Deciphering the relationship between the mass, size and engine properties of Boeing and Airbus aircraft

Abstract

In the study, it is aimed to analyze the mass, size, and engine characteristics of different Boeing and Airbus aircraft models, which are the duopoly in air transportation market, and to decipher the correlations between the conceptual design parameters of these aircraft. For this purpose, data on the production year, mass, size, and engine characteristics of 36 Boeing and 20 Airbus aircraft were collected. The fuselage length, cabin width, wingspan and wing area were considered as the size characteristics. In order to compare the mass characteristics of aircraft, the operational empty mass, engine mass and maximum take-off weight (MTOW) were examined. Since commercial jets are important in terms of aerodynamic design, that is, they determine the status of these aircraft models in the matching table, thrust weight and wing loading characteristics are also examined. Th fineness ratios decreased linearly as the wingspan/fuselage length ratios increased. Similarly, as MTOW increases, the operational empty weight/MTOW ratio tends to decrease. Both engine mass and the total thrust of the engines tended to increase linearly with MTOW. The correlations obtained on mass size and engine relations will contribute to the conceptual aircraft design and engine selection.