Nasa and DLR: joint research flights using biofuel

Cologne, Germany / Palmdale, USA - The United States National Aeronautics and Space Administration NASA, the German Aerospace Center (Deutsches Zentrum f

The emissions of a biofuel-kerosene mixture and its effects on the formation and properties of condensation trails are being measured at typical commercial flight altitudes. The flight campaign, which are being led by NASA, involve more than 100 scientists and technicians. Four research aircraft are being used, including DLR's Falcon 20-E. The campaign base is NASA's Armstrong Flight Research Center in Palmdale, California.

"Measurements in aircraft exhaust plumes and condensation trails require a great deal of experience and proven measuring equipment," says DLR mission head Hans Schlager from the Institute of Atmospheric Physics."In recent years, DLR has built up this expertise and measurement instrumentation in airborne sampling experiments in the wake of aircraft." The DLR Falcon has been used in various measurement campaigns involving the investigation of emissions and condensation trails left behind by commercial aircraft since 2000. Research in formation flight The current research flights are taking place under the ACCESS-II project (Alternative Fuel Effects on Contrails and Cruise Emissions). The four research aircraft being used are flying in formation at typical commercial flight altitudes of between nine and 12 kilometres, headed by NASA's four-engine DC-8. Behind the DC-8, the scientists on board the DLR Falcon and the NASA Falcon measure the composition of the exhaust gas at a distance of 100 metres to 20 kilometres. In addition, a Canadian National Research Council (NRC) T-33 is investigating the dynamics of the DC-8's wake turbulence. "Our Falcon is an extraordinarily robust research aircraft and ideal for taking measurements in the exhaust plume and in condensation trails," says DLR test pilot Philipp Weber. "Heavy structure loads that not all aircraft are designed for can occur in aircraft wake turbulence." In addition, there are numerous in situ trace gas and aerosol measurement instruments for the Falcon that have been designed for the harsh conditions in an aircraft trail. The DLR Falcon became famous in the Spring of 2010 when, as the Volcano Ash Hunter, it carried out measurements over Germany in the ash cloud from Icelandic volcano Eyjafiallaj

Source: IWR Online, 14 May 2014