File:10052022 Soutenance ESTACA Architecture.pdf

Summary

Student engineering project within Estaca SQY Saint Quentin Paris Saclay university.

On May 10, 2022, a team of seven engineering students from ESTACA presented their project, Bee-Plane, at Technoplane. Bee-Plane is an innovative project aimed at reducing the costs of air transport and competing with low-cost airlines. The aircraft has a detachable structure comprising a Bee (carrying the cockpit, engine, and wings) and a Basket (carrying passengers and/or cargo), making it suitable for short and medium-haul flights with dimensions similar to those of an A321. The Bee-Plane has competitors, but none of the projects are yet complete. The team presented their market analysis, which indicated that there would be more than 20,000 new aircraft on the market by 2030, with the largest civil markets being in Asia, Europe, and the Middle East.

The Bee-Plane has a surface area of 169m², and its sales prices range from €70-80 million for the Bee and €30 million for the Basket when empty. The team has projected sales of 47 Baskets and 25 Bees in ten years, which would amount to €3.3 billion, with maintenance support for the aircraft. The team also expects to sell 20 military planes for €2.4 billion and 10 planes in a firefighting configuration for €900 million.

The team then presented their design for the Bee-Plane, including the structure and fuselage, landing gear, and motorization. The Bee has a detachable fuselage divided into four parts that store 13.3 tons of fuel, accommodate the CFM 56 turbofan engine, and reduce drag. The total length of the Bee is 24.85 meters, and its weight is distributed in such a way that it achieves zero static margin. The aerofoil has a surface area of 151m², and the volume of fuel it holds is 16.8 m³.

The Basket is trilobed with no cockpit and can carry up to 226 passengers in a Full Eco configuration. The Basket can also be configured as a cargo plane, a water bomber, or a military aircraft. The team presented their optimized design for the Basket's internal layout, including a petrolier compartment in the central lower area and baggage compartments in the side areas. The Basket weighs less than 60 tons when fully loaded.

Overall, the Bee-Plane team at ESTACA has developed a highly innovative project that has the potential to compete with low-cost airlines while also reducing air transport costs. The team's market analysis and design work have been thorough, and their projections for sales over the next ten years are ambitious but achievable.