Sustainability and Environment

Circular Economy in Aviation
Sustainability and Environment

09 February 2023

Blog: The world is getting less circular. But what about aviation?

According to the Circularity Gap report, the world has become less circular than a year ago. This alarming fact comes as a surprise when compared to the rising interest in and popularity of the circular economy concept, not to mention the volume of research being done on this topic – also within the aviation sector. During the Circular Economy Week (6-11 February), have a look at the steps NLR has made in a year towards the ambition of becoming the Circular Economy ambassador for the Dutch aviation sector.

NLR Fibre Placement Machine
Construction and Manufacturing

07 February 2023

One of the world’s largest thermoplastic aerostructures successfully completed

Advanced thermoplastic composite technology and smart robotics will significantly reduce weight and manufacturing cost of future aircraft. Now the Clean Sky 2 Thermoplastic Fuselage Demonstrator (MFFD) lower half has been delivered. At 8m by 4m it’s one of the largest known thermoplastic assemblies in the world. It allowed the project to investigate thermal and positioning effects during the manufacturing of these kinds of complex thermoplastic parts.

3D metal print - noise-reduction liner
Sustainability and Environment

20 January 2023

R&D case: Aircraft Noise Reduction Technologies and Related Environmental Impact (ARTEM)

In recent years, improving energy efficiency (i.e. fuel consumption) and emission reduction have led to increased engine sizes and bypass ratios. These modifications create a crucial noise issue due to the emission of low-frequency noise and the size and effectiveness limitations of the current noise-absorbing structures (liners).

SFD mission flight Italy - Taranto-Grottaglie Airport
Sustainability and Environment

05 December 2022

Accelerating the development of future aircrafts

Aviation needs to become more sustainable and the requirements for that include innovative aircraft models and alternative means of propulsion. To accelerate those developments, Royal NLR is working with Airbus and the Italian and French knowledge institutes CIRA and ONERA to investigate the potential of scale models that mimic the dynamic movements of full-size aircraft. “We’re making sure that the aircraft of the future can be developed faster and more efficiently,” says Leo Timmermans, a senior R&D engineer at NLR.

SFD mission flight Italy - Taranto-Grottaglie Airport
Flight Operations and Certification

28 November 2022

How to accelerate development for future aircraft

Aviation needs to become more sustainable and the requirements for that include innovative aircraft models and alternative means of propulsion. To accelerate those developments, Royal NLR is working with Airbus and the Italian and French knowledge institutes CIRA and ONERA to investigate the potential of scale models that mimic the dynamic movements of full-size aircraft.  “We’re making sure that the aircraft of the future can be developed faster and more efficiently,” says Leo Timmermans, a senior R&D engineer at NLR.

SFD mission flight Italy - Taranto-Grottaglie Airport
Flight Operations and Certification

23 November 2022

Clean Aviation’s scaled flight demonstrator completes its mission flight tests

Between 17 October and 31 October 2022, the Scaled Flight Demonstrator (SFD) developed in the frame of Clean Aviation made 19 flights for a total of 8 flight hours, taking off from and landing at Aeroporto di Taranto-Grottaglie in Italy. During the missions, about 70 automated manoeuvers have been executed in order to carry out parameter identification. This experimental campaign is key for the validation of the Scaled Flight Testing approach as a means to mature future disruptive technologies that will significantly reduce aircraft energy consumption.

Flight of NLR pipistrel above Rotterdam
Sustainability and Environment

07 November 2022

Demonstrations of electric aircraft on Aruba: “This is the future”

People on Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao may be taking electric planes to hop from island to island in the near future. Aruba is hosting demonstration flights this week by the Pipistrel Velis Electro, Royal NLR’s electrically powered research aircraft. “We’re going to show that electric flight is a clean, efficient and safe alternative to traditional aviation here in the islands,” said Angeline Flemming, adviser at the Dutch Caribbean Cooperation of Airports (DCCA), which is organising the event.