Airbus unveils a Bird of Prey concept airplane inspired by the hawk

We have seen the Flying-V, the KLM concept jet that seems determined to shape the future of air transport. We now have Bird of Prey, an Airbus-designed aircraft that was unveiled on July 19. The conceptual aircraft has flared wingtips and an extended tail inspired by the feathers of an eagle or falcon. The aerospace giant says he is experimenting with a "biomimicry" technology that could eventually lead to quieter landings and less pollution.

The British subsidiary of Planemaker in the United Kingdom sought to capture the imagination of future engineers by presenting a raptor-style airliner model at a military air show in England.

The propeller aircraft would have individually controlled "feathers" on the wingtips to provide what Airbus calls "active flight control" used by an eagle or hawk.

It is also evident that the absence of a traditional vertical tail rests on a wedge-shaped split tail to reduce drag.

The regional aircraft could carry up to 80 pbadengers up to 1,500 kilometers and save 30 to 50 percent less fuel than current aircraft, Airbus said.

"One of the industry's top priorities is to make aviation more sustainable – making flights cleaner, greener and quieter than ever before," Airbus chief Martin Aston said in a statement. . "Our work on the A350 XWB pbadenger jet has taught us that nature makes the best lessons from design through biomimetics."

British Secretary of Commerce, Liam Fox, announced at the opening of the exhibition in front of military leaders and curious visitors of the Royal International Air Tattoo that the technical ability and attractiveness of the Great Britain as a place of investment were put forward.

Airbus said its concept aircraft would have a geodesic or curved fuselage, recalling the contours of the Wellington bomber designed by British designer Barnes Wallis. This aircraft was built in Broughton, Wales, in the 1930s to keep it beyond the reach of German bombers. .

Airbus now uses the same site to produce wings for more than 800 airliners a year. But he warned that the plant would face competition from European nations such as Germany or other countries such as Korea's future generations following Britain's decision to leave the European Union. Brexit supporters are skeptical, Airbus would take such a step given the British experience in wing manufacturing.