Chris Gordon writes in Air & Space Forces Magazine about a retrofit to reduce fuel usage and the Air Force’s environmental footprint.
- The Air Force has begun to retrofit its C-17 cargo planes with 3D-printed microvanes in order to improve fuel efficiency.
- Microvanes are fin-shaped structures that attach to the fuselage of a plane to reduce drag.
- The Air Force believes that this retrofit will pay for itself within seven months and save over $10 million per year through reduced fuel usage.
“By reducing drag, the Air Force can save fuel by reducing the workload of the engines. C-17s with microvanes installed save around one percent in fuel over regular C-17s, according to the service. The Air Force says those savings are significant if added up over the fleet.”
Read the full article here.
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