Airbus’s innovative ‘Bird of Prey’ masterpiece was designed to inspire next-generation aircraft engineers
- It was a theoretical concept for a hybrid-electric, turbo-propeller aircraft
- Airbus wanted aeronautical engineers to think outside the box
- The concept could provide a 30-50% reduction in fuel burn
Published on Apr 27, 2024 at 2:41 PM (UTC+4)
by Nalin Rawat
Last updated on Apr 29, 2024 at 2:47 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Daksh Chaudhary
Back in 2019, Airbus unveiled an innovative ‘Bird of Prey’ aircraft concept with a bird-like design.
According to the airline manufacturer, the concept was meant to inspire the next generation of aircraft engineers.
Let’s revisit this concept and take a look at how the aircraft would fare in the current aviation industry.
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Airbus’ ‘Bird of Prey’ design was ‘a theoretical concept for a hybrid-electric, turbo-propeller aircraft for regional transportation.’
Looking at how the aviation industry is slowly transitioning from fuel to electric, the concept is more relevant now more than ever.
Unfortunately, the goal of the Airbus ‘Bird of Prey’ concept wasn’t to seriously bring such an aircraft to market.
Instead, they wanted the next generation of aeronautical engineers to think outside the box.
It looks like it worked!
Boeing and NASA are currently working on the Sugar Volt hybrid electric aircraft.
According to Boeing, the Sugar Volt is 70 percent more efficient than a ‘regular’ aircraft.
The Airbus ‘Bird of Prey’ aircraft concept also featured an unconventional design with a blended wing-to-fuselage joint.
“Inspired by efficient mechanics of a bird, it has wing and tail structures that mimic those of a bird of prey, while featuring individually controlled feathers that provide active flight control,” Airbus said.
According to the Royal Aeronautical Society, the concept could provide a 30-50% reduction in fuel burn compared to current regional aircraft.
The unconventional design of the Airbus ‘Bird of Prey’ concept also mimicked the graceful and aerodynamic arch of an eagle.
The airline manufacturer came up with the design by implementing biomimicry on the eagle’s wing and tail structure.
They noticed that the broad wings found on eagles contribute to faster flight.
According to Martin Aston, a senior manager at Airbus, through the company’s work on the A350 XWB jet, the airline understands that through biomimicry, nature has some of the best lessons they can learn about design.
Hopefully, we will get to see more futuristic aircraft concepts like these in the future.
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Nalin started his career by working with various national newspapers in India. He has also worked as a writer/editor for many popular websites, while still pursuing his journalism and mass communication degree. Working as a digital nomad has allowed him to inform and educate through his work. When he is not writing, you can find him playing video games or travelling the mountains on his bike.
