Concept Aircraft Sketches

The first of the concept aircraft designs is the most conventionally configured aircraft and was based upon the Embraer ERJ145. It incorporates a mid-wing construction with two fuselage-mounted gas turbine engines. However, that is where the conventional characteristics finish. The tail of the aircraft is of the non-conventional V-tail design, whereby the horizontal and vertical stabilisers are replaced by a V-shaped stabiliser that is able to simultaneously control the pitch and yaw of the aircraft. Image 5.1.1 shows the design sketch for concept design 1:

The second concept aircraft was chosen to be of a completely unconventional configuration for a commercial aircraft. The design includes a forward-swept high-level wing and a canard-style elevator surface. It was also decided that two turboprop engines, similar to those of the Bombardier Dash 8-Q400, would be used to power the aircraft. The design sketch of concept aircraft 2 is illustrated by image 5.1.2:

The third concept aircraft design was the most ‘futuristic’ of the three designs. There are two sets of wings – one set is conventional aft swept wings, and the others are fore swept – and these join at the wingtips to form a blended winglet, preventing the spilling of high pressure air to the region of low pressure above both sets of wings. The aircraft is powered by two gas turbine engines, matching those of concept aircraft 1, and are mounted under the aft section of the wing. Image 5.1.3 shows the design sketch for this concept:

From the sketch, it can be seen that the empennage is of a non-conventional configuration. The vertical stabiliser and rudder control surface are of a normal design, however, the horizontal stabiliser and elevators are not present. Due to the dual wing layout, the aft section of the wing will act as a vertical stabiliser, acting about the centre of gravity, which will lie upon the aircrafts longitudinal axis perpendicular the wing tips. The elevator control surface is also located on the aft section of the wing, where the pitching moment would be at its greatest.