Which services does the facility offer
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. Detailed specifications of the aircraft’s capabilities can be found below.
Who can benefit from these services
Aircraft avionics and equipment suppliers, Air Navigation Service Providers (ANSP), space agencies, space companies, governmental agencies dealing with air operations and environment.
How to get access to the facility
You can get access to the flight testing services through an agreement with NLR.
You will find the contact info on the right.
Detailed description of the facility
- The Cessna Citation II aircraft is operated from the Amsterdam Airport Schiphol in the Netherlands
- The aircraft (PH-LAB) has 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)
- The aircraft 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.
For flight test purposes the 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.
Available flight test instrumentation consists of:
- 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.
The aircraft is operated in partnership with TUDelft.