In order to achieve a climate-neutral air transport system by 2050, European research centres and industries have developed an SFD to supplement numerical simulations, wind tunnels, and other classical experimental testing means.
On 30 March 2022, the maiden flight of a scaled version of a single-aisle aircraft, known as the Scaled Flight Demonstrator (SFD), took place. Under the Clean Sky 2 Joint Undertaking, co-funded by the EU’s Horizon 2020 programme and private industry, stakeholders will use the SFD to test and mature disruptive technologies that will enable significant reductions in energy consumption. The flight took place in Deelen (NL) and lasted 9 minutes, achieving a height of 400 metres (1,400 feet).
Read more about this maiden flight and the research program on the NLR website.
The SFD is developed by a partnership of Airbus, NLR, ONERA, and CIRA, with support of Orange Aerospace. This development has received funding from the Clean Sky 2 Joint Undertaking (JU) under the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme.
