Vertical Lift Network
Lead Research Organisation:
The University of Manchester
Department Name: Mechanical Aerospace and Civil Eng
Abstract
This is network proposal that gathers all the national expertise in rotary wing systems: The Vertical Lift Network (VLN). The network addresses technical problems for a special class of vehicles powered by direct lift: conventional helicopters, compound helicopters, tilt-rotors, fan-in-wing vehicles, unmanned air vehicles powered by rotors.
It is recognised that no single academic institution has expertise and test facilities to take on these new challenges. Several initiatives in Europe (CleanSky, Horizon 2020, national research programmes in Germany, France, Italy, The Netherlands), the USA (NASA, Boeing, Sikorsky), Russia (TSAGI, MAI, KAI) and possibly also China (CARDC) could undermine the competiveness of the UK. Countries such as Japan (JAXA), Korea (KARI) are also gaining momentum. The proposal brings together expertise across the full spectrum of aerospace engineering, including aerodynamics, computational fluid dynamics, wind tunnel testing, aeroelasticity, aeroacoustics, materials, control systems, power systems, flight dynamics, handling qualities, and systems engineering. Due to this multi-disciplinarity, leading-edge research initiatives can only be addressed by pooling resources together to create critical mass. No single organisation has the know-how to address the upcoming technology challenges.
The academic network is to work closely with the industry and government stakeholders to identify the strategic directions of research in the next decade. Other key objectives include the promotion of scientific collaboration, the identification of the funding sources, training of students and scientific dissemination via an annual workshop.
It is recognised that no single academic institution has expertise and test facilities to take on these new challenges. Several initiatives in Europe (CleanSky, Horizon 2020, national research programmes in Germany, France, Italy, The Netherlands), the USA (NASA, Boeing, Sikorsky), Russia (TSAGI, MAI, KAI) and possibly also China (CARDC) could undermine the competiveness of the UK. Countries such as Japan (JAXA), Korea (KARI) are also gaining momentum. The proposal brings together expertise across the full spectrum of aerospace engineering, including aerodynamics, computational fluid dynamics, wind tunnel testing, aeroelasticity, aeroacoustics, materials, control systems, power systems, flight dynamics, handling qualities, and systems engineering. Due to this multi-disciplinarity, leading-edge research initiatives can only be addressed by pooling resources together to create critical mass. No single organisation has the know-how to address the upcoming technology challenges.
The academic network is to work closely with the industry and government stakeholders to identify the strategic directions of research in the next decade. Other key objectives include the promotion of scientific collaboration, the identification of the funding sources, training of students and scientific dissemination via an annual workshop.
Planned Impact
From an industrial perspective, particularly AgustaWestland, the VLN initiative offers the potential to:
1. Develop and maintain a universal roadmap for rotorcraft research and technology strategy.
2. Achieve greater coherence between low TRL research activity and higher TRL development programmes
3. Maximise the economic return on PV investment.
4. Provide an efficient forum for coordinating research and technology activity between the industry and the rotorcraft academic community in the UK.
5. Provide a unified rotorcraft research and technology community interface with the UK Aerospace Growth Partnership and the Aerospace Technology Institute.
6. Act as a strong advocate for rotorcraft research and achieve greater coordination in raising research funding from both national and international sponsors.
7. Identify, protect and maximise utilisation of strategic research and test facilities.
1. Develop and maintain a universal roadmap for rotorcraft research and technology strategy.
2. Achieve greater coherence between low TRL research activity and higher TRL development programmes
3. Maximise the economic return on PV investment.
4. Provide an efficient forum for coordinating research and technology activity between the industry and the rotorcraft academic community in the UK.
5. Provide a unified rotorcraft research and technology community interface with the UK Aerospace Growth Partnership and the Aerospace Technology Institute.
6. Act as a strong advocate for rotorcraft research and achieve greater coordination in raising research funding from both national and international sponsors.
7. Identify, protect and maximise utilisation of strategic research and test facilities.
Organisations
- The University of Manchester (Lead Research Organisation)
- Muretex Ltd (Collaboration)
- Hybrid Air Vehicles Limited (Collaboration)
- Babcock International Group (Collaboration)
- Polytechnic University of Turin (Collaboration)
- Aerospace Technology Institute (Project Partner)
- AgustaWestland (Project Partner)
- Aircraft Research Association Ltd (Project Partner)
- Defence Science & Tech Lab DSTL (Project Partner)
Publications
Appleton W.
(2019)
Aeromechanics modelling of tiltrotor aircraft
in 45th European Rotorcraft Forum 2019, ERF 2019
Appteton W.
(2018)
Low-order aeromechanics of tilt-rotor helicopters
in 44th European Rotorcraft Forum 2018, ERF 2018
Dibble R
(2016)
Helicopter rotor blade modal tuning using internal preloads
Filippone A
(2020)
Rotorcraft systems for urban air mobility: A reality check
in The Aeronautical Journal
Fleischmann D
(2018)
Fast Computational Aeroelastic Analysis of Helicopter Rotor Blades
Green R
(2018)
Delay of Dynamic Stall Using Pulsed Air-Jet Vortex Generators
in AIAA Journal
| Description | We have made advances in the modelling and simulation of a variery of vertical lift vehicles and produced multi-disciplinary simulation tools for conventional helicopters, tilt-rotor helicopters, tandem helicopters and helicopter engines. These tools are being integrated at a higher level with other simulation programs. |
| Exploitation Route | We engage with industry, large and small, in order to bring out knowledge to the service of the professional engineers and researchers around the world. |
| Sectors | Aerospace Defence and Marine |
| Description | This academic network works closely with the industry (rotorcraft, general aviation, aerospace, engineering consultancies) and other government stakeholders (Innovate UK, Aerospace Technology Institute) to set the agenda for strategic research in the medium to long term. The VLN aims to establish a position of international leadership, to achieve critical mass and thus bid to large-scale projects that could not be carried out by any single University in the UK. Results obtained so far include: expansion of the network to include new industry partners (in the UK and overseas), several new awards (large and small) to various consortia including one or more VLN members, several publications (peer-review Journal papers, international conferences). |
| First Year Of Impact | 2020 |
| Sector | Aerospace, Defence and Marine,Education |
| Description | Professor Barakos was interviewedby the American Helicopter Society who wrote a 2-page piece on his outstanding contribution to research and education on the field of rotorcraft engineering. |
| Geographic Reach | North America |
| Policy Influence Type | Citation in other policy documents |
| Description | A Novel Approach to Rotorcraft Simulation Fidelity Enhancement and Assessment, led by University of Liverpool |
| Amount | £870,000 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | EP/P031277/1 |
| Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 05/2017 |
| End | 06/2020 |
| Description | Aero engine deteriorations due to sand and particulate ingestion |
| Amount | £60,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Defence Science & Technology Laboratory (DSTL) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 06/2017 |
| End | 07/2017 |
| Description | CDT in Materials for Demanding Environments |
| Amount | £60,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Imperial College London |
| Department | EPSRC Centres for Doctoral Training |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 08/2017 |
| End | 09/2021 |
| Description | DSTL iCASE award |
| Amount | £60,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Defence Science & Technology Laboratory (DSTL) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 08/2017 |
| End | 09/2020 |
| Description | DSTL rotor design (led by Univ. Glasgow) |
| Amount | £250,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Defence Science & Technology Laboratory (DSTL) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 03/2017 |
| End | 03/2020 |
| Description | Dynamic Analysis of Tilt-rotor Rig (Univ. Bristol main contractor) |
| Amount | £125,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Aircraft Research Association |
| Sector | Private |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 03/2015 |
| End | 03/2016 |
| Description | Hypertilt (led by Univ. Glasgow) |
| Amount | € 200,000 (EUR) |
| Organisation | European Commission H2020 |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | Belgium |
| Start | 03/2015 |
| End | 03/2017 |
| Description | NITROS - EU network of researchers with emphasis on aircraft safety (led by Univ. Glasgow) |
| Amount | € 400,000 (EUR) |
| Funding ID | 721920 |
| Organisation | European Commission |
| Department | Horizon 2020 |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | European Union (EU) |
| Start | 04/2017 |
| End | 05/2021 |
| Description | Project "BladeSense" |
| Amount | £2,200,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Innovate UK |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 05/2017 |
| End | 05/2020 |
| Description | Project "Locate" |
| Amount | £2,500,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Innovate UK |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 03/2017 |
| End | 03/2020 |
| Description | Tilt-rotor aerodynamics |
| Amount | £30,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Aircraft Research Association |
| Sector | Private |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 06/2016 |
| End | 06/2019 |
| Description | USAir Force Office of Science and Research (AFOSR) - Window on Science |
| Amount | £5,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Airforce Office of Scientific Research |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United States |
| Start | 03/2018 |
| End | 05/2018 |
| Title | Tandem helicopter aeromechanics model |
| Description | Developed computer simulation model for tandem helicopters to be used in training for post-graduate students. |
| Type Of Material | Computer model/algorithm |
| Year Produced | 2019 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | Post-graduate students are able to use professionally designed simulation program to evaluate engineering problems involving sophisticated flight platforms. |
| Description | Babcock International Group |
| Organisation | Babcock International Group |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Babcock International operates over 450 helicopters in the UK, Europe, Worldwide, offering critical services to the oil, gas, wind energy, along with a variety of commercial helicopter services, and air ambulance services in the UK (most notably, it is the owner, operator of the NWAA helicopters). Babcock International has been attracted by the activities of the VLN and wishes to enter into partnership to explore future projects and exploit the expertise of the project partners. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The VLN will support Babcock International in improving helicopter operations, in understanding issues of flight critical situations. The VLN will provide technology awareness to maximise the potential of a fleet of 450 helicopters, potentially saving lives and money. |
| Impact | No outputs yet |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | GARTEUR - Rotor wakes |
| Organisation | Polytechnic University of Turin |
| Department | Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (DIMEAS) |
| Country | Italy |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | This is a European network exploring effects of rotor wakes in ground effect and around complex terrain, to establish the safety limits of helicopters operating near the ground. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Partners have established representative test cases, industry requirements, produced some test data in the wind tunnel and some CFD calculations aimed at validation. |
| Impact | Network ongoing, no outputs yet |
| Start Year | 2015 |
| Description | Hybrid Air Vehicles |
| Organisation | Hybrid Air Vehicles Limited |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Partnership with Hybrid Air Vehicles (HAV) has been signed in early 2016 so that the company enters the network and contributes to the strategic directions of vertical lift research. HAV specialises in the design and manufacture of lighter-than-air vehicles that have important propulsion issues with propellers. |
| Collaborator Contribution | HAV joins periodic meetings, which are held every 2-3 months at various locations in the UK. |
| Impact | Not yet available |
| Start Year | 2015 |
| Description | MURETEX |
| Organisation | Muretex Ltd |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Exchange of technical information in the field of control systems for rotorcraft. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Muretex Ltd is a small consultancy company specialising in control systems for rotorcraft. They have requested to join the network and participate to our periodic meeints. |
| Impact | Not yet available |
| Start Year | 2015 |
| Description | Annual Post-Graduate Student Workshop, Shrigley Hall, May 2017 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Annual post-graduate students workshop. This event takes places annually in a hotel. Students present their research to their peers, their supervisors, our industrial partners, and engage in technical discussions. The proceedings of this meeting are made available to all via our intranet or sharepoint, accessible from a public website. Typical attendance is 20-25 post-graduate students from across the UK. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| URL | http://www.ukvln.net |
| Description | Annual Post-graduate student workshop |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | This was our annual post-graduate/PDRA workshop, where we showcase the latest research over two days, in the presence of industry (Leonardo, BAe Systems, Hybrid Air Vehicles, others), government departments (MoD, DSTL). This is followed by both formal and informal discussions on all matters of rotorcraft and vertical lift systems. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Industry Meeting, Leonardo Helicopters, February 2017 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Meeting industry representatives to discuss funding for development of new class of full-scale unmanned rotorcraft, including funding from MoD/Industry. There was discussion how the VLN or member of the network could be involved in a bid for a project. This was an Industry Briefing jointly given by Leonardo Helicopters and the MoD to the rotorcraft industry (SMEs and academia). The meeting began at 10.30 and continued till around 13.00. The purpose was to brief these stakeholders and present potential opportunities for engagement.The event took place at the BAWA conference centre in Bristol on 1st Feb. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | Interview published in Research Fortnight |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | Interview with Journalist for the Funding Insight section of our website which looks at funding opportunities in more depth. There are interviews with researchers, applicants and funders to help others send in targeted applications and perhaps alert people to opportunities that they might otherwise not have considered. They run a "My Winning Proposal" article discussing your EPSRC grant. I've attached a couple of recent examples of what these kind of articles normally look like for your reference. The reason I was contacted is that they run something of a series on "grand challenges" research at the moment, with part of that theme being about building networks and multidisciplinary teams to take on such problems. As such we decided to run a feature on the Network grants. Scrolling down the list of recent winners, the VLN project caught the Journalist's eye for purely personal reasons (his father was an air traffic controller). A special piece on the VLN was then published. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| Description | Meeting at Airbus, Filton, April 2016 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Industry-government-ATI-academia meeting to discuss strategic directions of aerospace/aerodynamics research, meeting led by Airbus UK |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| Description | Meeting at Royal Aeronautical Society Headquarters, London, Dec. 2016 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Meeting to discuss future directions of aerospace research, in particular addressing quality of publications in the sector. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| Description | NATO_AVT |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | We [The University of Manchester] have taken part in AVT-213, which was "Assessment of Volcanic Ash Effects on Military Platforms"; we are now taking part in AVT-250 which is "Gas Turbine Engine Environmental Particulate Foreign Object Damage [EP-FOD] in Land, Sea and Air Vehicles". In both these research task groups, we are contributing knowledge on particle separators and helicopter engine degradation, and engaging with stakeholders input into standardised procedures. Meetings take place every 6 months. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| Description | Post graduate training/workshop: Introduction to rotor control systems (Event #6) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Research output was presented to post-graduate students, researchers, colleagues from industry and government, overseas researchers. Sixth in a series of lectures and talks (held online due to COVID restrictions). |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | Post-graduate training/workshop: Introduction to rotor aeroelasticity (Event #8) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Research output was presented to post-graduate students, researchers, colleagues from industry and government, overseas researchers. Eights in a series of lectures and talks (held online due to COVID restrictions). |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | Post-graduate training; Introduction to Rotorcraft Aerodynamics |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Research output was presented to post-graduate students, researchers, colleagues from industry and government, overseas researchers. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| Description | Post-graduate workshop and training (Event #3): Intoduction to rotorcraft engines performance |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Research output was presented to post-graduate students, researchers, colleagues from industry and government, overseas researchers and professional organisations such as the Vertical Flight Society. Third in a series of lectures and talks (held online due to COVID restrictions). |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| Description | Post-graduate workshop and training: Introduction to rotorcraft performance stability and control (Event #2) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Research output was presented to post-graduate students, researchers, colleagues from industry and government, overseas researchers. Second in a series of lectures and talks (held online due to COVID restrictions). |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| Description | Post-graduate workshop/training: Introduction to experimental aerodynamics of rotors (Event #4) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Research output was presented to post-graduate students, researchers, colleagues from industry and government, overseas researchers and professional societies. Fourth in a series of lectures and talks (held online due to COVID restrictions). |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| Description | Post-graduate workshop/training: Introduction to rotor acoustics (Event #5) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Research output was presented to post-graduate students, researchers, colleagues from industry and government, overseas researchers. Fifth in a series of lectures and talks (held online due to COVID restrictions). |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| Description | Postgraduate workshop/training: Introduction to Flight Simulation (Event #7) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Research output was presented to post-graduate students, researchers, colleagues from industry and government, overseas researchers. Seventh in a series of lectures and talks (held online due to COVID restrictions). |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | VLN Annual Workshop, Chester, April 2015 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | This was a three-day scientific and technical workshop where post-graduate students from across the UK presented their research. The workshop included discussion panels, future research, strategic directions of the network. The workshop was held neat Chester. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| Description | VLN Meeting and Workshop, University of Manchester, March 2016 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | VLN meeting to discuss and agree on future funding strategies. Decided ways forward to develop research proposals. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| Description | VLN Meeting, AgustaWestland, Yeovil, Somerset, June 2015 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Periodic VLN meeting to discuss progress of the network, funding opportunities, directions of the industry, academic activities, training. Meeting chaired by industry representatives (AgustaWestland). |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| Description | VLN Meeting, Aircraft Research Association, November 2016 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Progress on the network and progress with commissioning of the UK national rotor rig facility, meeting hosted by ARA, Bedford, Chaired by Leonardo Helicopters |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| Description | VLN Meeting, August 2016 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Updates on the network discussed at this meeting. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| Description | VLN Meeting, Chester, April 2015 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Periodic VLN meeting to discuss progress of the network, funding opportunities, directions of the industry, academic activities, training. Meeting chaired by industry representatives (AgustaWestland). |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| Description | VLN Meeting, Cranfield University, January 2015 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Periodic VLN meeting to discuss progress of the network, funding opportunities, directions of the industry, academic activities, training. Meeting chaired by industry representatives (AgustaWestland). |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| Description | VLN Meeting, University of Bristol, October 2015 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Periodic VLN meeting to discuss progress of the network, funding opportunities, directions of the industry, academic activities, training. Meeting chaired by industry representatives (AgustaWestland). |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| Description | VLN Meeting, University of Leicester, February 2016 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Periodic VLN meeting to discuss progress of the network, funding opportunities, directions of the industry, academic activities, training. Meeting chaired by industry representatives (AgustaWestland). |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| Description | VLN Periodic Meeting, Leonardo Company, Yeovil March 2018 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Periodic research meeting to assess strategy and forthcoming research proposals. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | VLN Periodic Meeting, London June 2018 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Periodic VLN meeting to assess research strategy in the UK and forthcoming project proposals. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | VLN Periodic Meeting, London November 2018 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Periodic VLN meeting to assess strategy on all rotorcraft research and industrial activities in the UK |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | VLN Training, Experimental Aerodynamics, University of Glasgow, February 2017 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Two-day training course in experimental methods in aerodynamics for rotorcraft, held at the wind tunnel facilities of the University of Glasgow. Participants included post-graduate students from across the UK, a few under-graduate students, professionals from DSTL (MoD), and industry (Aircraft Research Association, ARA). |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | VLN Training: Introduction to Rotorcraft Performance, Stability and Control (Manchester) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | This was two-day training course for post-graduate students from across the UK and Europe, held at the University of Manchester in February 2016. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| Description | VLN meeting, Leonardo Helicopters (formerly AgustaWestland) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Networking meeting at Leonardo Helicopters (formerly AgustaWestland) to discuss advancements in the interests of the network, and future funding possibilities, including ongoing research proposals, accessing industry funds for the development of a new unmanned rotorcraft. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | VLN meeting, University of Glasgow, December 2015 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Periodic VLN meeting to discuss progress of the network, funding opportunities, directions of the industry, academic activities, training. Meeting chaired by industry representatives (AgustaWestland). |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| Description | VLN meeting, University of Leicester, Nov. 2017 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Periodic VLN meeting with all academic partners, industrial partners, MoD to discuss directions of the network, specifically funding strategies, on-going projects, under-graduate and postgraduate teaching matters. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | VLN student workshop, Shrigley Hall, Cheshire, May 2016 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Annual post-graduate students workshop, where students in helicopter engineering from around the country presented their research to academics and their fellow students. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| Description | VLN training: Introduction to Rotorcraft Aerodynamics (Glasgow) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Two day training course for post-graduate and doctoral students held the University of Glasgow. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| Description | VLN training: flight simulation, University of Liverpool, June 2016 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | VLN training course in rotorcraft flight simulation, which took place in the School of Engineering at the University of Liverpool. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| Description | VLNPost-Graduate training: Helicopter Dynamics, Vibrarions and Control |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | This was a PhD students training in the fundamentals of helicopter rotor dynamics, vibration and control, held at the University of Bristol in July 2017; the module was run jointly by colleagues from Bristol and Leicester University. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |