Historical Trends and Future Projections of Key Performance Parameters in Aircraft Design

What is it about?

This work examines four key performance metrics of commercial turbofan aircraft—operational empty weight to maximum takeoff weight, thrust‑to‑weight, thrust‑specific fuel consumption, and lift‑to‑drag—and tracks how they’ve improved over decades. By analyzing data from hundreds of real airframes and engines, we reveal where conventional designs are hitting performance limits and where new concepts could break through. All of this insight is built into a user‑friendly, open‑source tool that helps airplane designers make smarter decisions in the early stages of design.

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