Georgi Atanasov is a researcher with a background in aerospace engineering who specialises in overall aircraft design, multidisciplinary optimization methods and tools at the Hamburg-based Institute of System Architectures in Aeronautics, which is part of the German Aerospace Centre (DLR). His work at DLR, including the EXACT project, has a particular focus on developing and assessing aircraft concepts for improved sustainability.
✈️ ️In this talk, Georgi shared his conclusions of his research on maximizing efficiency and minimizing climate impact in the next generation of commercial aircraft. He will highlight the potential benefits of plug-in hybrid aircraft, which enable combining the efficiency of batteries for short-haul flights with the flexibility of jet engines for longer distances.
Following the talk, we facilitated a Q&A and discussion session where the audience could ask questions, share opinions, and deliberate on the topic of alternative propulsion:
- What are the benefits and challenges with hybrid-electric?
- How do we think these compare to alternative forms of propulsion?
- How might these choices effect aviation workers and jobs?
- What should the Safe Landing position be?
- How should we best communicate this to industry, politics and in the media?
The talk was split into two sections. In the first section, Georgi took us through some fundamentals of aircraft design, energy storage, aircraft payload and range. We then stopped for a Q&A before continuing.In the second section, he took us through the results of his analysis comparing a battery-electric aircraft, to a plug-in hybrid-electric design and compared both of these to a 2040 technology level turbofan and turboprop airline.
View Georgi’s slide pack here.
Watch the recording of the talk here: