Design of a Lift Fan Engine for a Heavy Lift Aircraft

Recent conflicts have highlighted the difficulties in using aircraft to supply troops in modern warfare. Lift fan technology is seen as one way in which to improve future supply aircraft to meet the needs of the military. A previous study designed a heavy lift aircraft with lift fan engines that used future engine technology. This present study modified the design by using current engine technology for the lift fan engines. The modification is important because a design that uses current technology is more likely to be brought into service in the near future. This thesis documents the process required to use current technology in a lift fan engine for a heavy lift aircraft. The process uses current software and focuses on the design of the following components: the powerplant, the transmission shafts and the lift fan. The result is a propulsion system which allows a 185,000 lb aircraft to takeoff vertically as well as cruise at speeds greater than Mach=0.6.