Research Commissioner Philippe Busquin received a warm welcome at ONERA’s Lille facility on 4 November 2003, meeting prominent members of the European aerospace research community and pledging continued support for their efforts. The day’s programme included some spectacular demonstrations of technological wizardry at one of Europe’s most advanced aeronautics research centres.
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| Research Commissioner Philippe Busquin welcomed at ONERA |
“Science has become a political question,” said Busquin. “One of Europe’s greatest failures has been its reluctance to increase research spending. Because of this we are being left behind by both the United States and Japan. But high-level science is crucial to meeting our policy goals and serving the needs of our citizens. Research is no longer a simple priority, it is a necessity!”
Denis Maugars, President and Chief Executive Officer of ONERA (
Office National d’Etudes et de Recherches Aérospatiales), outlined the organisation’s activities, highlighting co-operative efforts. “ONERA priority is to contribute to the setting up of the European Research Area in the aerospace community. In that context, the DLR (German Aerospace Centre) is our number one partner, but we are carrying out a large number of projects with collaborators around the world. About 15-20% of our activitiesfor civil aeronautics programmes are currently performed with EU support .”
Research in action
ONERA comprises eight sites around France. The Institute of Fluid Mechanics in Lille carries out work in four specific areas: applied aerodynamics; solid mechanics and damage mechanisms; systems control and flight dynamics; and model design and manufacture .
The Commissioner, along with EU representatives and members of the press were treated to a tour of the facility, including a demonstration of ONERA’s crash tower. Unique in Europe, the 15-metre-tall structure is used to simulate and study damage to structural components and materials with a high degree of precision.
Next, visitors watched the spectacular catapulting into flight of an advanced aircraft model within a large test laboratory, with visualisation of the wake vortex. This demonstration was followed by a presentation by the Airbus ’s Rolf Henke of ongoing work in the EU-funded AWIATOR project. AWIATOR (Aircraft Wing with Advanced Technology Operation) is investigating future wing technologies, including new ways of measuring and influencing the wake vortex, integration of very large wing tip devices (winglets), new wing deformation measurements and flight control using existing and new control surfaces.
Defence issue not to be avoided
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| Onera Crash Tower |
Research and development of military technologies represent a large part of ONERA’s annual turnover. Like others in the European defence community , ONERA has not benefited, up to now, from European support.
“There was a time when we didn’t dare say the ‘D’ word in Europe,” said Busquin. “But this is now changing. Since the Greek Presidency, a number of initiatives have been taken to move Europe in the direction of a common defence policy. This means we are recognising the importance of the work done by ONERA in the area of military research. And we are recognising that many of the technologies developed for the military have ‘dual use’ capabilities and can be transferred to important civil applications.
“This is another reason we can see the United States outdistancing the rest of the world in advanced technologies. Much of the money they put into defence spending comes back in the form of spin-off applications for ordinary citizens. We must be courageous here and face the fact that defence is also about progress.”
International co-operation
“Researchers, like artists, have always been the most mobile members of our society,” said Busquin. “Since the early days of scientific progress they have exchanged ideas and collaborated on important discoveries. This kind of networking is now more important than ever as we look towards enlargement. Certainly the Czech Republic and Romania have something to offer in terms of expertise and experience in aeronautics.”
Referring specifically to the recent EU-Russia aeronautics research workshop in Moscow, he said, “Russia is also a major partner for us and a source of immense talent and ability. One of its greatest problems right now is the redefinition of its industrial structures in the wake of privatisation, but we look forward to a long and productive research relationship with the Russians as we move forward.”
A word on ESA Astronaut Pedro Duque
“I met with Pedro when I was in Russia recently,” said Busquin, “right after his return from the International Space Station. He had his family with him and he was feeling great.”
“Is he Spanish or is he European?” called out a member of the press.
“He is Spanish,” said the Commissioner, “but he wants to be European! In all seriousness, the ESA astronauts have specifically stated in their Charta that they see themselves as symbols of the Europe of tomorrow, a single people, strong in unity. Today, as Europeans, we are still struggling to identify with each other’s accomplishments. This is why facilities like the one here in Lille and others that are carrying out fantastic work in collaboration must receive our support. Working together, we are surely among the strongest in the world, in research and specifically in the fields of aeronautics and space.”
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