NASA cooperated with a major airplane manufacturer to solve a long-standing problem with turbofan engines, improving their efficiency by 15 percent. The results include an average annual savings of $1.5 million per aircraft and a 70 percent reduction in engine noise, enabling more direct routes and longer operational hours.
Turbofan engines powering most commercial aircraft held a long-known inefficiency: the fan at the front is more efficient when spinning slower, while the turbine toward the back is more efficient at higher speeds. But they had to spin at the same speed because they're attached to the same shaft. By partnering with an airplane manufacturer, NASA helped introduce a gearbox that let the two spin at different speeds, markedly increasing engine efficiency.
Learn more about how NASA helped develop technology that impacts geared turbo fan engine within your city's air travel environment!