C.G.M. Vistisen
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High-speed Unmanned General-purpose Observatory (HUGO)
Reusable test platform for high-speed aeroelastic research
Bachelor thesis
(2026)
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A. Arends Martinez, V. Byreddy, G. Castro Lima da Silva, T. Čokonaj, P. Dimitrova, A. Gheorghiu, M. Gryszka, A. Janeček, H.M. Skrobanek, C.G.M. Vistisen, S. Giovani Pereira Castro, J. Iori, M. Radaelli
This report details the design, engineering, and commercial feasibility of the High-speed Unmanned General-purpose Observatory (HUGO), a 50 kg modular transonic flying laboratory. HUGO aims to address the gap between scale wind-tunnel testing and full-scale flight validation. Operating primarily at Mach 0.75, HUGO bypasses the wall-interference limitations of conventional transonic wind tunnels and the severe safety risks associated with manned flight testing. To meet its experimental objectives, the finalized airframe features a high-wing, T-tail configuration with a modular wing, canard and empennage ports and retractable steel landing gear. A defining feature of the platform is its customizable "Planform Envelope," which allows clients to interchange main wing configurations with aspect ratios ranging from 5 to 27, as well as various sweeps, chords and thickness profiles. To cost-effectively produce in low volumes, while maximizing structural efficiency, the airframe utilizes a composite monocoque structure capable of safely withstanding ultimate load factors of up to 9g. Propulsion is provided by twin fuselage-mounted JetCat P100-RX-BL micro-turbines, enabling HUGO to execute a 30-minute nominal mission that includes a five-minute Mach 0.75 test segment at FL270. Because high-fidelity data collection is the core value proposition of a flying laboratory, the aircraft is equipped with a comprehensive payload suite, including dual LIDAR wing deflection sensors, 16 surface-mounted strain gauges, and 6-axis load cells, to isolate and measure aerodynamic forces. Commercially, HUGO targets a €14.2 million Serviceable Obtainable Market within the Dutch wind tunnel testing ecosystem and is projected to operate profitably at a rate of €25,000 per flight day. Operations will be based out of Den Helder Airport under the EASA SC-Light-UAS High-risk classification, with regulatory compliance maintained through the simultaneous acquisition of a Type Certificate and Design Organisation Approval (DOA), which allows internal certification of modifications made to the aircraft on a per experiment basis.
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This report details the design, engineering, and commercial feasibility of the High-speed Unmanned General-purpose Observatory (HUGO), a 50 kg modular transonic flying laboratory. HUGO aims to address the gap between scale wind-tunnel testing and full-scale flight validation. Operating primarily at Mach 0.75, HUGO bypasses the wall-interference limitations of conventional transonic wind tunnels and the severe safety risks associated with manned flight testing. To meet its experimental objectives, the finalized airframe features a high-wing, T-tail configuration with a modular wing, canard and empennage ports and retractable steel landing gear. A defining feature of the platform is its customizable "Planform Envelope," which allows clients to interchange main wing configurations with aspect ratios ranging from 5 to 27, as well as various sweeps, chords and thickness profiles. To cost-effectively produce in low volumes, while maximizing structural efficiency, the airframe utilizes a composite monocoque structure capable of safely withstanding ultimate load factors of up to 9g. Propulsion is provided by twin fuselage-mounted JetCat P100-RX-BL micro-turbines, enabling HUGO to execute a 30-minute nominal mission that includes a five-minute Mach 0.75 test segment at FL270. Because high-fidelity data collection is the core value proposition of a flying laboratory, the aircraft is equipped with a comprehensive payload suite, including dual LIDAR wing deflection sensors, 16 surface-mounted strain gauges, and 6-axis load cells, to isolate and measure aerodynamic forces. Commercially, HUGO targets a €14.2 million Serviceable Obtainable Market within the Dutch wind tunnel testing ecosystem and is projected to operate profitably at a rate of €25,000 per flight day. Operations will be based out of Den Helder Airport under the EASA SC-Light-UAS High-risk classification, with regulatory compliance maintained through the simultaneous acquisition of a Type Certificate and Design Organisation Approval (DOA), which allows internal certification of modifications made to the aircraft on a per experiment basis.