made available in a password protected area on this site after the meeting on 3 February.