Ice Wind Tunnel

The Icing Research Wind Tunnel at GKN ATS Luton, UK facility is the result of a $0.75 million investment, and is designed to simulate the effects of icing conditions on aircraft structures and systems.

The closed circuit Icing research Wind Tunnel offers a cost effective research and testing environment for components and aerodynamic structures, which GKN ATS Luton uses to develop and test it's own ice protection systems. However, the IRWT is also offered for hire to other manufacturers, and GKN ATS Luton provides a complete design, development, testing and certification capability.

Previous external customers have included Sextant Avionique, Saab, Rolls Royce, Bell/Boeing V-22 Tiltrotor Team, British Aerospace (now BAE Systems) and GKN Westland Helicopters (now AgustaWestland). Non-aircraft structures such as shipborne or rescue / safety components can also be tested.