Flight Path and Wing Optimization of Lithium-Air Battery Powered Passenger Aircraft

Abstract

The design of electric-powered aircraft for use in the commercial aviation sector is a complex, heavily multidisciplinary problem that requires careful consideration of power and energy tradeoffs, in addition to more traditional performance metrics. A multidisciplinary, multifidelity aircraft design code called SUAVE (Stanford University Aerospace Vehicle Environment) has been developed in part to address these considerations. This paper explores the application of this design code towards a passenger aircraft at the commercial scale, with the wing, flight path, and an electric propulsion system designed and optimized for a prescribed number of passengers at a variety of different ranges. Additionally, aircraft weight sensitivities to battery technology, motor technology, as well as takeoff and landing constraints were evaluated, and their relative feasibility assessed.