The new SMART-AIRTOSS Sensor Shuttle has passed sucessfully the flight test program and a test campaign with the Learjet 35A.

A real challenge to fly this new towed measuring system was given by the asymmetric geometry of the Cloud Combination Probe (CCP) installed in the leading bow of the towed shuttle. This made aerodynamic  modifications of the Sensor Shuttle, accompanied by extensive numerical simulations, and a flight test program necessary. The flight testing was very successful, for the very first time a towed atmospheric probe with a payload of more than 60 kg was deployed in altitudes of up to 39.000 feet. For more details about this project see AIRTOSS Campaign 2013.

We explicitly thank “Institut für Strömungslehre und Aerodynamik” at the “Technische Universität Darmstadt”,  our partners GFD and GFM, and the Luftfahrt-Bundesamt (LBA) for their great support of this challenging project, especially because it took place within a tight timeframe.