Factors Affecting the Future of Commercial Aviation

Mr. Parmet provides a comparison of technical forecasting as it was in 1935 when Bill Littlewood was Chief Engineer for American Airlines with today's conditions. Now we have ecological, environmental, political, as well as economic factors impinging heavily on design concepts for the future. In particular, fuel costs have an overriding influence on design. There is a great need for research and development into all aspects of design that can compensate and override the economic penalties of these factors.