Case Study: Reverse Engineering

 

Europa Aircraft is one of the UKs most popular aircraft manufacturers, boasting over 1000 planes flying in six continents. Trading for nearly 20 years, Europa is renowned for supplying high performance, high specification, and low cost aircraft.

Europa’s flagship aircraft, the Europa XS is cited as one of the most versatile aircraft available as it has interchanging wings creating a true three in one aircraft (Sports Tourer, Motorglider and LSA).

To stay ahead of the competition, appeal to the modern market and offer more diverse products, Europa Aircraft needed to modify the fuselage of the Europa XS, its flagship
two seat light aircraft.

However they were limited by their legacy design models and feared any changes would result in costly and timely prototype builds and testing – money and time they wanted to spend on research and development for new innovative projects and to extend its offering to a wider market.

Europa Aircraft used Swift TG Solutions to develop 3D models of the existing Europa XS fuselage using the most up to date computer technology and reverse engineering techniques, including laser scanning. From this, the modifications have been made to the 3D models and the subsequent new products are being supplied.




“Europa is a very successful company, however, we were under no illusion that we could stay in the same place for long and get away with it. Swift TG Solutions managed the entire CAE project seamlessly and help to bring us into the 21st Century!

The use of 3D models means that we can have fun with the aircraft – making modifications without having to build costly prototypes. We are taking the company and the aircraft to a whole new level, and as such we are certain that this project will help secure Europa as one of the most innovative light aircraft designers and manufacturers” (Europa Aircraft)