Small Aircraft Infrared Radiation Measurements Supporting the Engine Airframe Aero-thermal Integration

The large, EU Supported ESPOSA (Efficient Systems and propulsion for Small Aircraft) project has developed new small gas turbines for small aircraft. One of the important tasks was the engine - airframe aero-thermal radiation integration that included task of minimizing the infrared radiation of the small aircraft, too. This paper discusses the factors influencing on the aircraft infrared radiation, its possible simulation and measurements and introduces the results of small aircraft infrared radiation measurements. The temperature of aircraft hot parts heated by engines were determined for validation of methodology developed and applied to engine - aircraft thermal integration.