LYON—A modified Cessna Citation VII business jet to be used as a flying testbed for a novel wing design has taken off for the first time, Airbus UpNext—the airframer’s innovation arm—announced.
Departing Toulouse airport Nov. 6, the aircraft marked the beginning of the first phase in the test campaign. The Citation VII at the center of the Extra Performance Wing demonstration program will eventually be transformed into an uncrewed aircraft. The wing will be flight-tested remotely.
For the first phase, antennas and probes to be used with the remote-control system were installed in Toulouse. On-board pilots are assessing the system.
The new wing will be put in place for the second phase. A lidar involving two lasers will be installed simultaneously in the cockpit, making the system able to anticipate turbulence 0.5-1 sec. ahead and move the control surfaces accordingly.
At the root of the wingtip extension, a semi-aeroelastic hinge is triggered in cases of strong turbulence. That hinge frees the wingtip to flap and alleviates the loads induced in the wing structure by that turbulence. The need for reinforcements is eliminated, thus making the wing lighter than a conventional design.
The demonstration wing’s trailing edge will be fitted with three flaps, each with four multifunctional trailing edges, or tabs, which can change position very fast. Like a bird’s wing, the demonstrator’s wing will adapt to flight conditions: altitude, speed, and aircraft weight.
The design of the Extra Performance Wing combines the reduced drag of a high-aspect-ratio wing with the greater efficiency of an adaptive profile. UpNext’s engineers are aiming at a 5-10% improvement in fuel consumption.
More detailed information on the beginning test campaign is expected Nov. 8.
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