Advanced In-Flight Measurement Techniques -An Overview on Modern Optical Measurement Techniques for Flight Testing applied within AIM and AIM²

Abstract

In-flight testing of aircraft requires the measurement of many different parameters to ensure the aircraft meets the requirements for certification. Advanced optical methods offer opportunities to simplify and improve the quality of data obtained from flight test programs. With lead partner Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e.V. (DLR), the EU FP6 and FP7 research programs Advanced In-flight MeasurementTechniques (AIM – FP6 contract noAST5-CT-2006-030827 ) and Advanced In-flight Measurement Techniques 2 (AIM2 - FP7 contract no 266107), over an 8 year period, successfully demonstrated a wide range of optical methods in flight. These included measurements of wing and propeller shape, surface pressure and strain using fibre optic methods, surface temperature and laminar-turbulent transition and near fuselage flow field measurements. It is expected a number of these techniques will now be routinely adopted into flight test programs therefore streamlining and improving the certification process. This paper delivers a brief overview on the developments within AIM and AIM².