Tim Ripley
The Eurofighter Typhoon is currently getting a 'sun tan' at the United Kingdom's Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA) airfield at Boscombe Down as part of the aircraft's demanding test programme.
Spain's protoype aircraft, DA6, is having its operational capabilities tested in the extremes of temperature and conditions generated in DERA's unique environmental hanger and blower tunnel.
The use of the high-tech facilities at Boscombe Down for the tests is part of the multi-national approach to using the best facilities in the four European partner companies in the programme, Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK.
"During the Environmental Hanger phase of the programme, the aircraft is being subjected to extreme temperature ranges, both hot and cold, and humidity levels to simulate conditions it could be expected to face in operational use around the world," says DERA spokeswoman Joanna Sale. "During the trials, the various mechanical and electrical/electronic systems are exposed to the rigorous evaluation to ensure that they will function to specification in operational scenarios.
"The Environmental Hanger is unique in Europe, being the only one of its kind that is large enough to accommodate a full-sized combat aircraft," says Sale.
"The scenarios are made as realistic as possible and include the running of engines, auxiliary power units and all main mechanical and electrical systems. Of particular interest is the 'solar-array' equipment which simulates the effects of direct sunlight over the upper surfaces of the aircraft."
The trials using DERA's Blower Tunnel expose the Eurofighter DA6 to realistic icing conditions in safety on the ground before it faces "the real thing" during flight trials later in the programme. The Blower Tunnel also allows such testing to be carried out on full-sized aircraft rather than relying on modelling techniques or scaled test pieces in laboratory conditions. It is capable of providing simulated air speeds around 200kt while introducing water and liquid nitrogen into the air stream to produce realistic icing conditions.
Source: Flight Daily News
