Research infrastructure

Research aircraft: Cessna Citation II

NLR's research aircraft are essential for testing new flight procedures and technologies. NLR operates two research aircraft: the Cessna Citation II and the electric Pipistrel Velis Electro.

The Cessna Citation II research aircraft offers opportunities to perform a wide variety of flight test applications. Extensive modifications have turned this pressurised, twin-engined business jet into a versatile airborne research platform. Flight test topics range from aerodynamics, flight mechanics, zero-gravity, atmosphere, airborne remote sensing and flight test methods, to system tests, air traffic management, avionics, alternative fuel, and flight inspection.

Main features

Aircraft features:

  • A separate electrical system dedicated to powering onboard test equipment
  • An additional stand-alone 3000 psi hydraulic system
  • Provisions on fuselage for mounting an external pod
  • Numerous facilities in cockpit and cabin for accommodating test equipment
  • An antenna box on top of the fuselage that can accommodate multiple antennas
  • Underwing panels configured for antenna installation
  • A noseboom with alpha/beta vanes or five-hole probe
  • A fuselage fairing accommodating a forward facing optical glass
  • Several metal plate inserts that can replace existing windows and can accommodate flight test equipment.

Flight test instrumentation:

  • Inertial Reference System
  • Digital Air Data System
  • GPS high-accuracy positioning system (phase tracking)
  • Multi-channel digital data acquisition and recording system (general aircraft state parameters are real-time available in cabin)
  • Iridium SATCOM
  • Liquid Water Content sensor
  • Humidity sensor
  • Telemetry system
  • Digital integrated avionics system in cockpit, offering opportunities to test new experimental display formats in flight.

General:

  • Home base: Rotterdam The Hague Airport (NL)
  • A maximum payload of 1400 kg (incl. Crew), range upto 3000 km, endurance of 5.30 hours, max speed of 840 km/h (Ma 0,705) and maximum operating altitude of 13000m (FL 430)
  • Can be operated single-pilot IFR/VFR, allowing display and/or procedure evaluations by the customer from the right hand seat
  • As EASA part 21 holder, NLR has the autonomy to modify aircraft systems
  • The aircraft is operated in partnership with TUDelft.
NLR research airplane at Twente Airport