Page 69 - European Energy Innovation - summer 2018 publication

Summer 2018 European Energy Innovation 69

CLEAN SKY

© AIRBUS 2017. Photo by S. Ramadier

and the extent of laminar, smooth airflow (and the so-called transition With sustained and reliable laminar
flow – the first time that Airbus to turbulent boundary layer flow) airflow being shown to be
has used such a testing method needed to achieve the drag reduction achievable in the large commercial
on an aircraft. Other ‘firsts’ are the targeted. To this end, Airbus will aircraft design space, one of
use of infrared cameras inside a simulate every type of imperfection aviation’s ‘Holy Grail’ quests is
pod attached to the fin to measure in a controlled manner, so that at the being met, as aircraft designers and
wing temperature and the acoustic end of the campaign the tolerances researchers have sought to make
generator which measures the for building a ‘laminar wing’ will be this possible through more than
influence of acoustics on laminar fully known. The BLADE demonstrator half a century of efforts. BLADE has
flow. There is also an innovative aircraft will perform around 150 flight now set the global benchmark in
reflectometry system which hours in the coming months. this quest. l
measures overall deformation in real-
time during flight. Watch the BLADE first flight on Clean Sky’s YouTube channel!

A key goal of BLADE is to be able BLADE project full story
to measure the tolerances and BLADE project first flight (short video)
imperfections which can be present
and yet still sustain the laminar

BREAKTHROUGH LAMINAR AIRCRAFT DEMONSTRATOR IN EUROPE (BLADE)

Clean Sky is a European Public-Private Joint Undertaking transforming ideas into aircraft reality

WORLD FIRST TRANSONIC LAMINAR WING TESTED IN FLIGHT WITH A TRUE PRIMARY STRUCTURE 2017 FLIGHT
A full laminar wing improves the ecological footprint of aviation TEST

turbulent expected laminar flow 50% = 5% 2016-17

WING INSTALLATION ONTO
AIRCRAFT A340

laminar 2014-16

A340-300 WING MANUFACTURING
& ASSEMBLY
representation of laminar wing REDUCTION COR2EEDMUICSTSIIOONNS
on A340 flying test bed IN WING FRICTION

CHALLENGES COMBINING TECHNOLOGY & INDUSTRY EXCELLENCE 2014-15

AERODYNAMIC STRUCTURE & 2 000 parameters JIGS & TOOLING
MANUFACTURING
2011-15
6 500 parts
123 flight hours WING COMPONENTS
MANUFACTURING
& ASSEMBLY

ASSEMBLY FLIGHT TEST
INSTRUMENTATION

STRONG SUPPLY CHAIN & SUCCESSFUL PARTNERSHIP BLADE is accelerating
the industrialisation
8 21 € 180 million of future laminar wings
European participating budget, with significant
countries entities including self-investment made by
SMEs & Research
participants beyond
Centres Clean Sky funding

CLEAN SKY ENABLES COLLECTIVE INTELLIGENCE & SUSTAINABLE PARTNERSHIPS

www.europeanenergyinnovation.eu