Fuel-Efficient Sharkskin-Like Coating Gains Traction

Thierry Dubois Graham Warwick April 21, 2025
Aeroshark film on Boeing 777

The AeroShark film can currently cover 40% of the surface of a Boeing 777, and Lufthansa Technik hopes to increase that to 80%.

Credit: Lufthansa Technik
In the early 1970s, German biologist Wolf-Ernst Reif was studying sharkskin fossils when newly available scanning electron microscopes enabled him to discover small longitudinal grooves. He then found the same microstructures in the skins of contemporary fast-swimming sharks. When Reif spoke with...
Thierry Dubois

Thierry Dubois has specialized in aerospace journalism since 1997. An engineer in fluid dynamics from Toulouse-based Enseeiht, he covers the French commercial aviation, defense and space industries. His expertise extends to all things technology in Europe. Thierry is also the editor-in-chief of Aviation Week’s ShowNews. 

Graham Warwick

Graham leads Aviation Week's coverage of technology, focusing on engineering and technology across the aerospace industry, with a special focus on identifying technologies of strategic importance to aviation, aerospace and defense.

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