It has been recognized by the European Union (EU) that the survival of the Aeronautical Industries of Europe in the highly competitive World Aviation Market is strongly dependent on such factors as time-to-market of a new or derivative aircraft and on its manufacturing costs but also on the achievement of a competitive technological advantage by which an increased market share can be gained. Cooperative research is therefore continuously encouraged and co-financed by the European Union in order to strengthen the scientific and technological base of the Aeronautical Industries thus facilitating the future design and manufacture of civil air craft products and providing the technological edge needed for survival. Targets of research within Area 3, Aeronautics, of the Industrial and Materials Technology Programme (1991 - 1993) have been identified to be aircraft efficiency, cost effectiveness and environmental im pact. Concerning aircraft efficiency - relevant to the present research - a reduction in aircraft drag of 10010, a reduction in aircraft fuel consumption of 30010 and a reduction in airframe, en gine and system weight of 20% are envisaged. Meeting these objectives has, of course, also a strong positive impact on the environment. In order to further technology, the philosophy is to avoid spreading the available resources too thinly and rather concentrate on the feasibility demonstration of a limited number of tech nologies of high economic and industrial impact.
