New windtunnel tests begin for T-Wing project | https://twing.cira.it/news/New windtunnel tests begin for T-Wing project | New windtunnel tests begin for T-Wing project | | | | 2/8/2021 11:00:00 PM | <img alt="" src="/PublishingImages/Test%20T%20Wing%20in%20IWT.jpg" style="BORDER:0px solid;" /> | <p>A second round of wind tunnel testing is due to begin later this month of a new composite wing which will equip a high-speed tiltrotor demonstrator being developed as part of the EU's Clean Sky 2 programme.<br></p><p>The T-Wing consortium – led by the Italian aerospace research centre CIRA encompassing MA Group as Industrial leader, machining expert OMI; crash-test specialist SSM; German engineering consultancy IBK Innovation for loads and aeroelasticity and University of Naples “Federico II" for experimental dynamics – is in partnership with Leonardo Helicopter for the development of Next-Generation Civil Tiltrotor (NGCTR) <strong>TechDemo</strong> – an aircraft which is due to make its maiden flight in 2023. </p><p>Initial assessment of the NGCTR-TD aerodynamic performance was conducted by Leonardo Helicopter in June 2019 with the support of T-WING, Clean Sky 2 TRAIL project and other partners and suppliers.</p><p> </p><p>During the next round of evaluations, due to last for two weeks, a 1.2m (47in)-long model, developed by IBK, will be used, based on the wing's aerofoil, complete with a moveable flaperon. </p><p>It will be integrated into “a complex experimental set-up named DEMOS", says CIRA's research and development manager and T-WING project Coordinator<em> </em>Luigi Di Palma. This will allow “pitch rotation according to user-defined laws". </p><p>“The machine is a dynamic one, able to rotate the wing model at high speed during the wind tunnel runs," he says. </p><p>Meanwhile, the consortium, has closed the CDR milestone and has begun initial manufacturing activities to support the production of full-scale ground- and flight-test wings for the project. </p><p>“At present, MA Group is finalizing the Industrial manufacturing process of the wing based on the tooling being constructed by OMI" says Di Palma.</p><p>“This wing very unconventional design is based on highly integrated wing box concept earned by MA Group on in-service CS-25 programme. Before manufacturing the full articles, the consortium is consolidating the process through several full scale trials manufacturing currently in progress," he says.<br></p><p><em>From Flight Global by Dominic Perry, 5 February 2021</em></p><p><a href="https://www.flightglobal.com/helicopters/new-windtunnel-tests-begin-for-next-generation-civil-tiltrotor-project/142306.article" target="_blank"><span class="ms-rteThemeForeColor-5-0">Read the article</span></a><br><br></p><p><br></p> | |