Turbofan Propulsion for General-Aviation Airplanes

This paper reports the results of a study, sponsored by the NASA-Ames Advanced Concepts and Missions Division, of the applicability of small turbofan engines to general-aviation airplanes.

Because of its high overall propulsion system efficiency, the turbofan engine is now being chosen for most military and commercial airplanes. To evaluate the turbofan's further applicability to smaller general-aviation airplanes, NASA-Ames and AiResearch have performed a study to establish engine and engine/airplane performance, weight, size, and cost interrelationships, and to evaluate the effects of specific engine noise constraints. The methods whereby these interrelationships and effects were determined, and the results of synthesis and sensitivity analyses are described. In addition to engine cost, engine performance quality was found to be a very important determinant of airplane size and resultant price and operating cost.