Tourexpi
Delta
Air Lines is adding a new partner to its Sustainable Skies Lab that is driving
fuel efficiencies inspired by an unlikely source: sharks. MicroTau is an
Australian aerospace technology company developing a ‘Riblet
Modification Package’ that mimics shark skin to drive drag
reduction.
Delta
will begin testing MicroTau’s “shark skin” riblets on the Boeing 767 fleet.
This “shark skin” technology can be applied to an aircraft’s fuselage, wings
and tail, and once applied, can improve fuel efficiency by up to 4%, according
to MicroTau’s estimations.
Despite
their smooth appearance, the skin of sharks is covered in a layer of
microscopic grooves called dermal denticles, which help a shark swim more
efficiently and expend less energy. Applying these microscopic grooves, often
called riblets, to the exterior of an aircraft can reduce drag by smoothing air
flow, which helps reduce fuel consumption.
Delta’s
Sustainable Skies Lab is an innovation incubator, partnering with disruptors
Delta believes will help revolutionize how the industry flies more sustainably.
Since its 2023 inception, the Lab is comprised of a number of partnerships,
including Airbus, Boeing, JetZero and Joby Aviation.
“Delta’s
Sustainable Skies Lab bridges the gap between ideas and proven innovation by
accelerating research, design and testing for a more sustainable future of air
travel,” said Sustainable Skies Director, Sangita Sharma. “Collaborating with
innovative partners lets us explore both changes that can be implemented in the
near-term, and longer-term initiatives that will revolutionize how we think
about flying for years to come.”
Every
year, Delta’s Sustainable Skies Lab welcomes new partners capable of helping
Delta make changes within its control today to save on jet fuel and reduce
carbon emissions, while innovating with others on revolutionary aircraft of the
future.
INSPIRATION
FROM NATURE
From Airbus’
fello’fly technique which takes inspiration from migrating geese to
MicroTau’s ‘shark skin’ addition to planes – the airline industry continues to
look to nature for innovation inspiration.
Another
example is finlets. Finlets are fins, similar to the ones fish have, that can
be installed on the back of an aircraft on the fuselage to reshape airflow and
reduce drag, ultimately leading to reduced fuel consumption and carbon
emissions. Delta has been working with Vortex Control Technologies (VCT) to
install and test finlets on select aircraft in Delta’s
737 fleet. The science behind finlets is similar to winglets – which Delta
has added to all existing fleets that can be modified – in that when
they are added, they can reduce drag by minimizing the effects of vortices that
form in specific regions around the aircraft.
With
approximately 90% of Delta’s carbon emissions coming from jet fuel each year,
every decision and modification can drive fuel savings that add up, and these
decisions are indicative of Delta’s commitment to make changes within its
control on existing fleet, while also purchasing
next-gen fleet that’s more fuel-efficient and supporting research into
aircraft that will help Delta reach its decarbonization goals.
Image
Credit: © Delta Air Lines
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