Overview
The objective of JIF4FLIGHT proposal was to conduct the development, design, manufacture and installation of jig platforms, staging and operational tooling, plus project tooling for removing the outer wing sections of an A340-300 and to assembly the SFWA laminar flow flight test demonstrator wings.
The SFWA flight test demonstrator aimed to validate that a specific wing profile can sustain laminar flow with an acceptable stability versus in flight deformation and contamination.
The new outer wing sections to be fitted had a very accurate profile and high smoothness of the wing surface. These boxes were dry areas (without fuel) and fully functional with Flight Test Instrumentation.
Funding
Results
Executive Summary:
a) Timeline & main milestones
JIF4FLIGHT was initially scheduled to finish end of 2013. However the challenges arising from the BLADE led to revisit the initial plan to accommodate with the delays encountered by the overall programme.
Specifically, the complexity of the work led to limit the activities within JIF4FLIGHT to the first 3 Stages, the Stage 4 & 5 being addressed by JIF2LAND project.
The final planning of JIF4FLIGHT is depicted below. Design and manufacturing activities resp. for Stage 1, 2 & 3 culminated in the delivery and assembly on-site resp. in February, April & July 2016.
b) Environmental benefits
Our direct contribution had been based on creating a productive process for short series jigs with an efficient cost. A process of disassembly and assembly for short production and very specific that had given us new ideas and concepts for this type of operations, which implies an effective final cost and solutions that contribute to the sustainability of the environment.
The jigs made were 100% recyclable materials and in the final stage of the project seeked their re-use in other applications.
The main environmental impact of the project does not lie in our contribution to it, but the final result of the project, the final objective, was the step to test the laminar flow in the wings.
This Blade test gave a wide spectrum in energy saving and environmental care and was a clear and palpable example of the objectives achieved.
c) Dissemination / exploitation of results
The dissemination was effective when the contribution of JIF4FLIGHT (and JIF2LAND) to BLADE was known i.e. after completion of the aircraft assembly. As such a specific dissemination was made by mid/end 2017. The results and development of the project were widely disseminated throughout the aeronautical community, as well as other potential sectors.
The technical results and knowledge acquired were already being used by our technicians in other aeronautical market projects.
d) Communication
The dissemination of the expected results of the project were carried out in conjunction with the completion of the project, i.e. at the end of JIF2LAND as it complements the main project (JIF4FLIGHT).