Leading engineer to discuss steps towards a silent aircraft

Ways in which disruptive noise is being reduced by the next generation of aircrafts will be discussed by Professor Dame Ann Dowling CBE (pictured), President of the Royal Academy of Engineering and Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Cambridge during the 17th Annual Industry Lecture in Lecture Theatre 1, Bennett Building on Tuesday 10 February 2015 at 6:30pm.

During the free public lecture, entitled ‘Towards a Silent Aircraft’, Ann will discuss what generates noise on modern civil aircraft, such as how on approach the airframe generates as much noise as the engines, and ways in which the noise is being reduced for the next generation of aircraft, together with techniques to accurately predict the noise and enable design optimisation.

In the long-term, a re-think of aircraft configuration could lead to a substantial noise reduction combined with a reduced fuel burn. In such designs low fuel burn and noise are not achieved by a single design features but rather through the integration of many technologies into a viable aircraft designed and optimised for use.

Professor Dowling’s research is on efficient, low emission combustion for aero and industrial gas turbines and low noise vehicles, especially aircraft and cars.

Ann is a Fellow of the Royal Society, Royal Academy of Engineering and is a Foreign Member of the US National Academy of Engineering and of the French Academy of Sciences. She is an Honorary Fellow of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers and the Institution of Engineering Designers, and has honorary degrees from Imperial College London, Trinity College Dublin, the University of Kent and KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm.

She was appointed CBE by the Queen for services to Mechanical Engineering in 2002, and DBE for services to Science in 2007.

For tickets please contact Nancy Holland (email nh21@le.ac.uk).