French Flight Test Program LEA Status
Abstract
The present lecture of the RTO-AVT-VKI course "HIGH SPEED PROPULSION: ENGINE DESIGN INTEGRATION AND THERMAL MANAGEMENT" is focused on the French flight experiment program called "LEA." French R&T effort for hypersonic airbreathing propulsion is focusing on needed technologies for the propulsion system and acquisition of aero-propulsive balance prediction capability. A large part of technology development effort can be led on ground and is currently dedicated to combustion chamber to ensure its performance and thermo-mechanical strength. On the contrary, it is mandatory to flight demonstrate capability to predict the aero-propulsive balance. In that view, MBDA and ONERA are leading the flight testing LEA program. Started in January 2003, the program will end in 2015 after 4 autonomous flight tests of an experimental vehicle in Mach number range 4 to 8. Guidelines for LEA vehicle and its propulsion system design have been validated in 2006 by a Preliminary Design Review. The running Phase 2 aims at getting a detailed design while validating the aero-propulsive configuration by a first free jet test series to be performed early in 2011. It led to a Critical Design Review performed in June/July 2009.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 01, 2010
- Accession Number
- ADA593055
Entities
People
- Francois Falempin
- Laurent Serre