More than 100 years before the Wright brothers took to the air, Sir George Cayley, while musing on his principals of aerodynamics that would define aviation, it occurred to him that new technologies to make planes lighter would be a critical issue. This lead him, among other things, to invent the bicycle wheel. Sir George’s desire to reduce weight remains just as relevant today as the aviation industry focuses on reducing its carbon footprint and impact on the environment.

Moves to reduce emissions are currently concentrated on airframe and operational innovations, plus new energy sources, while the interiors community’s focus is on materials and systems that underpin cabin function.