Author name: Wendy Duivestein

24 June 2025

R&D case: Breakthrough fuel cell technologies for aircraft

Project: BRAVA (Breakthrough Fuel Cell Technologies for Aviation) In the BRAVA project, technologies for a fuel cell-based power generation system (PGS) for aircraft are being developed. Since fuel cells generate a substantial amount of waste heat, a cooling system is required to remove this heat, which in turn accounts for a significant portion of the […]
Flight Operations and Certification

19 June 2025

International IFAR Research on Atmospheric Electrical Phenomena

How does the formation of storm clouds and electrical charging high in the sky work? Through flight measurement campaigns, the ELECTRI-FLY project aims to deepen its understanding of these kinds of atmospheric electrical phenomena. The project launch meeting marks the official start of an international scientific collaboration. On the occasion of the IFAR (International Forum […]
Maintenance and Repair

16 June 2025

Joint development by NLR and PhotonFirst for real-time condition monitoring of helicopters

At the 2025 Paris Air Show, the Royal Netherlands Aerospace Centre (NLR) and PhotonFirst jointly announce the development of an innovative SHUMS solution (Structural Health and Usage Monitoring System) for helicopters. This collaboration marks a significant step forward in the development of advanced monitoring technologies for the aerospace sector with real-time monitoring of structural loads […]
Construction and Manufacturing

06 June 2025

R&D case: Laser ultrasonic inspection of complex-shaped composites

The manufacturing of complex-shaped composites is becoming increasingly common, driving up demand for fast automated quality control. Laser ultrasonic testing can be a viable technique to achieve this, as it is fast and contactless. However, it requires the inspected part to be perpendicular to the laser beam, posing a challenge for the positioning of the […]
Construction and Manufacturing

28 May 2025

R&D case: Fast non-destructive testing of large composite aircraft structures

Project: PENELOPE (Closed-loop digital pipeline for a flexible and modular manufacturing of large components) Automation of non-destructive and in-line inspection of aircraft composite parts contributes to efficient high-volume aircraft production, such as expected for the next-generation short-medium range (SMR) aircraft with entry-into-service in 2035. However, automation can also be cost-effective for smaller production volumes, as […]
Construction and Manufacturing

29 April 2025

R&D case: FLAPsense

FLAPsense project: optical sensor system for real- time proprotor FLAPping angle monitoring The real-time monitoring of the flapping of the rotor hub of a Next Generation Civil Tilt Rotor (NextGenCTR) aircraft enables the enhancement of the proprotor performance and operational safety. Accurate deformation and motion measurements in the rotating frame are a highly challenging task. […]
NLR Marknesse - June 2018
NLR corporate

17 April 2025

Royal NLR appoints new Board

As of June 1, 2025, NLR will have a new collegiate board. The top structure will be expanded to a three-headed board, consisting of a CEO, a CFO, and a CTO. With the appointment of Tineke van der Veen, Jan Lintsen, and Martin Nagelsmit, the organisation will lay a robust foundation to strengthen and further […]
Construction and Manufacturing

20 March 2025

R&D case: Enabling temperature control for large scale additive manufacturing

The challenge One of the main challenges of Large Scale 3D printing of high temperature thermoplastics is the control of the interface temperature – which determines the degree of bonding between consecutive layers. When the deposited material has cooled down in excess, poor adhesion is achieved between layers, leading to insufficient strength, delamination, cracking and […]

12 March 2025

Research aircraft: Pipistrel Velis Electro

NLR’s research aircraft are essential for testing new flight procedures and technologies. NLR operates two research aircraft: the Cessna Citation II and the electric Pipistrel Velis Electro. The Pipistrel Velis Electro is the first electrically powered aircraft to be certified in Europe in 2018. NLR has had this aircraft since the end of 2020, which […]