Department of Engineering

"Flying wing" model aircraft exhibit at The Science Museum, London

6 June 2008

A model of SAX40, the aircraft conceptual design developed as part of the Cambridge and MIT collaboration the "Silent Aircraft Initiative", is on display at the Science Museum, London, for six-months as part of an Antenna exhibition on the environmental impact of aviation.

"Does Flying Cost the Earth?" presents the most promising technologies scientists and engineers are working on to reduce the impact of aviation on climate change. SAX40 is one of the designs in the spotlight. In addition to displaying the model, the exhibit describes the technologies that lead to its low fuel burn.

Ann Dowling, the UK lead of the Silent Aircraft Initiative, explained that "the project was originally to come up with a concept design for a 'silent' plane, but in doing so, we also found that the design is up to 25% more fuel efficient."

The exhibition opened on Thursday 15th May. Museum director Professor Chris Rapley said, "This exhibition is an ideal opportunity for visitors to see how scientists and engineers are working together to tackle aviation's environmental impact and produce the aircraft of tomorrow."

The SAX40 exhibit has already received significant publicity, with coverage in the Financial Times, the Evening Standard, BBC Radio 4, the Observer, and Smartplanet.

More information about the exhibition can be found on The Science Museum website.

More information about the Silent Aircraft Initiative can be found on the Thermofluids Division webpages and on the Silent Aircraft website.

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