Project Fins

To address the DON's need for developing methods to produce accurate riblet profiles in outer mold line (OML) surfaces that yield significant drag savings, fuel cost savings and extended range for USN aircraft, Dare Venture Group is partnered with MicroTay to deliver that exact development related to specific US Navy aircraft requirements. This project includes objectives encompassing the applied research of specific US Navy-driven requirements in terms of design, manufacturing, testing, resiliency and projected outcomes of a particular solution for riblets from the phase I effort into a prototype demonstration. The effort continues commercial research into the required defense adaptations of the technology beginning with a deep understanding of US Navy objectives and requirements that will dictate features of the riblet design, manufacturing, installation and maintenance and its subsequent integration into US Navy operations. The team will demonstrate both patch testing (for durability) and live-flight demonstration as an option task in order to prove not only the benefit of riblet technology application, but also the method of integration to seamlessly include riblet technology into current operations for fleet-wide benefit.