global briefing
WORLD
test update
// NASA ENGINEERS FINISH
X-57 WING TESTING
Engineers at NASA’s Armstrong
Flight Research Center in
California have revealed its X-57
electric aircraft after finishing
structural tests on its latest
wing design.
NASA’s first all-electric X-plane
aims to demonstrate the benefits
electric propulsion may have for
efficiency, noise and emissions.
“Mod II”, which is the X-57’s
first configuration as an electric
aircraft, features electric cruise
motors where two combustion
motors were originally located.
The latest wing design
will permit the
repositioning of the
electric cruise motors
to the wing tips,
which engineers
believe could significantly
boost the aircraft’s efficiency.
A future “Mod IV” configuration
will include an additional
12 smaller high-lift motors to
the two larger cruise motors on
each end of the wing to produce
distributed electric propulsion.
California, USA
6 DECEMBER \\ AEROSPACETESTINGINTERNATIONAL.COM
// BELUGAXL RECEIVES
EASA TYPE CERTIFICATION
Airbus’ BelugaXL cargo transport
aircraft has received type
certification from the European
Aviation Safety Agency ahead of
its planned entry into service
early next year.
The aircraft is 63m (206ft)
long, around 7m (23ft) longer
than the Beluga ST it is replacing
and can carry 30% more cargo.
The Beluga XL has been modified
to feature a highly-enlarged
cargo bay structure and
modified rear and
tail section.
Airbus uses the
Beluga aircraft to move
large sections of aircraft
between 11 of its manufacturing
and assembly sites in Europe.
The aircraft is an integral part
of Airbus’ industrial system and a
key enabler for its production
ramp-up requirements
beyond 2019. The BelugaXL
allows for 30% extra transport
capacity, being 7m longer and 1m
wider than its predecessor
the BelugaST.
The company plans to have
built six Beluga XLs by 2023
to replace its current fleet of
Beluga STs.
Toulouse, France
// MBDA TO PURCHASE
GDI SIMULATION
MBDA has signed an agreement
to purchase software company
GDI Simulation from Airbus.
France-based GDI Simulation
develops, assembles and
maintains simulation systems for
ground vehicles and for MBDA
battlefield missiles. The firm
includes the French Armed
Forces amongst its customers.
The company will continue
to operate independently under
the ownership of MBDA as a
prime contractor to the DGA
for simulation systems
equipment and as a supplier to
MBDA. Terms of the deal are not
being disclosed.
Île-de-France, France
// CO-AXIAL HELICOPTER
TESTED IN WIND TUNNEL
Engineers from Sikorsky Aircraft
Corporation and Boeing have
conducted a series of tests at the
USA’s National Full-scale
Aerodynamics Complex (NFAC)
on the SB>1 Defiant, a co-axial
military helicopter being
developed for the Army’s Joint
Multi-Role Technology
Demonstrator (JMR TD) program.
The goal of the wind tunnel
testing was to validate the
aerodynamic performance and
flight mechanics of the aircraft.
The testing was conducted
throughout the first half of 2019.
To accomplish the tests, a 1/5
scale model of the SB>1 Defiant
airframe with powered coaxial
main rotors was placed in the
NFAC 40 by 80ft wind tunnel.
Measurements included
forces and moments on the
various components, as well as
fuselage, empennage and blade
surface pressures.
The full-scale SB>1 Defiant
flight demonstrator is now
undergoing ground and
flight tests at Sikorsky’s flight
test facility.
California, USA
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