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There have been a number of initiatives over the years from all aircraft manufacturers, but in the 1980s unducted fan (UDF) technology was showing promise for reducing fuel consumption substantially on new model aircraft for the 1990s. McDonnell Douglas was one of the manufacturers that pursued this new technology for nearly a decade before abandoning it as a future airline power plant.
McDonnell Douglas was looking at UDF technology for the newly launched MD-80 series as an option. Interestingly enough, the early rendition in the form of a 1/100 scale model differs considerably from the powerplants that did eventually take flight, featuring forward facing prop fans. It was a close rendition of the eight bladed Allison 501-M78 and a Hamilton Standard propeller, used in a NASA propfan test. These early units were modified turbofan engines with the fan placed outside the engine nacelle on the same axis as the compressor blades, and assumed this was an early design study from 1981.
Excellent RARE vintage photos, strong colors and measure 8x10. Excellent piece of aviation history. Provenance McDonnell Douglas.
