The flapless air vehicle integrated industrial research (FLAVIIR) programme in aeronautical engineering

This article describes an exciting research programme, FLAVIIR (flapless air vehicle integrated industrial research), in Aeronautical Engineering that is developing and demonstrating novel technologies and also forging a new approach to academic research, with emphasis on engagement with, and relevance to, industry. Traditional academic research is usually focused on fundamental properties of technologies, proof of principles, and solution concept generation. This leaves industry to bridge the gap between this foundation work undertaken by the academic research and the introduction of technologies into practical products suitable for use in the real world. The FLAVIIR programme is taking academic research further than usual so that it relates more closely to technology exploitation in industry and so makes a significant contribution to the practical realization of novel technologies, so increasing the benefits delivered to industry from investment in academic research. In order to achieve this, the FLAVIIR programme includes, in addition to research into the fundamental technologies themselves, an emphasis on technology integration into an air vehicle that is then used to demonstrate the technologies in a representative manner. The FLAVIIR programme is enabled and funded by a strategic partnership formed between BAESystems and the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) in Aeronautical Engineering. Keywords: systems engineering