Professor Laurent Dala, Professor of Aerospace Engineering, Northumbria University

From an Old to a New Concept: The Ekranoplan (Waterborne Ground Effect Aircraft), A Solution for Green Aviation

With increasing numbers of passenger and freight transport around the world, logistics and transport companies are under pressure to increase the number of flights they offer. But this increase in global air traffic comes at a time when the aviation industry is being challenged to reduce noise and air pollution. Researchers are looking for hybrid technologies capable of solving this problem.

Professor Laurent Dala will explain how the use of waterborne aircrafts could be the answer. In his lecture he will discuss how the Ekranoplan concept has the potential to offer high-speed efficient marine transport if aerodynamic and hydrodynamic obstacles can be overcome.

Professor Laurent Dala is a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society, a Chartered Engineer and the Past President of the Aeronautical Society of South Africa. Prior to joining Northumbria, he was Chair Professor and Head of the Aerospace Research Group at the University of Pretoria, South Africa. Professor Dala's research is based on a multi- and cross-discipline approach, combining analytical/engineering, experimental and computational methods.

Refreshments will be available from 6pm with the lecture 6.30pm - 7.30pm.

To register your attendance, please complete the form below. For queries email nu.events@northumbria.ac.uk.