Overview
The objective of JIF2LAND proposal was to conduct the development, design, manufacture and installation of jig platforms, staging and operational tooling for removing the BLADE wing (Natural Laminar Flow) sections of an A340-300, after the flight test and to assemble the original wings tips of the aircraft. 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. After the flight test, the original wings needed to be restored and challenging tooling design and manufacturing were expected. Besides the challenges, an added one was to be very cost-effective for a tooling to be used once.
Temperature compensation, twist compensation, tolerance achievements were some of the key points to be addressed on this development.
Funding
Results
Executive Summary:
The JIF4FLIGHT+JIF2LAND project, led by ARITEX and with partner EURECAT (Before ASCAMM), is the materialisation of a proposal to answer a Call for Proposal from Cleansky Program, which was to design, manufacture and deliver the Jig and Fixtures at FAL for the Blade project of the SFWA ITD lead by AIRBUS, where the BLADE is a Laminar flow wing to be tested in flight conditions.
In concrete, the jig and fixtures are the ones that needed tooling for assembling the BLADE wing on an A340 to be tested in the Flight Tests Bench.
The project objectives were:
- Detailed design of all stages for assembly the blade wing and all accessories such as leading edge and trailing edge;
- Manufacture of all designed components;
- Delivery and commissioning of all tooling at the FAL in Tarbes;
- Install and verify all tooling;
- Provide support to Airbus in the tooling use.
During this third reporting period of the project development, important milestones were:
- Manufacture of tools corresponding to Stage 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5;
- Assembly, set-up and measurement in Aritex of Stage 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5;
- All components manufactured;
- Transportation to FAL in Tarbes started;
- Assembly in Tarbes of all the jigs of Stage 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5;
- Final adjustment measurement;
- Participation of Aritex to solve problems of plane in position of zero stress;
- Collaboration, study, design, manufacture and implementation of modifications in Stage 3 (Transition structure) and Stage 2 (Disassembly of the wing) to adapt to new position of zero stress of the aircraft;
- Assistance in Tarbes of Aritex technicians for the use of jigs.