IGF::OT::IGF ATA ENGINEERING, INC., (ATA) PROPOSES A PHASE II SBIR PROGRAM TO DEMONSTRATE AN INNOVATIVE ENG…

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IGF::OT::IGF ATA ENGINEERING, INC., (ATA) PROPOSES A PHASE II SBIR PROGRAM TO DEMONSTRATE AN INNOVATIVE ENGINE AIR-BRAKE (EAB) TECHNOLOGY THAT USES A DEPLOYABLE SWIRL VANE MECHANISM TO SWITCH THE OPERATION OF A TURBOFAN ENGINE NOZZLE FROM A CONVENTIONAL MODE TO A "DRAG MANAGEMENT" MODE. EQUIVALENT DRAG (VIA THRUST REDUCTION) RESULTS FROM THE STRONG RADIAL PRESSURE GRADIENT CREATED BY SWIRL VANES THAT ARE AERODYNAMICALLY "INVISIBLE" DURING CONVENTIONAL OPERATION AND INTRODUCED DURING A DRAG MANAGEMENT MANEUVER. SUCH "DRAG ON DEMAND" ENABLES OPERATIONAL BENEFITS SUCH AS SLOWER, STEEPER, AND/OR AEROACOUSTICALLY CLEANER FLIGHT ON APPROACH, ADDRESSING NASA'S NEED FOR ACTIVE AND PASSIVE CONTROL OF AEROACOUSTIC NOISE SOURCES FOR CONVENTIONAL AND ADVANCED AIRCRAFT CONFIGURATIONS. IN PHASE I ATA SUCCESSFULLY DESIGNED AN INTEGRATED VANE-NOZZLE FOR A NASA HIGH BYPASS RATIO NOZZLE. TO ADVANCE THE TECHNOLOGY READINESS LEVEL (TRL) , ATA HAS FORMED A PARTNERSHIP WITH WILLIAMS INTERNATIONAL (WI), A MANUFACTURER OF SMALL JET ENGINES AND INDUSTRY LEADER IN THE SMALL BUSINESS JET MARKET. THE ATA/WI TEAM WILL APPLY THE PHASE I DESIGN APPROACH TO THE WI FJ44-4 MIXED FLOW TURBOFAN WHICH IS SELECTED AS A DEMONSTRATION TEST ARTICLE TO MOVE THE TRL TO 5 6 BY THE END PHASE II.