In a bid to improve the aerodynamics of large passenger aircraft, Airbus tried in the 1990s to emulate the aerodynamic efficiencies of sharkskin, but was unsuccessful. Technological developments and increasing fuel costs have spurred the manufacturer to try again, according to MRO Network.

Sharkskin is made up of many small, sharp tooth-like scales called "denticles." These denticles direct the water flowing over them and reduce drag. As a result, sharks can move through the water at speeds of up to 60mph.

Denticles direct the water flowing over them and reduce drag. Source: Cayman Dept. of EnvironmentIn aviation, the long, extended surfaces of commercial aircraft generate significant drag. Experts concluded that adding a microstructure to an aircraft's surface that mimicked the properties of sharkskin denticles would reduce drag by channeling the air along the body of the aircraft.

Lufthansa Technik and Airbus tested aircraft paint with a textured surface in a joint project under the European Union's Clean Sky initiative. The aviation firms worked on the project with coatings manufacturer Mankiewicz and the Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Technology and Advanced Materials (IFAM) in Germany.

Tests over two years and 12,000 flight hours showed that surfaces treated with the experimental textured coating withstood the environmental conditions typical during flight operations. Lufthansa Technik confirmed that the sharkskin-inspired coating could cut fuel consumption by more than 1%. The application process also was shown to save time and costs because the coating cures more quickly than standard painting and can be applied more efficiently.