GKN Aerospace, Durham University developing process to measure aircraft wing drag reduction
Project aims to identify GKN Aerospace-developed surface technologies that reduce drag by 25%.
GKN Aerospace (Redditch, UK) and Durham University (Durham, UK) look to develop an ultra-sensitive test method to accurately measure improvements in airframe drag performance. The test is being used to identify surface coatings that will reduce drag by 25% when compared to traditional aircraft surfaces, when tested in typical aircraft cruise conditions. These coatings must also demonstrate the ability to maintain this level of performance over five years, which is the lifetime of an aircraft’s external paint system.
This project is part of the GKN Aerospace-led future wing research programme, VIEWS (Validation and Integration of Manufacturing Enablers for Future Wing Structures), which aims to bring promising wing design, manufacture and assembly technologies to near market readiness. The program has received grant funding and support from the joint government and industry funding programme for aerospace R&D, delivered in partnership by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI) and Innovate UK.
