ETW is the world-leading aeronautical wind tunnel, in which true flight conditions can be replicated. Since this is done in a ground lab at model scale with highly repeatable conditions, ETW offers unique value to researchers. It provides flight-relevant Reynolds numbers and allows separating variation of Reynolds number and structural loading (fluid-structure interaction) at take-off, landing and cruise flight conditions. Various standard techniques are operational to measure forces, pressures, temperatures, model deformations, or flow-field data by PIV or TSP. Analysis and investigation of unsteady phenomena is possible. PSP and acoustic techniques have been successfully demonstrated, and their transfer into productive testing are work in progress.

It is widely acknowledged that cutting edge ETW capabilities particularly play an essential role in securing the competitiveness of the European aerospace industry and science. Thus, ETW contributes to various European and national funded research programmes. These activities aim on the one hand at advancing ETW´s testing capabilities and the way how to make best use of it. On the other hand ETW is used as a tool to achieve scientific progress. Public funding, e.g. in the EU FP7 project ESWIRP, provides an opportunity to further open this strategic facility to foster transnational research access.

ETW is part of the European MERIL inventory, which includes the most excellent research infrastructures of 'more-than-national' relevance in Europe across all scientific domains. It is also registered at CatRIS by the European Science Foundation ESF and RIsources by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft DFG (German Research Foundation), which includes research infrastructures offering recognised, established scientific and technological facilities or services, permitting free or regulate access through a transparent selection process based on scientific quality and project feasibility, and which are managed according to sustainable principles and have a long-term perspective.

ETW allows researchers and engineers from all over the world to turn aeronautical science into aircraft innovation by accessing real-flight conditions in a cutting edge ground-test laboratory. You may learn about the details of research at or from using ETW through conference and journal papers.

The major national and European research projects with ETW involvement are listed below:

Science & Innovation

Initially designed as a product development tool for the aerospace industry, ETW today also serves as a research infrastructure. So it contributes both: converting research funding into knowledge as well as generating return on this investment in the scientific progress by innovation.

European researchers and engineers harness ETW’s capabilities for advancing aeronautical science into aircraft innovation by accessing real-flight conditions in this cutting edge ground-test laboratory. Besides, national and European research activities advance cryogenic testing capabilities, and improve the competitiveness of the facility. E.g. remarkable progress has been gained in reliable performance prediction of future “green” configurations with significant fuel savings compared with today’s aircraft.