NRC collaborates with NASA on Access II flight testing

- Edwards, California, United States of America

A joint mission with NRC, NASA and DLR for fuel-efficient flight solutions

Photo taken from NRC's CT‑133 aircraft shows the NAS A Hu‑25C Guardian aircraft flying 250 meters behind NASA's DC‑8 aircraft before it descends into the DC‑8's exhaust plumes to sample ice particles and engine emissions.

Behind the DC‑8, NRC's CT‑133 flight crew investigated the dynamics of the DC‑8's wake turbulence and measured various emissions from its engine exhaust jets, while DLR and the NASA Falcon measured the composition of the exhaust gas. The distance between the aircraft during testing varied from 100 meters to 20 kilometers. As a rugged military trainer jet, NRC's CT‑133 was able to fly through the DC‑8 emissions plume and trailing vortices to measure emissions species and contrail ice in the vortices.

The research aircrafts were able to obtain in-flight emission measurements and contrail characteristics from the DC‑8 jet, burning both conventional jet fuel and blended alternative fuels. They measured the emissions of the biofuel-JetA mixture and its effects on the formation and properties of condensation trails at typical commercial flight altitudes. NRC's CT‑133 measured the concentration effect of the DC‑8 trailing vortices, upon several emission species and the longevity of contrail ice particles in their vicinity.

"NRC is pleased to be a part of this international partnership, making significant contributions to alternative fuels research with our unique testing capabilities." said John R. McDougall, President of the National Research Council of Canada. We look forward to continuing our work with these elite collaborators in our efforts to find more fuel-efficient solutions for the global aerospace industry, ultimately, reducing costs and increasing industry productivity."

The results obtained from the joint flight tests will be shared and reported to the International Forum for Aviation Research.

For more information visit our Aerospace research and development expertise website.

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