Recent Milestones Include Completion Of PDR

Aviation Technology Group (ATG) tells ANN its Javelin light jet program is speeding right along, with the accomplishment of major milestones including completion of a Preliminary Design Review (PDR), construction of cockpit and wing mockups, transonic wind tunnel testing, and initial tooling fabrication to support production of the conforming aircraft.

The Javelin PDR, held at the ATG facility in Englewood, CO in mid-August, confirmed the functional and physical integration of the business jet’s airframe and verified that systems met design criteria. A joint review conducted by Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI) and ATG in September further validated the aircraft configuration, marking a major milestone in the Javelin program’s development.

ATG engineers and the cockpit pilot-vehicle interface working group collaborated on construction of a cockpit mockup, which provides a three-dimensional model that verifies physical integration of cockpit equipment and validates maintenance procedures. ATG is working with Porsche Design Studio to develop styling concepts for the cockpit interior design, including improving the Javelin cockpit ergonomically and creating a business jet interior.

ACTA, the Utah-based wing supplier for the Javelin, has constructed a partial wing mockup that ATG is using to evaluate system installation and finalize access panel sizing.

ATG’s Flight Science engineers recently completed an additional 117 hours of transonic wind tunnel testing in Buffalo, NY. The testing—conducted on a 15-percent scale model at speeds between 0.5 and 1.1 Mach—included 180 pressure taps, hinge moment strain gauges on the leading edge flap and yaw damper, and buffet strain gauges on the horizontal and vertical tails.

Flight Science engineers also ran a high Reynolds number test (3 to 4 million) at 0.2 and 0.3 Mach to refine lift increments on the flap systems. The Javelin design has completed a total of 1,173 hours of wind tunnel testing, including 223 hours in the transonic wind tunnel.

ATG initiated tooling manufacture with inspection and approval of dorsal and belly skin outer mold line masters. These tools serve as masters for tooling used to build the fuselage of the conforming aircraft. Delivery of the lay-up tools to ATK, another Utah-based airframe supplier, is scheduled for mid-November.

Aileron mold tools completed earlier this month were used to fabricate test articles, a process that will confirm the fabrication process and tooling.

Incorporated in 2000, ATG is dedicated to the design, development and production of the Javelin executive jet and its derivatives for government markets. Initial customer deliveries of the FAA-certified Javelin are slated for 2008.

FMI: www.avtechgroup.com