If you watch a lot of sci-fi films and cartoons, you must have seen “futuristic” vertical take-off (VTOL) commercial planes transporting humans and troops. Of course, these are all just imaginative and make-believe. However, it’s now 2023, years beyond when Marty McFly traveled to the future, and yet, we still don’t see VTOL commercial aircraft. There is the V-22 Osprey transporter, which is a tilt-rotor, but none of those that we see in films.
So, why aren’t VTOL commercial planes a reality yet? I mean, they could serve small airports with short runways just like the V-22. Well, there are a variety of reasons for this.
Safety and Cost Over Flexibility
The primary purpose of commercial aircraft is to transport passengers and cargo safely and cost-effectively. This focus on safety and cost-efficiency significantly differs from the military’s priority of operational flexibility. For commercial airlines, the cost of runways and their maintenance is not a direct concern, as these expenses are typically covered by passenger fees. This economic model does not incentivize airlines to invest in VTOL technology, which is more expensive and complex compared to conventional aircraft.
Technical Limitations
From a technical standpoint, VTOL aircraft have a lower thrust-to-weight ratio compared to conventional aircraft. This limitation becomes more pronounced in the context of commercial airliners, which are significantly larger and heavier. For instance, a Harrier jump jet, known for its VTOL capabilities, can lift off vertically only when its weight is below 9,890 kg, despite having a 91 kN engine. In contrast, a Boeing 777–300ER, equipped with two GE90–115B engines producing a total of 104,620 kg of thrust, still falls short of the required power for vertical lift-off, given its weight of over 351,000 kg.
This disparity highlights the impracticality of applying VTOL technology to large commercial airliners. The sheer size and weight of these aircraft would require an enormous amount of fuel and engine power, making the operation economically unfeasible. Additionally, the stress and balance factors associated with VTOL would pose significant challenges to the airframe of large commercial planes.
Practical Considerations
Even if the technical challenges of VTOL were to be overcome, practical considerations still present significant obstacles. The design and structure of commercial airliners are optimized for horizontal take-off and landing. This optimization includes the shape and size of the wings, the placement of engines, and the overall aerodynamic profile. Adapting these designs to accommodate VTOL capabilities would require a complete overhaul of the aircraft’s structure, leading to increased costs and complexity.
Furthermore, the operational environment of commercial aviation is vastly different from that of military aviation. Commercial airports are equipped with long runways and infrastructure suited to conventional take-off and landing procedures. Introducing VTOL commercial aircraft would necessitate significant changes to airport design and operations, further adding to the complexity and cost.
While VTOL technology offers impressive capabilities in military aircraft, its application in commercial aviation is hindered by a combination of purpose, technical limitations, and practical considerations. The focus on safety and cost-efficiency, coupled with the technical challenges related to the size and weight of commercial airliners, makes VTOL an impractical choice for this sector. Moreover, the need for significant changes in aircraft design and airport infrastructure adds to the complexity and cost, making VTOL commercial planes a pipe dream – as of now.
First love never dies. I fell in love with airplanes and aviation when I was a kid. My dream was to become a pilot, but destiny led me to another path: to be an aviation digital media content creator and a small business owner. My passion for aviation inspires me to bring you quality content through my website and social accounts. Aviation is indeed in my blood and blog!
