Platform System Design

Platform System Design

07 April 2022

The maiden flight of the Scaled Flight Demonstrator (SFD)

The Scaled Flight Demonstrator (SFD) is a key demonstrator of the European Clean Sky 2 research programme. The SFD is based on a 1:8.5 scale model of an Airbus A320 and has very accurate flight test instrumentation for carrying out measurements during wind tunnel and flight tests. More than 150 parameters are recorded. The overall […]
Platform System Design

07 April 2022

The making of the Scaled Flight Demonstrator (SFD)

The goal was to develop a highly representative scaled aircraft of an actual aircraft, to show that it can be used for obtaining flight-mechanics characteristics that are representative of the full-scale aircraft. This will bring a very cost-efficient approach for developing radical new aircraft, as needed for more sustainable aviation. The scale model is equipped […]
The NLR SCALAIR and Orange Aircraft teams
Flight Operations and Certification

07 April 2022

Maiden flight of Clean Sky 2’s scaled flight demonstrator

On 30 March 2022, the maiden flight of a scaled version of a single-aisle aircraft, known as the Scaled Flight Demonstrator (SFD), took place. Under the Clean Sky 2 Joint Undertaking, co-funded by the EU’s Horizon 2020 programme and private industry, stakeholders will use the SFD to test and mature disruptive technologies that will enable […]
NLR’s electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) facility at NLR Marknesse
Platform System Design

03 March 2022

Reducing lead time and cost with early EMC compliance

Royal NLR has a long history as a one-stop shop for environmental testing and certification in aviation as well as the space sector. A good example being the NLR’s electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) facility, which offers its customers unrivaled modelling and testing programs to qualify electronics equipment used in planes, satellites and spacecraft. This expertise comes  […]
Ariane 62 and 64 European launch systems.
Platform System Design

14 February 2022

R&D case: Wind tunnel modelling for the Ariane 6 launch system

Wind tunnel modelling for Europe’s development of the sixth generation launcher The challenge The overall objective of the development of the Ariane 6 launcher is to create a reliable, flexible and competitive European launch system. Flexibility comes in the form of a launch configuration adjustable for smaller or larger payload or lower or higher delivery […]
ISABELLE integrated steerable antenna for drones
Platform System Design

11 February 2022

R&D case: ISABELLE integrated steerable antenna for drones

Integrated Steerable Antenna for Beyond Visual Line-of-sight L-band data Exchange (ISABELLE) The market for satellite communications for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) is expected to grow considerably in the next years. The growth of the UAV sector follows from the diversity of potential applications. Among the earliest applications of UAVs for civil use are the so-called […]
Platform System Design

13 July 2021

Meteo sensors network with the use of drones (METSIS)

NLR and AirHub have recently completed the METeo Sensors In the Sky METSIS project. This project investigated the use of drones as an aerial sensor network for low-altitude hyperlocal wind nowcasting. The results of this project contribute towards the European Uspace programme for enabling high-density drone operations in the future. Find out more in this […]
professional RPAS drone operations
Sustainability and Environment

03 February 2021

Flying safely with liquid hydrogen

NLR will demonstrate drone flights fuelled by liquid hydrogen stored in tanks made entirely of composite material – a lightweight solution, with no risk of metal fatigue. With this, NLR is taking the next step towards safe, climate-neutral aviation, contributing to the ambitions of the Dutch ‘Duurzame Luchtvaartakkoord’ (Sustainable Aviation Accord) and the associated ‘Actieprogramma […]
Air Traffic Management

22 January 2021

Europe is testing air taxis and drones for urban mobility

The European project AMU-LED is aiming to demonstrate the safe integration of drones in 2022 into urban environments in the Netherlands, Spain and the United Kingdom. Various scenarios are being looked at, such as flights using airborne taxis for passenger transport and the use of drones to assist policing and the emergency services. Passenger air […]