Successful Test of Airbus DS In-flight Demonstrator in Clean Sky 2 with Liebherr Technology
Members of the C295 team in front of the test bed aircraft in Spain - Copyright Airbus
Airbus Defence & Space is leading the in-flight demonstration of the Clean Sky 2 program in the REGIONAL IADP platform. Earlier this year, the Airbus DS in flight demonstrator - based on a C295 - took off for the first flight in Seville (Spain) with technologies related to a more affordable flight control system. This first flight was the starting point of a test campaign with the regional multi-mission transport aircraft in the 9 ton-class.
As part of the entire fly-by-wire flight control system under the responsibility of Airbus Defence & Space (Spain), Liebherr-Elektronik GmbH had developed and delivered a primary flight control actuator electronic (PFACE) hardware platform. In the context of the fly-by-wire system development, Airbus Defence & Space designed the application software, loaded onto the PFACE. The multiple, redundant PFACEs are implementing the direct law and controlling and monitoring the servo-hydraulic actuators on the rudder- and elevator control surfaces of the aircraft.
The C295 test bed will continue demonstration within the European Research and Technology program Clean Sky 2 in the upcoming years in a step by step approach of innovative flight controls functionalities.
The Airbus C295 is robust, reliable and also highly versatile.
The contract award from Airbus Defence & Space in 2014 was an important milestone for Liebherr-Elektronik in the direct business with airframe customers. Beside the preparation of extensive development- and qualification documentation, Liebherr-Elektronik has delivered so far 30 PFACEs to Spain and successfully completed the project to the full satisfaction of Airbus Defence & Space.
By the introduction of the fly-by-wire flight control system as a modernization step for the next multi-mission platforms, Airbus may safeguard and extend its market-share within light and medium military transport class propeller aircraft.
