A Cost-Effective Approach to Ultralight Machine Flight Testing – An Academic Perspective

Authors
C. Cardani, Dipartimento di Ingegneria Aerospaziale, Politecnico di Milano, Italy
A. Rolando, Dipartimento di Ingegneria Aerospaziale, Politecnico di Milano, Italy
L. Trainelli, Dipartimento di Ingegneria Aerospaziale, Politecnico di Milano, Italy
P. Chimetto, AleniaAermacchi a Finmeccanica Company, Itlay
G. Bonaita, AgustaWestland a Finmeccanica Company, Italy

Abstract

It is reported a currently on-going activity concerned with the flight testing campaign of a small aeroplane towards its certification according to the German LTF-UL requirements. This effort sees the co-operation of a team formed by the manufacturer of the aircraft, Ing. Nando Groppo Srl, and a group of both permanent and external staff of the Department of Aerospace Engineering at the Politecnico di Milano, together with a number of graduate students.

The academic contribution includes support to flight test mission planning, flight operations, data processing and analysis, as well as supply and management of a dedicated flight test instrumentation (FTI) system. Results already obtained are positive and induce to expect promising outcomes in the near future. In particular, the availability of both the necessary expertise and an economic, dependable, simple and complete FTI system may represent a significant opportunity for the ULM (Ultra Light Machine) and General Aviation environment at large, opening the access to cost-effective and reliable flight testing procedures, in view of enhanced flight safety and overall quality of light aircraft operations.