For the past 50 years, the design of commercial airplanes has remained relatively the same despite major developments in materials.

The typical design features a tubular fuselage attached to a pair of swept-back wings and a T-shaped tail section. Aerospace engineers are now using new technologies such as additive manufacturing, generative design software, and electric propulsion systems to push beyond traditional boundaries and create cutting-edge aircraft that operate quieter, burn less fuel and reduce emissions.

Commercial aircraft manufacturers have already adopted numerous technologies that help make today’s generation of jetliners more energy-efficient than ever. However, there’s growing interest in exploring alternative propulsion systems, such as ultra-high bypᴀss turbofan engines and boundary layer ingestion (BLI).

These new forms of propulsion require radical airframe changes, such as trapezoidal wings, and rear-mounted engines. Engineers at Boeing have already been working on a design called the transonic truss-braced wing that will enable future jetliners to fly higher and faster than previous concepts.

The future of flight will be considerably different than it is today, and emerging technologies will make future aircraft more important in many ways, including silent, efficient global transportation, personal or on-demand flight, and autonomous air vehicles for information and goods delivery. However, any design changes will take time to happen due to the long lead times in the cutting-edge aerospace industry.