The £35m Aerospace
Integration Research Centre (AIRC), which is set to change the way
the world thinks about flight, has been officially opened at
Cranfield University.
Funded by Airbus,
Rolls-Royce and Cranfield University, following an award from the
Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE), the Centre
will be a flagship facility for boosting aerospace research
capabilities in the UK, cementing the University’s reputation as the
leading aerospace research institution in Europe.
Researchers from both
the University and business partners, including Airbus and
Rolls-Royce, will work under one roof. The Centre will be
researching ways of integrating advanced technologies to reduce the
time from academic innovation to industrial application.
To enable this, the
AIRC is equipped with the latest cutting-edge aerospace research
technology including air traffic management (ATM) and unmanned
aerial vehicle (UAV) laboratories; flight simulators; a virtual wind
tunnel; a FANUC robot in the intelligent automation centre; and a
1500 sq m open space work area, currently housing a full-size wing
from an Airbus plane.
Professor
Sir Peter Gregson,
Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive, Cranfield University, said:
“Facilities such as the AIRC mean Cranfield is at the forefront of
changing the way the world thinks about flight. Greater integration
between research and world-renowned businesses provides us with the
opportunity to tackle some of aerospace’s grand challenges by
providing the technologies, facilities and skills that are needed to
succeed.”
Trevor Higgs,
Head of Landing Gear and UK Senior Site Representative, Airbus,
said: “We at Airbus see the AIRC as a key part of the growing
research ecosystem the aerospace industry has in the UK, and will
help us foster closer relationships with research partners and to
accelerate and deliver on our research strategy for the Wing of
Tomorrow, to make sure our products remain the best in world.”
Henner
Wapenhans, Director of
Technology Strategy, Rolls-Royce, added: “We are delighted to be a
lead partner with Airbus in the Aerospace Integration Research
Centre, which will also strengthen the existing strategic
partnership between Rolls-Royce and Cranfield University.
“This new Centre will
help develop the next generation of highly skilled engineers and
will play an important role in developing the innovative
technologies needed to enhance performance, improve efficiency and
reduce emissions of future aircraft.”
David
Sweeney, Director
(Research and Knowledge Exchange), HEFCE, said: “The AIRC is an
excellent example of the government’s industrial strategy in action,
linking research to industry needs which is what the UK Research
Partnership Investment Fund supports. The high-class facilities and
the world-leading research at Cranfield University will contribute
directly to the growth of the aerospace industry and the wider UK
economy.”
Cranfield is the only
university in Europe that brings together major aerospace research
facilities such as the AIRC, an operational airport and runway on
one connected site. |