Clean Sky 2: Successful inaugural flight of D03 scale demonstrator

The scaled-down version of a single-aisle aircraft, known as the Clean Sky 2 Scaled Flight Demonstrator (SDF) made its maiden flight at the end of March with the aim of testing and improving the innovations introduced to significantly reduce energy consumption.

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The model aircraft, called D03, has a wingspan of four meters, a takeoff mass of 140 kilograms and a cruising speed of 158 kilometers per hour. The test flight took place in the city of Deelen, in the Netherlands, lasted nine minutes and reached an altitude of 400 meters.

The project leaders stated that «to achieve a climate-neutral air transport system by 2050, European research centers and industries have developed a SFD to complement numerical simulations, wind tunnels and other classical experimental test means. The SFD will be particularly useful for aircraft dynamics and validation of control laws.»

The Clean Sky initiative aims to develop technologies that aim to decarbonize the industry as soon as possible and is made up of a group of organizations, companies and universities from Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, Italy, France, and the United Kingdom. The joint work seeks to integrate, demonstrate, and validate technologies that can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 20-30% compared to the latest generation of aircraft.

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The start of flight tests with the demonstrator is the consortium’s first step to begin validating its developments. The aircraft will soon be transferred to Puglia Airport in Italy for further testing later this year. According to Clean Sky 2, «in a second phase, the SFD will be used to mature distributed electric propulsion.»

«The Scaled Flight Testing approach will be validated by a consolidated team of four entities that will bring specific expertise. In addition to configuring and coordinating the entire validation process, ONERA will investigate the impact of scaling and define the transposition laws between the scaled vehicle and its full-scale reference. On the other hand, Royal NLR – Netherlands Aerospace Center, identified as the SFD operator, oversees the design, manufacturing, integration, ground testing and flight operations, as well as the complete flight test instrumentation. CIRA designed, manufactured and tested the SFD guidance control and navigation system, as well as the remote pilot ground station; and is also in charge of the mission flight tests being conducted in Grottaglie, Italy.»

Separately, another demonstrator – the D08 – will seek to exceed Clean Sky 2’s environmental goals of a 20% reduction in fuel consumption. The aircraft will feature a distributed electric propulsion system, which would improve its efficiency, capabilities, and performance.