Thrilled to be an aero engineer
Two aero projects that I just recently became aware of make me thrilled to be an aero engineer.
Sikorsky X2 helicopter: a co-axial, counter-rotating blade design with a pusher propeller in the back. This design (and accompanying technologies) improves the speed that helicopters can fly, and will probably make them safer as well. Plus, it's beautiful. I expect most helicopters in 2050 to look like this.
Sweep-twist adaptive rotor: a blade design for horizontal-axis wind turbines that is designed for lower-wind-speed applications (like in the midwest) and reduces the structural fatigue caused by turbulent gusts by twisting more than bending. It's an incremental improvement, but we need all kinds. And beautiful: PDF planform shape.
Sikorsky X2 helicopter: a co-axial, counter-rotating blade design with a pusher propeller in the back. This design (and accompanying technologies) improves the speed that helicopters can fly, and will probably make them safer as well. Plus, it's beautiful. I expect most helicopters in 2050 to look like this.
Sweep-twist adaptive rotor: a blade design for horizontal-axis wind turbines that is designed for lower-wind-speed applications (like in the midwest) and reduces the structural fatigue caused by turbulent gusts by twisting more than bending. It's an incremental improvement, but we need all kinds. And beautiful: PDF planform shape.