Team

Aircraft Research Association

The Aircraft Research Association (ARA) is an independent, non-profit distributing, research and development organisation situated in Bedford, UK. ARA has over 60 years’ experience in wind tunnel testing and aerodynamic research. Its capabilities include

• Testing of aerospace models in wind tunnels and other aerodynamic facilities
• Analysis of test data
• Design and manufacture of high-precision models and test rigs
• Development and application of CFD codes for aerodynamic design and performance assessment
• General aerodynamic research

ARA has been involved in several EU FP6 and FP7 projects, both Integrated/Level 2 Projects and Strategic Research/Level 1 Projects. ARA has also been successful in a number of Clean Sky 1 calls and Clean Sky 2 projects.

The ARA staff total exceeds 150 workers comprising researchers, designers, manufacturing experts, and operations team members, who are all geared towards the successful conduct of aerodynamic investigations. ARA has long-term and widespread expertise in the fields of CFD analysis, wind tunnel testing, and model design and manufacturing. ARA is constantly striving to be at the forefront of technology, both in terms of the wind-tunnel techniques used and the processes employed within CFD endeavours. It also has a clear strategy of increasing complementary use of CFD and wind tunnel testing in its business, seeking to maximise the synergy between the two tools in order to deliver high-quality aerodynamic data more efficiently. ARA has a significant track record regarding large-scale research programmes, both those funded by the EU through Clean Sky and those from UK government and industrial customers. This places ARA in an ideal position to engage with and support key European aircraft companies.

ARA’s

University Of Manchester

The University of Manchester is one of the major research universities in the UK ranked as the 27th best university in the world and being the 8th in Europe and 6th in the UK (QS World Rankings). Total external research funding is approximately £368 million (410 million Euro). The University has approximately 40,000 students, including over 12,000 post-graduates spread over our 1000+ degree programmes.

The University consists of three faculties, one of which is the Faculty of Science and Engineering. Within this Faculty there are two large schools containing a broad range of departments. The largest department within the faculty is the Department of Mechanical Aerospace and Civil Engineering (MACE), where the TRUflow investigators are based. Within MACE, there are nearly 140 full-time academics leading research in a wide array of scientific/technical/engineering fields.

The Department of MACE has experimental aerodynamics experience from low-speed steady and unsteady water flows, to transient supersonic and hypersonic flows. This broad capability base has enabled the Department to become expert in applying flow diagnostic techniques to all possible scenarios and therefore ideally placed to fulfil the TRUflow project. Working closely with industrial partners, the project investigators have developed a strong reputation for delivering experimental systems and implementing them in a wide range of environments. Most of the aeronautical and aerospace engineering research is within the umbrella of the University’s flagship Aerospace Research Institute which helps facilitate inter-disciplinary research across the University and beyond.

RUAG

RUAG has outstanding technological capabilities on the ground, in the air and in space. Today a committed and skilled staff of about 8,100, at the production sites in Switzerland, Germany, Sweden, Finland, France, Austria, Hungary, Australia and the USA is driving forward the technologies of tomorrow.

The Aviation division is a leading supplier, support provider, and integrator of systems and components for civil and military aviation. The company’s core competencies include: maintenance, repair and overhaul services, upgrades as well as development, manufacturing, and integration of subsystems on aircraft and helicopters – throughout their entire service life.

The Aerodynamics Department of RUAG Aviation operates wind tunnels, provides aerodynamic engineering services and is a global provider of wind tunnel equipment (e.g. strain gauge balances, hydraulic motors for wind tunnel models, model struts, wind tunnel models). For decades, it has been active in development and research projects in the field of aerodynamics and flight mechanics. All necessary technologies are in-house or available through a close relationship with external and established partners.