New blades turning

Industry is in the midst of new initiatives to develop lighter, stronger aero engine fan blades.

The ongoing competitive battle to supply the engines for tens of thousands of new-generation commercial airplanes that are predicted to be required to satisfy airline demands over the next two decades has seen the major powerplant suppliers developing twin roadmaps for the future.

While long-term prospects for true game-changing engine configurations remain real, and advanced work continues on ultra-high-bypass ducted-fan and openrotor solutions, other efforts are being directed by the major players that aim at achieving ever-better performance out of improved aerodynamic design and advanced materials manufacturing techniques applied to more evolutionary turbofan configurations.