Sooty skies

摘要

De-icing an aeroplane is tedious. Just ask any passenger stuck in one while ground staff spray it with gallons of antifreeze. It is also important. Layers of ice can interfere with a wing's aerodynamics, increasing drag and reducing lift, with potentially catastrophic consequences-hence the chemicals' garish colours, meant to ensure that no nook or cranny is missed. De-icing can take as long as 40 minutes, and costs around $2,000 a pop. And sometimes, as Dawid Janas of Cambridge University found on a flight from his native Poland, it needs to be performed several times, because in harsh conditions the antifreeze itself can freeze if left to chill for long enough-as when awaiting the go-ahead for take-off. Now, though, Mr Janas, a materials scientist and aviation buff, thinks he has found a way to make life easier for passengers and airlines. It involves covering aircraft wings with a form of soot.