M-346 Aircraft – Flight Loads Survey Activity

Davide Giacomazzi, Alenia Aermacchi s.p.a., Venegono Superiore (VA) – Italy
Nicola Nannipieri, Alenia Aermacchi s.p.a., Venegono Superiore (VA) – Italy

Abstract

AleniaAermacchi Company designed and is producing the advanced military jet trainer M-346.

In-flight load survey is an extensive activity aiming to close the structural project loop by means of the assessment of load models used to predict load distribution on aircraft. It is a fundamental step in aircraft development, since it relates aircraft performance to structural response in order to provide a consistent basis for aircraft certification.

Load Survey campaign involves many issues, from experimental test set-up to data analysis and collection, load sensors installation and calibration, flight test management and execution, real-time monitoring and data recovering, concluding into load coefficient reduction process.

Present work describes how the Load Survey is carried out for M-346, outlining the whole process from theoretical to experimental results and data collection.

With regard to the above-mentioned items, emphasis will be done on how the process of data analysis is the basis for a fast model validation activity since it allows a flexible and accurate data selection from structured databases by means of Structured Query Language (SQL).