Aircraft Performance Improvements-a Practical Approach
DRDO Science Spectrum, March 2009, pp. 4-11 DRDO SCIENCE SPECTRUM 2009 © 2009, DESIDOC
Aircraft Performance Improvements-A Practical Approach
S.K. Jebakumar
Centre for Military Airworthiness and Certification, Marathalli Colony, Bangaluru- 560 037
ABSTRACT An aircraft is designed based on various wind tunnel testing, computational analysis, previous design experience etc. In most of the aircraft programs the design objective could not be met with the first prototype design itself. Before the induction into the service the aircraft could have undergone many design improvements in order to meet the desired performance. These performance improvements can be achieved by improving the original design in the area of aerodynamics, structure (weight reduction), propulsion and systems (like flight control system, avionics, fuel system etc.). This could be by modifying the original design or introducing new concepts in the design. Due to the obsolence of many technology and growing demand many aircraft program undergone an upgradation program and meets the higher performance demands. Many successful modifications were retrofitted in all their earlier aircrafts and followed in other aircraft programs also. Keywords: Aircraft, aerodynamics, performance improvement program, PIP, propulsion systems
1.
INTRODUCTION
Performance Improvement Program (PIP) is inevitable in almost all the aircraft programs worldwide. Always there is a scope for improvements. An attempt has been made to bring out and consolidate the successful aircraft modifications in other countries. And this paper brings out the many modifications envisaged in our country’s prestigious indigenous aircraft programs Tejas and HJT-36 also. Even though the modifications are in the field of aerodynamics, structure, propulsion and other systems the general modifications are pertained to aerodynamic configuration change and propulsion, i.e. engine upgradation. The weight reduction methods followed in many
Aircraft Performance Improvements-A Practical Approach
S.K. Jebakumar
Centre for Military Airworthiness and Certification, Marathalli Colony, Bangaluru- 560 037
ABSTRACT An aircraft is designed based on various wind tunnel testing, computational analysis, previous design experience etc. In most of the aircraft programs the design objective could not be met with the first prototype design itself. Before the induction into the service the aircraft could have undergone many design improvements in order to meet the desired performance. These performance improvements can be achieved by improving the original design in the area of aerodynamics, structure (weight reduction), propulsion and systems (like flight control system, avionics, fuel system etc.). This could be by modifying the original design or introducing new concepts in the design. Due to the obsolence of many technology and growing demand many aircraft program undergone an upgradation program and meets the higher performance demands. Many successful modifications were retrofitted in all their earlier aircrafts and followed in other aircraft programs also. Keywords: Aircraft, aerodynamics, performance improvement program, PIP, propulsion systems
1.
INTRODUCTION
Performance Improvement Program (PIP) is inevitable in almost all the aircraft programs worldwide. Always there is a scope for improvements. An attempt has been made to bring out and consolidate the successful aircraft modifications in other countries. And this paper brings out the many modifications envisaged in our country’s prestigious indigenous aircraft programs Tejas and HJT-36 also. Even though the modifications are in the field of aerodynamics, structure, propulsion and other systems the general modifications are pertained to aerodynamic configuration change and propulsion, i.e. engine upgradation. The weight reduction methods followed in many