The ecoDemonstrator Program is a Boeing flight test research program, which has used a series of specially modified aircraft to develop and test aviation technologies designed to improve fuel economy and reduce the noise and ecological footprint of airliners.
Starting in 2012, several aircraft have tested a total of over 250 technologies as of 2024; half remain in further development, but nearly a third have been implemented commercially, such as iPad apps for pilot real-time information to reduce fuel use and emissions; custom approach paths to reduce community noise; and cameras for ground navigation and collision avoidance.
Boeing's named airliner technology programs started in 2001 with the Quiet Technology Demonstrator, and have continued, through the ecoDemonstrator, to the ecoDemonstrator Explorer program announced in 2023.
Quiet Technology Demonstrator program The ecoDemonstrator program followed the joint Rolls-Royce and Boeing Quiet Technology Demonstrator (QTD) program, which ran in 2001, 2005 and 2018 to develop a quieter engine using chevrons on the rear of the nacelle and exhaust nozzles, as well as an acoustically enhanced inlet liner. In 2001 an American Airlines Boeing 777-200ER with Rolls-Royce Trent 800 engines was used for the flight tests. Much testing was carried out at Glasgow Industrial Airport, Montana, the airport of Boeing's subsidiary, Montana Aviation Research Company (MARCO). The tests were successful, demonstrating better noise reduction than predicted and leading to redesign of wing leading edge de-icing holes to eliminate whistling, a modification which was immediately applied on the 777 production line. Once the QTD2 program began, this program started to be referred to as QTD1.
The resulting design changes were demonstrated in the 2005 Quiet Technology Demonstrator Two (QTD2) program in which a new Boeing 777-300ER, fitted with General Electric GE90-115B engines, was used for a three-week trial, again mainly at Boeing's flight test centre at Glasgow Industrial Airport. As well as the modifications, the aircraft was equipped with extensive sound measurement equipment, and microphone arrays were laid out around the airfield. The chevrons have since been adopted on the Boeing 737 MAX series, 747-8 and 787 Dreamliner aircraft. Also tested on the QTD2 were streamlined toboggan fairings on the main landing gear to reduce noise.
In 2018 a new design of engine inlet liner was flight tested in a successor program, Quiet Technology Demonstrator 3 (QTD3), using acoustic arrays at Moses Lake, Washington. The NASA-designed inlet was installed in the right-hand nacelle of one of Boeing's two 737 MAX 7 prototypes, powered by CFM International LEAP 1B engines. The testing took place between July 27 and August 6.
QTD aircraft summary
Year Program Aircraft Previously Registration Livery Fate 2001 QTD (QTD1) Boeing 777-200ER New N757AN American Airlines Delivered to American Airlines 2005 QTD2 Boeing 777-300ER New N5014K All Nippon Airways (ANA) Delivered to ANA as JA733A 2018 QTD3 Boeing 737 MAX 7 Boeing N7201S Boeing house colors Returned to Boeing
ecoDemonstrator program
The ecoDemonstrator program was formally launched in 2011, in partnership with American Airlines and the FAA. The first ecoDemonstrator aircraft, a Boeing 737-800, operated during 2012. Since then a different aircraft has been used each year, excepting 2013 and 2017 and a single aircraft from 2022 to 2024, with testing operations lasting from a few weeks to over six months. The testing is usually done in collaboration with many industry partners, including NASA, the FAA, airlines, makers of engines, equipment and software, and academic institutions. The results of the tests are rarely publicised, respecting the confidentiality of the industrial partners. As of 2024 the program has tested over 250 technologies, of which 28% have been implemented, 52% are still under development, and 20% "provided helpful learnings" and were abandoned.
The 2022-4 aircraft, the ninth in the program, wore a special 10th anniversary livery.
Participating aircraft
2012: Boeing 737-800
This was a new aircraft destined for American Airlines and in their livery. With this, the first ecoDemonstrator, Boeing tested laminar flow technology for winglets, improving fuel efficiency by 1.8 percent. This fed directly into the design of the winglets used on the subsequent 737 MAX series. The aircraft tested other technologies, including:
variable area fan nozzle to optimize engine efficiency regenerative hydrogen fuel cell for aircraft electrical power adaptive outer wing trailing edges for greater take-off lift and decreased drag in cruise active engine vibration control flightpath optimization for operational efficiency carpet made from recycled materials sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).
2014: Boeing 787-8
The fourth production 787, a Boeing test airframe, was employed as the second ecoDemonstrator. It conducted 35 projects including:
use of a 15% blend of SAF by both engines for nine flights acoustic ceramic matrix composite nozzle for weight and noise reduction aerodynamic and flight control improvements. advanced wing coatings to reduce ice accumulation. software applications and connectivity technologies that can improve flight planning, fuel-load optimization, in-flight routing, and landing. touchscreen displays on the flight deck. wireless sensors to reduce wiring, reduce weight and save fuel. outer wing access doors made from recycled 787 carbon fibre. development of the Airborne Spacing for Terminal Arrival Routes (ASTAR) system to reduce spacing between aircraft on approach to airports.
2015: Boeing 757-200
This aircraft served with United Airlines for 23 years before being used by Boeing for the ecoDemonstrator program. The aircraft was painted in the TUI Group livery as a mark of their collaboration in the project, particularly in the environmental efficiency aspects. NASA's Langley Research Center was also a major participant as part of its Environmentally Responsible Aviation (ERA) project. At the end of the testing period the aircraft was, in conjunction with the Aircraft Fleet Recycling Association and the aircraft lessor Stifel, disassembled for recycling. Around 90% of materials were reused or recycled.
Among the 20 technologies explored were: improvement of airflow with insect shields and anti-bug coatings on one wing active flow control over the vertical tail with the aim of increasing efficiency and reducing its size cabin food cart that converts to a waste cart green diesel fuel testing.
2016: Embraer E170
The third E170 prototype first flew in 2002 and was retained by Embraer as a test and demonstration aircraft. It was the only non-Boeing aircraft so far to participate as an ecoDemonstrator. Testing projects included:
use of LIDAR to complement existing air data sensors ice-phobic paint to reduce icing and insect debris buildup new noise-reducing flaps special sensors to investigate airflow and improve aerodynamics use of 10% Brazil-produced bio-fuel and 90% standard kerosene.
2018: Boeing 777F
FedEx supplied a newly delivered 777 freighter for use in the ecoDemonstrator program. After two months of conversion, it was used in the testing program for around three months before restoration to its freighter role. Technologies explored included:
smaller, lighter weight thrust reverser Safran electrical power distribution system use of 100% biofuel – the first commercial airliner to be entirely powered by SAF. The engines were not modified in any way 3D printed titanium tail fin cap using waste material and reducing the weight synthetic ILS using GPS giving increased reliability and potentially allowing reduced separation of aircraft on approach wake riding, involving flying closely behind another aircraft to give a fuel efficiency increase of up to 10% LIDAR clear-air turbulence detector SOCAS – Surface Operations and Collision Avoidance System, merging radar and video images for obstacle detection FLYHT Aerospace Solutions’ Automated Flight Information Reporting System (AFIRS) for tracking, distress and data-streaming from flight data recorders.
2019: Boeing 777-200
This airliner had served Air China since 2001 before Boeing purchased it to join the ecoDemonstrator program. During testing, the aircraft visited Frankfurt, Germany, as several experiments were sponsored by German organisations including the German Aerospace Center (DLR), Diehl Aerospace, and Fraport. Among the 50 projects trialled were:
recyclable cabin carpet tiles moisture-absorbent toilet floor made from recycled carbon fibre chromate-free primer for aluminium parts to reduce manufacturing health risks sharing digital information between air traffic control (ATC), the flight deck and an airline's operations center to optimize routing efficiency and safety a connected electronic flight bag (EFB) application to provide re-routing information connected galleys, lavatories, and cabin temperature and humidity sensors cameras for an outside view for passengers.
2020: Boeing 787-10
This new aircraft for Etihad Airways was used for just a few weeks between August and September 2020, with testing mainly carried out at Boeing's Glasgow Industrial Airport, Montana. The program included:
noise measurement with over 1400 sensors for internal and external measurements noise reduction including Safran undercarriage modifications SAF testing with blends of 30% to 50% sanitisation methods for the COVID-19 pandemic. digital text-based ATC routing communications.
2021: Boeing 737 MAX 9
This 5-month program was conducted with a new airframe originally destined for Corendon Dutch Airlines but was painted in a special Alaska Airlines livery with ecoDemonstrator stickers. In October 2021 the aircraft flew from Seattle to Glasgow, Scotland, for the United Nations COP26 Climate Change Conference, bringing executives from Boeing and Alaska Airlines and fuelled by a 50% SAF fuel blend. The testing program included:
low profile anti-collision light for weight and drag reduction and increased visibility modernised ATC communications including the Inmarsat IRIS satellite communications system halon-free fire extinguishing (ground testing only) noise reduction engine nacelles including testing at Glasgow Industrial Airport, Montana cabin walls made from recycled material 50% SAF blend atmospheric greenhouse gas measurement system integration for airliners passenger air vent designs to create an air curtain between seat rows.
2022: Boeing 777-200ER
The aircraft was originally delivered to Singapore Airlines in 2002, and flew most recently for Surinam Airways. It wears a livery celebrating the 10th anniversary of the ecoDemonstrator program. Boeing implied that this aircraft will operate as the ecoDemonstrator test aircraft until 2024. The company stated that the six-month 2022 program would demonstrate 30 new technologies, among which were:
the use of a 30% SAF blend disinfection of water from sinks for reuse in toilet flushing weight reduction through 3D printed parts noise reduction techniques vortex generators which retract during cruise head-worn head-up display enhanced vision system fire-fighting system that does not use Halon environmentally-friendly galley cooler refrigerant ground measurement of engine particle emissions with different fuel types.
2023 In April 2023, Boeing announced that the 777-200ER would be testing 19 technologies during the year, including:
cargo hold wall panels made from recycled and sustainable materials fibre-optic fuel quantity sensors compatible with SAF smart airport maps by Boeing subsidiary Jeppesen for active airport taxiing monitoring for EFBs all flights to use SAF in the highest available blend