FACELIFT is a European Defense Funded project (101102557) to improve stealthiness and maneuverability compared to the current generation of military assets such as the European MALE-RPAS. This project proposes the use of fluidic actuators to reattach the flow with higher angle of aileron deflection. Sweeping jets and Synthetic jet actuators are as-sessed, first in wind tunnels, then on an aircraft. The piezoelectric Synthetic Jet Actuator (SJA) designed and chosen for this project reached a piston stroke of 2mm at 235Hz, creating a jet speed over 200m/s. Wind tunnel assessment showed that for a flow velocity of 30 m/s and aileron angle of 20°, the SJA can fully reattach the flow on the aileron. This SJA system will be tested in aircraft in flight conditions.
The FACELIFT consortium consists of 4 partners: Cedrat Technologies, Berliner Institut für Technologietransfer, ESC DEFENCE and ONERA. Moreover, Pipistrel Vertical Solutions has been chosen as aircraft manufacturer for this project.