This proposal has been prepared in the framework of a research and development roadmap defined by the European rotorcraft community that aims to develop a civil tilt-rotor aircraft. A key target of the road map is a flying demonstrator in the 2010 decade.
NICE-TRIP specifically addresses the acquisition of new knowledge and technology validation concerning tilt-rotor.

The main project objectives are:

• To validate the European civil tilt-rotor concept based on the ERICA architecture;
• To validate critical technologies and systems through the development, integration and testing of components of a tilt-rotor aircraft on full-scale dedicated rigs;
• To acquire new knowledge on tilt-rotor through the development and testing of several wind tunnel models, including a large-scale full-span powered model;.
• To investigate and evaluate the introduction of tilt-rotors in the European Air Traffic Management System;
• To assess the sustainability of the tilt-rotor product with respect to social and environmental issues and to define the path towards a future tilt-rotor flying demonstrator.

Project NICE-TRIP is fully relevant to the strategic objective 1.3.2.1: ?Integration of technologies towards the future tilt-rotor aircraft?, of the work programme of call 3 of the Thematic Priority Aeronautics and Space.

The organisation and resources proposed to achieve the project objectives include a 54-month work plan made of 7 work packages and a consortium of 31 participants, fully representing the span of needed capabilities.

More info: https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/30944 ↗