The Swiss airline’s Boeing 777-300ER completes its first scheduled flight in a replica sharkskin. For Lufthansa Technik, this is a final and important test.
The LX64 ride from Zurich to Miami on Friday (October 14th) is a very special one. It took off at 1.39 pm from the largest airport in Switzerland – as the first passenger flight with a shark skin replica. Because the Boeing 777-300 ER used by Switzerland with registration number HB-JNH has a surface coating called Aero Shark.
The fuselage and engine were covered with approximately 950 square meters of transparent film in more than 2,500 individual parts to replicate the flow-efficient properties of real shark skin. Microscopically small ribs – the so-called ribs – reduce the frictional resistance of the aircraft.
Looming savings in fuel and carbon dioxide
“In the flow simulation, a savings potential of just over one percent was determined for this type of aircraft,” Lufthansa Technik explains. The Lufthansa subsidiary developed Aero Shark with chemical company BASF.
The first scheduled flights of HB-JNH are now used to check the potential for savings in real flight operations. If Aeroshark actually reduces frictional resistance by 1%, as expected, and fuel consumption by the same amount, according to Lufthansa Technik, the Boeing 777-300 ER will save about 400 tons of kerosene and more than 1,200 tons of carbon dioxide per year.
Plan for Switzerland and Lufthansa Cargo
Aero Shark modifications to the HB-JNH began as early as late August and culminated in several test flights on September 8 and 9. It had to be demonstrated in detail that the changes would not have any negative effects on the operational safety and handling of the Boeing 777.
Once the potential savings in real flight operations are validated, the Aero Shark will be installed on board eleven Boeing 777 aircraft from Switzerland and one Boeing 777 Fs from Lufthansa Cargo. In addition to Lufthansa Technik hopes to acquire external customers.
The photos and videos in the gallery above show a Boeing 777 receiving an Aero Shark.
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