Morphing Aileron Research within the HERWINGT Project

How can we optimize aircraft design to achieve greater efficiency and performance? Within the HERWINGT project, Alessandro De Gaspari from the Department of Aerospace Science and Technology at Politecnico di Milano explores this question through the multi-objective design optimization of a morphing aileron for hybrid electric regional aircraft. This innovative research aims to enhance aerodynamic performance and improve energy efficiency in future aircraft designs. To learn more about this cutting-edge work, you can download the presentation slides here.

Major Milestone for the HERWINGT Project

GKN Fokker has reached a significant milestone in the Clean Aviation HERWINGT project with the recent delivery of the Automatic Fibre Placement (AFP) lay-up tool. This tool will support the development of a Laser AFP in-situ consolidation (ISC) process for the Lower Cover of the Outer Wing Box (OWB). The innovative process enables the co-consolidation of stringers and skin in a single “one-shot” ISC lay-up.

The AFP tool was designed and manufactured by Grunewald GmbH & Co. KG as a self-heated system, while the stringers—produced using Continuous Compression Moulding (CCM) technology—were supplied by XELIS GmbH, part of AVANCO Composites.

In the coming months, production trials will begin in preparation for the manufacturing of the full-scale OWB Lower Cover, which will be assembled and tested by Leonardo.

HERWINGT Consortium’s Annual Review Meeting 2025

The HERWINGT consortium convened at Clean Aviation's Brussels headquarters for their Annual Review Meeting. Concluding on March 28, the event saw reviewers lauding the consortium's dedicated efforts. HERWINGT partners showcased significant progress on the demonstration catalog, underscoring their commitment to innovation and excellence.

Key Technological Advances and Research Areas: The HERWINGT consortium has made significant strides in various key technological areas. This includes detailed descriptions, targets, requirements, and innovations, with progress measured against the state-of-the-art (SoA). Certification aspects are addressed where relevant. The current status highlights advancements in the Technology Readiness Level (TRL) plan, alongside identified issues, risks, and the outlook for upcoming steps.
Some of the discussion topics were the following:

• Full-scale Outer Wing Box
• Flap Demonstrator
• Thermoset Leading Edge (LE) Multifunctional
• Multifunctional Strut
• End-to-End Impact Detection SHM System
• Aeroservoelastic testing on high aspect ratio wing scaled half model
• New Fuel System Integration
• Induction Heating Ice Protection System
• Integrated Fuel Vent System
• Morphing Trailing Edge Flap
• Morphing Aileron

Introducing the HERWINGT Video Series – Season 1 “Meet the researchers” Episode 1

The first episode of the HERWINGT video series has been launched, kicking off Season 1: "Meet the Researchers." In this episode, Joost Koopman, leader of the 'Technology Enablers' work package, outlines the scope and objectives of this critical component of the HERWINGT project, highlighting its role in advancing aerospace innovation.

Joining him is Gijs Brouwer, Associate Research Engineer at GKN Fokker, who introduces the first featured technology: in-situ consolidation through laser-assisted Automated Fiber Placement (AFP), a promising advancement in composite manufacturing.
Don’t miss this insightful conversation on the technologies shaping the future of aviation. Watch the episode and subscribe to the HERWINGT YouTube channel to stay updated on upcoming releases.

Meet the Researchers – Episode 2: Morphing Wing Innovation

The second episode of our "Meet the Researchers" series is now live! This edition features Alessandro De Gaspari, Associate Professor at Politecnico di Milano and task leader in the "Technology Enablers" work package, coordinated by GKN Fokker.
Politecnico di Milano brings deep expertise in morphing wing technologies, and in this episode, we explore a groundbreaking development: a morphing aileron that changes shape rather than simply rotating, offering a new level of aerodynamic efficiency and control. Currently, the team is constructing a full-scale prototype for wind tunnel testing, marking a major step toward real-world application.

Learn more in their related publication here, and watch the episode here.

HERWINGT Featured in CompositesWorld Magazine

The HERWINGT project has been spotlighted in CompositesWorld magazine, highlighting its pioneering work in thermoplastic composites and adaptive wing technologies. The article, titled "Advancing Thermoplastic Composite Primary Structure and Morphing Wings", features insights from key project contributors:

• Mª Isabel Martín (FIDAMC)
• Miriam Agúndez (Airbus Defence and Space)
• Xavier Carrillo Córcoles and Jurij Sodja (TU Delft | Aerospace Engineering)
• Sergio Ricci (Politecnico di Milano, Department of Aerospace Science and Technology)

In an in-depth interview with Ginger Gardiner, Senior Editor at CompositesWorld, the team discusses the project’s innovative approach to next-generation aerospace structures, pushing the boundaries of sustainability, performance, and design flexibility. Read the full article here.

A Sneak Peek at HERWINGT’s Demonstrators

The HERWINGT project is reaching a major milestone as its demonstrators begin to take shape, marking a significant step forward in the journey toward next-generation sustainable aviation. Key achievements include the delivery of design principles, the completion of Preliminary Design Reviews by mid-2024, and the finalization of Critical Design Reviews by the end of 2024.

From the Centre Wing Box to the Morphing Trailing Edge, and from Thermoset and Thermoplastic Leading Edges to the Induction Ice Protection System, these demonstrators are nearly ready to take flight, both literally and figuratively. Each component reflects the project’s commitment to innovation, efficiency, and environmental responsibility.

Stay tuned for Issue 3 of the HERWINGT Newsletter, which will be dedicated entirely to these groundbreaking demonstrators.

Meet the Researchers – Episode 3: Morphing Trailing Edge Flap

The third episode of the "Meet the Researchers" series is now live. In this installment, we speak with Maria Chiara Noviello, PhD, a Research Engineer in the Adaptive Structures Division at CIRA – the Italian Aerospace Research Centre, and demonstrator leader for the "Technology Enablers" work package, coordinated by GKN Fokker.

This episode focuses on the design and manufacturing of a morphing trailing edge flap, a key innovation in adaptive aerospace structures. For those interested in exploring the topic further, the CIRA team has recently published two insightful papers:

• “Trade-Off Conceptual Design of a Camber Morphing Flap for the Next Generation Hybrid Electrical Aircraft Across the HERWINGT Project”
• “Design and Optimization of a Compliant Morphing Trailing Edge for High-Lift Generation”

Enjoy the video!

Stay tuned as HERWINGT continues to push the boundaries of aerospace innovation, leading the way to a greener future! 
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The project is supported by the Clean Aviation Joint Undertaking and its members.​

Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or Clean Aviation Joint Undertaking. Neither the European Union nor Clean Aviation JU can be held responsible for them.