Services / Experimental Aerodynamics
- Stability & Control and Drag Testing (Civil): We use highly accurate and specialist instrumentation in the accurate measurement of drag on a range of civil aircraft.
- Stability & Control (Military): The stability and control aerodynamics of a fighter aircraft creates a unique set of challenges. The ARA draws on decades of experience in the design, development and test of fast jets to support this field of work.
- Store Carriage Testing: ARA provide a full test capability for items like fuel tanks and weapons carried externally on pylons or in internal weapon bays.
- Store Separation Testing: These tests are used to ensure that a store, on release, is able to clear the parent aircraft safely without endangering the aircraft or pilot. ARA are proud to be home to the Two Sting Rig (TSR) system, a unique store release simulation capability.
- Isolated Store: Items separated from a parent aircraft ranging from fuel tanks to ejector seats. The ARA wind tunnels can be used for full scale and near full-scale testing of isolated stores in a controlled environment prior to flight tests
- Intake Performance: Extensive experience in testing both isolated and installed engine intakes, from small scale integrated engine/aircraft models up to large scale isolated nacelles.
- Rear Fuselage Performance: The nature of the airflow over the rear fuselage and empennage has a significant effect on overall aerodynamic efficiency. Uniquely, both of our rigs can move in yaw as well as in pitch which enables both lateral and longitudinal stability and control to be investigated during a test.
- Powered Propulsion Simulation: ARA has a world-leading capability in propeller testing for half-span models built on pioneering work into balance, hub and blade design as well as telemetry and data acquisition.
- Flow Visualisation: A technique commonly used in aerodynamic research to enable surface flow patterns to be seen. ARA regularly applies this technique within the Transonic Wind Tunnel (TWT) and has automated systems to capture high-resolution stills and video for later analysis.
- Advanced Measurement Techniques: ARA utilises several different types of optical systems for visualisation and measurement of aerodynamic phenomena within its facilities.
- Duct and Rake Calibrations: On-site intake/duct calibration facility
- Propulsion Test Facility: Purpose built propulsion test facility which provides a large test cell area with attached control room for test monitoring and data acquisition.
- Strain Gauge Calibrations: Design and manufacture of balances for customers as well as for use in the ARA wind tunnels.
- Pressure-Sensitive Paint (PSP) Sales: Since 2010 ARA has been the distributor within Europe for the ISSI range of PSP technologies.
- Stability & Control and Drag Testing (Civil): We use highly accurate and specialist instrumentation in the accurate measurement of drag on a range of civil aircraft.
- Stability & Control (Military): The stability and control aerodynamics of a fighter aircraft creates a unique set of challenges. The ARA draws on decades of experience in the design, development and test of fast jets to support this field of work.
- Store Carriage Testing: ARA provide a full test capability for items like fuel tanks and weapons carried externally on pylons or in internal weapon bays.
- Store Separation Testing: These tests are used to ensure that a store, on release, is able to clear the parent aircraft safely without endangering the aircraft or pilot. ARA are proud to be home to the Two Sting Rig (TSR) system, a unique store release simulation capability.
- Isolated Store: Items separated from a parent aircraft ranging from fuel tanks to ejector seats. The ARA wind tunnels can be used for full scale and near full-scale testing of isolated stores in a controlled environment prior to flight tests
- Intake Performance: Extensive experience in testing both isolated and installed engine intakes, from small scale integrated engine/aircraft models up to large scale isolated nacelles.
- Rear Fuselage Performance: The nature of the airflow over the rear fuselage and empennage has a significant effect on overall aerodynamic efficiency. Uniquely, both of our rigs can move in yaw as well as in pitch which enables both lateral and longitudinal stability and control to be investigated during a test .
- Powered Propulsion Simulation: ARA has a world-leading capability in propeller testing for half-span models built on pioneering work into balance, hub and blade design as well as telemetry and data acquisition.
- Flow Visualisation: A technique commonly used in aerodynamic research to enable surface flow patterns to be seen. ARA regularly applies this technique within the Transonic Wind Tunnel (TWT) and has automated systems to capture high-resolution stills and video for later analysis.
- Advanced Measurement Techniques: ARA utilises several different types of optical systems for visualisation and measurement of aerodynamic phenomena within its facilities.
- Duct and Rake Calibrations: On-site intake/duct calibration facility
- Propulsion Test Facility: Purpose built propulsion test facility which provides a large test cell area with attached control room for test monitoring and data acquisition.
- Strain Gauge Calibrations: Design and manufacture of balances for customers as well as for use in the ARA wind tunnels.
- Pressure-Sensitive Paint (PSP) Sales: Since 2010 ARA has been the distributor within Europe for the ISSI range of PSP technologies.
