Launched in 2014, the Euroglider project is taking shape.
A prototype of the aircraft, a new generation glider, was presented yesterday at the Air School in Salon de Provence, in south-eastern France, and performed a demonstration flight.
Thanks to its small electric motors, Euroglider took off autonomously, without the aid of a tow plane, without noise for residents and without emitting CO2 emissions.
This project was developed as part of the Clean Sky 2 program of the European Commission, which aims to industrialize new sustainable and environmentally friendly technologies. Imagined by students and teacher-researchers from the ISAE-SupAéro group of engineering schools, the Euroglider underwent hours of ground and flight tests - between 2018 and until the end of 2021 -, in order to prepare the industrialization phase. This work is carried out in partnership with engineers from Dassault Aviation * and the European Association for the Development of Gliding (AEDEVV).
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This unique project, which responds to a strong operational need, brings together in the same dynamic the world of education and the industrial fabric around economic, technical and sustainable development issues.
Finally, the Euroglider is also a great opportunity for Dassault Aviation to enrich its historical relationship with the Air Force and Space, and to live the passion for aeronautics uniting those who fly planes and those who design them,
”emphasizes Sylvie Gobbatti, responsible for cooperation with education at Dassault Aviation.
Entry into production in 2022
The project as well as the tests have indeed also benefited from the means of the Air School on the air base 701 of Salon de Provence, within the framework of an agreement signed with the staff of the Army of Air and Space. 2022 should mark the launch of production of the device which interests the French armies and flying clubs. The glider is indeed a tool for teaching future professionals to fly, but also a recreational sport.
Several months of testing validated the concept.
And to take up several challenges.
Operational first.
The 600-kilogram device must be able to string together flying lessons of 40 to 50 minutes, which include climbs to an altitude of 1,300 meters, thanks to the autonomy induced by the stored and on-board energy.
Industrial, then.
Its aerostructure should make it possible to reduce the mass of the airframe by 50% compared to gliders of conventional non-motorized design without, however, increasing the cost of production, purchase and maintenance.
Of use then.
Euroglider must be simple to use, ergonomic and offer all the characteristics and flight qualities of gliders usually used by student pilots and instructors.
Cost reduction
Finally, thanks to its electric motors, this new generation glider overcomes the weather constraints that have discouraged hundreds of apprentice pilots, tired of waiting for conditions to be optimal for their glider to be launched into the air. With Euroglider, flying clubs will be able to double, or even triple, the number of flights performed per year, while reducing the learning time. Another significant saving for flying clubs is a 60 to 70% reduction in the glider's take-off costs since it takes off autonomously. The cost of the tow plane, including the fuel budget and the provision of a pilot, disappears. Added to this is availability throughout the year and no longer just a few months.This allows flight training organizations to better optimize their fleet of training aircraft.
In France, the market is important.
According to a recent census, the country has a fleet of 5,750 light aircraft including 1,675 gliders and some 15,000 microlights.
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