Leonardo Next-Generation Civil Tiltrotor


The Leonardo Next-Generation Civil Tiltrotor is a tiltrotor aircraft demonstrator developed by Italian Leonardo S.p.A. within the EU Clean Sky 2 program, along with the Airbus RACER compound helicopter.

Development

studies began in 2000 and in 2014 the European Union CleanSky 2 initiative contributed $328 million, including 60% for partners, then targeting a 2020 first flight.
By 2017, the first flight target was shifted to 2023.
The NGCTR wings are designed and produced by a consortium, that was selected in September 2017 and led by the Italian Aerospace Research Centre, including the University of Naples.
Leonardo defined the structural requirements in 2018, with a preliminary design review released on 26 November and a critical design review in 2019, ahead of wing assembly in 2020 and first flight in 2023.
In early 2019, Leonardo selected the General Electric CT7 to power the aircraft.
The preliminary design review began in December 2018, to end by the first quarter of 2019, while the critical design review is planned for 2020. Prototype construction is planned for 2021–22.
Performance tests are foreseen mid of 2019 at the DNW, the German-Dutch Wind Tunnels, and will be coordinated by the Royal Netherlands Aerospace Centre.

Design

Aimed at the deepwater drilling energy market, the preliminary design concept was a pressurized aircraft with an MTOW seating 19–22 passengers, a top speed, a range of and a ceiling of.
The initial requirements targeted direct operating costs that would be 30% below a conventional helicopter and recurring cost 50% below.
The CleanSky 2 objectives for 2020 compared to 2000 were a 17% drag reduction, a 7% to 20% noise reduction, and a radius flown in 1h 45min, hover included.
The 12m span wings will be made out of epoxy carbon fiber, giving it wingspan similar to the AW609, with the chord doubled to. It will employ two control surfaces per wing: flaperons for lift and control, and another lowered during vertical take offs.
The main aerodynamic design of the NGCTR fuselage and empennage is derived from the AgustaWestland ERICA prototype, which has been optimised by a Consortium led by the University of Padova, who also was responsible of the design optimisation of engine intake and exhaust systems.

Specifications (NGCTR)