Design of a twin engine propeller aircraft; aerodynamic investigation on fuselage and nacelle effects

Design of a new twin propeller aircraft named P2006 VELT (Very Light Twin) has been carried out at Tecnam aircraft industries during 2006. The new aircraft design, performed by Prof. L. Pascale, is based on the idea to built a 4-seat aircraft with two light engines (Rotax 912, usually used for ultralight aircraft) and to enter the market with a twin-engine aircraft with the same weight of a single engine aircraft (VEry Light Twin). The present paper shows all main criteria on which the design of the aircraft and the choice of the configuration have been based. At Dipartimento di Ingegneria Aerospaziale (DIAS) of University of Napoli “Federico II” a deep aircraft aerodynamic investigation has been performed both numerically and experimentally (through wind-tunnel tests). All tests and research activities have been focused on the evaluation of aircraft aerodynamics and in particular on the measurement of fuselage and nacelle aerodynamic effects. Deep investigations have concerned the evaluation of fuselage and nacelle effect on lift distribution along wing span, fundamental for the evaluation of certification loads.