LUTON AIRPORT has become the latest partner in Cambridge-MIT Institute's 'Silent' Aircraft Initiative. Together, this army of academics and representatives from the civil aerospace / aviation industry hope to develop an aeroplane that is radically quieter than current passenger aircraft. The aim of the 'Silent' Aircraft Initiative is to discover ways to dramatically reduce aircraft noise to the point where it would be virtually unnoticeable to people outside the airport perimeter. Fellow partners in the project include British Airways, Boeing, the Civil Aviation Authority, Cranfield University, Marshalls Aerospace, National Air Traffic Services, and Rolls-Royce.
http://www.cambridge-mit.org/research/sai