The prototype of the XB-1 airplane, with shark skin stickers glued to the belly
An aerodynamic material that mimics shark skin will help planes fly further, spending less fuel. Another good news is that this technique can be put into practice on existing aircraft.
A material with microscopic grooves that mimic those of shark skin can help any kind of plane saving fuel and reducing carbon emissions.
Whether commercial aircraft, supersonic jets or military aircraft this material, which was developed by the Australian Aerospace Microtau, can be applied to any plane.
Computer simulations suggest that commercial aircraft can save fuel consumption if stickers are applied in a sufficient part of the plane.
“We can get 4% or even a little more in cruise conditions, but this will ultimately depend on the amount of coverage, the type of aircraft and the operating conditions,” he told New Scientist a spokesman.
US Army Tests “Shark Skin”
As New Scientist writes, the US Army has already completed four of the six test flights planned with shark skin material applied to a transport aircraft Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules.
“This ability to optimize our old structures allow us potentially save millions of dollars in fuel costs and increase the range of aircraft”He told the magazine Roberto Guerrero US Air Force.
Microtau material also flew aboard an experimental supersonic jet developed by Boom Supersonican American company that wants to bring back the supersonic commercial air trips.
Shark skin stickers were applied at the bottom of the plane prototype during half a dozen test flights, including two in which it reached supersonic speeds. The stickers remained firm on the plane, even when it traveled to Mach 1,18, ie about 1460 kilometers per hour.
A Boom Supersonic spokesman said at the time that the stickers “survived comfortably to these conditions without any observable degradation.”
A Delta Air Linesheadquartered in the USA, and the Jetstar Airwaysbased in Australia, they also want to test technology in their 737 Boeing Passenger Jets and Airbus A320, respectively. Delta is helping Microtau to do the first land tests before the material is certified for future flight tests.
