The Central Aerohydrodynamic Institute at the N.E. Zhukovsky Research Center has completed a test cycle of a model of a new generation Il-112V light military transport aircraft as part of work to reduce the weight of the aircraft structure. The experiments were carried out on behalf of PJSC, the air transport division of Rostec.

The main goal of the research is to study the aerodynamic properties with simulators of lightweight elements, including engine nacelles and landing gear fairings, and their influence on the cruising characteristics of the aircraft.

The experiments were carried out in a T-106 trans-sonic wind tunnel of TsAGI at modes close to cruising flight, as well as at increased Reynolds numbers to assess the full-scale characteristics. For the same purpose, the institute conducted methodological tests to assess the influence of each element on the general aerodynamics of the aircraft.

"The work carried out has shown that a comparable level of aerodynamic characteristics was obtained on the lightweight version, as on the initial, heavier one. The fact is that such a modification aimed at reducing the weight of the structure, as a rule, leads to a general deterioration in the characteristics of the aircraft. However, the previously carried out computational studies made it possible to reduce all negative effects to a minimum, which was confirmed by an experiment in a wind tunnel," comments Vitaly Gubsky, head of the department of aerodynamics of aircraft and missiles at TsAGI.

The next stage will be the study of the hinge moments of the modified controls on the model of the half-wing of the Il-112V aircraft in the TsAGI T-102 wind tunnel.