2
Cover picture by Markis, 2009.
Amsterdam, 25 November, 2018 AV2E16
, 3
Contents
1. Introduction ........................................................................................................................ 4
1.1. Background .................................................................................................................. 4
1.2. Research Objectives .................................................................................................... 4
1.3. Problem Statement & Design Questions ..................................................................... 5
1.4. List of Design Requirements ....................................................................................... 6
2. Project Activities ................................................................................................................ 9
2.1. Phase 1: Orientation..................................................................................................... 9
2.2. Phase 2: Analysis and Concepts .................................................................................. 9
2.3. Phase 3: Detailed Design ........................................................................................... 10
3. Planning ............................................................................................................................ 12
4. Project Organisation ......................................................................................................... 13
4.1. Group Members ......................................................................................................... 13
4.2. Communication ......................................................................................................... 13
4.3. Team Contract ........................................................................................................... 13
4.4. Position of Chairman and Notulist ............................................................................ 13
References ................................................................................................................................ 14
Appendix I: Team Contract ...................................................................................................... 15
Appendix II: Gantt Chart .......................................................................................................... 17
Appendix III: Methodology ..................................................................................................... 19
Amsterdam, 25 November, 2018 AV2E16
, 4
1. Introduction
In this project the processes of redesigning the nose gear steering and nose gear retraction
systems of the Fokker 50 will be discussed.
1.1. Background
The Fokker 50 is a passenger plane with a two-engine drive and is the successor of the Fokker
F27 Friendship. The name of this aircraft is due to the seat capacity. The Fokker 50 can carry
about 50 passengers. In the 1980s, the Dutch aircraft manufacturer began to develop a new
aircraft. These aircraft were the Fokker 100 and Fokker 50. The entire process of the Fokker 50
encountered a lot of delays.
The F27 and the Fokker 50 seem almost identical at first glance. The only outward difference
between these aircraft are the windows, the propellers, and the landing gear. The engines of the
Fokker 50 are Pratt & Whitney Canada PW127B turboprop engines, while the F27 had a Rolls-
Royce Dart turboprop engine. This change had to do with efficiency. The Pratt & Whitney
turboprop provided a plane with a 30% better fuel consumption.
Unfortunately, latest aircraft, which were produced in the last decades of
the twentieth century, will not be beneficial in the current market. These aircraft will not satisfy
the demands of the customers, and Fokker will not be able to succeed in competing with other
aircraft manufacturers due to the outdated technology of the Fokker 100 and 50. Starting new
aircraft programmes and building new aircraft is not profitable in the short-term. Redesigning
the existing aircraft is a preferred option considering that building new aircraft and getting
aircraft certified is very expensive. Fokker, therefore, decided to redesign Fokker 100 and 50
to make a successful re-entrance into the aircraft market with demanding airlines and its fast-
changing technology. (Visscher, 2010) (Steenhuis & Eriksson, 2016)
A necessary improvement to be made is to replace the hydraulic system with a complete
electrical system. To make this possible, FT_AV2E-16 is helping Fokker to implement this
change. FT_AV2E-16 consists of a group of 4 engineering students, located at the University
of Applied Sciences in Amsterdam. The systems that Fokker would like to improve are the
retraction of the nose wheel and the nose steering system. The goal is to get both systems fully
electric while maintaining full functionality.
1.2. Research Objectives
The hydraulic nose gear retraction system has to be exchanged for a fully electric system. The
whole system must retain its controllability, functionality, and structural integrity. All changes
must be in compliance with the EASA and ICAO agreements. Due to different home build
airplanes, such as the COZY MK IV and the LongEZ, already having a fully electrical nose
retraction system, this task is realistic and doable. (EZ-Noselift, 2002)
To make the nose steering wheel fully electric the design has to be changed. The full
functionality, controllability and structural integrity must be maintained while complying with
the safety requirements and limitations that the EASA and ICAO imposed. This is a very
realistic goal that can be achieved because it has been done in the past. For example the COZY
MK IV has a nose steering wheel system that is powered by an electric energy source. That
means that the concept of a Fokker 50 with an electric nose steering wheel system is achievable.
(EZ-Noselift, 2002)
Amsterdam, 25 November, 2018 AV2E16
Cover picture by Markis, 2009.
Amsterdam, 25 November, 2018 AV2E16
, 3
Contents
1. Introduction ........................................................................................................................ 4
1.1. Background .................................................................................................................. 4
1.2. Research Objectives .................................................................................................... 4
1.3. Problem Statement & Design Questions ..................................................................... 5
1.4. List of Design Requirements ....................................................................................... 6
2. Project Activities ................................................................................................................ 9
2.1. Phase 1: Orientation..................................................................................................... 9
2.2. Phase 2: Analysis and Concepts .................................................................................. 9
2.3. Phase 3: Detailed Design ........................................................................................... 10
3. Planning ............................................................................................................................ 12
4. Project Organisation ......................................................................................................... 13
4.1. Group Members ......................................................................................................... 13
4.2. Communication ......................................................................................................... 13
4.3. Team Contract ........................................................................................................... 13
4.4. Position of Chairman and Notulist ............................................................................ 13
References ................................................................................................................................ 14
Appendix I: Team Contract ...................................................................................................... 15
Appendix II: Gantt Chart .......................................................................................................... 17
Appendix III: Methodology ..................................................................................................... 19
Amsterdam, 25 November, 2018 AV2E16
, 4
1. Introduction
In this project the processes of redesigning the nose gear steering and nose gear retraction
systems of the Fokker 50 will be discussed.
1.1. Background
The Fokker 50 is a passenger plane with a two-engine drive and is the successor of the Fokker
F27 Friendship. The name of this aircraft is due to the seat capacity. The Fokker 50 can carry
about 50 passengers. In the 1980s, the Dutch aircraft manufacturer began to develop a new
aircraft. These aircraft were the Fokker 100 and Fokker 50. The entire process of the Fokker 50
encountered a lot of delays.
The F27 and the Fokker 50 seem almost identical at first glance. The only outward difference
between these aircraft are the windows, the propellers, and the landing gear. The engines of the
Fokker 50 are Pratt & Whitney Canada PW127B turboprop engines, while the F27 had a Rolls-
Royce Dart turboprop engine. This change had to do with efficiency. The Pratt & Whitney
turboprop provided a plane with a 30% better fuel consumption.
Unfortunately, latest aircraft, which were produced in the last decades of
the twentieth century, will not be beneficial in the current market. These aircraft will not satisfy
the demands of the customers, and Fokker will not be able to succeed in competing with other
aircraft manufacturers due to the outdated technology of the Fokker 100 and 50. Starting new
aircraft programmes and building new aircraft is not profitable in the short-term. Redesigning
the existing aircraft is a preferred option considering that building new aircraft and getting
aircraft certified is very expensive. Fokker, therefore, decided to redesign Fokker 100 and 50
to make a successful re-entrance into the aircraft market with demanding airlines and its fast-
changing technology. (Visscher, 2010) (Steenhuis & Eriksson, 2016)
A necessary improvement to be made is to replace the hydraulic system with a complete
electrical system. To make this possible, FT_AV2E-16 is helping Fokker to implement this
change. FT_AV2E-16 consists of a group of 4 engineering students, located at the University
of Applied Sciences in Amsterdam. The systems that Fokker would like to improve are the
retraction of the nose wheel and the nose steering system. The goal is to get both systems fully
electric while maintaining full functionality.
1.2. Research Objectives
The hydraulic nose gear retraction system has to be exchanged for a fully electric system. The
whole system must retain its controllability, functionality, and structural integrity. All changes
must be in compliance with the EASA and ICAO agreements. Due to different home build
airplanes, such as the COZY MK IV and the LongEZ, already having a fully electrical nose
retraction system, this task is realistic and doable. (EZ-Noselift, 2002)
To make the nose steering wheel fully electric the design has to be changed. The full
functionality, controllability and structural integrity must be maintained while complying with
the safety requirements and limitations that the EASA and ICAO imposed. This is a very
realistic goal that can be achieved because it has been done in the past. For example the COZY
MK IV has a nose steering wheel system that is powered by an electric energy source. That
means that the concept of a Fokker 50 with an electric nose steering wheel system is achievable.
(EZ-Noselift, 2002)
Amsterdam, 25 November, 2018 AV2E16
