CIRA successfully completes the drop test of the NGCTR-TD demonstrator wing section

On July 22, 2026, the drop test of the wing section of the Nextgen Civil Tiltrotor – Technology Demonstrator (NGCTR-TD) was successfully conducted at the CIRA LISA facility. The test article was equipped with fuel bladders and their associated subsystems. The test was attended by personnel from Leonardo – Helicopters Division and by the ENAC representative for the CIT of the LISA test laboratory.

The activity falls within the scope of the PRORA TWING-INT project and represents a concrete example of the synergies developed with the Clean Sky 2 T-WING and DEFENDER projects, carried out in collaboration with Leonardo. These projects contributed to the development of the test article by providing the numerical modelling (Mare Group S.p.A.) and its main subcomponents: the composite-material wing section, designed by MA Group Magnaghi Aeronautica S.p.A. and manufactured by MA Group Salver S.p.A.; the fuel bladders manufactured by Aero Sekur S.p.A.; and the systems developed by Leonardo and Secondo Mona S.p.A.

Leonardo was responsible for assembling the test article and integrating it with the additional internal subsystems prior to its transfer to CIRA, where it was configured for the experimental test.

CIRA, responsible for conducting the experimental tests, first defined the test specification in collaboration with Leonardo and subsequently carried out the test in compliance with EASA CS 29.952 and MIL-DTL-27422D. Among other requirements, these standards prescribe a drop height of 50 ft (15.25 m). Post-test inspections revealed no liquid leakage, confirming the effectiveness of the fuel storage system design.

The initiative also represents a significant example of cross-functional collaboration, integrating expertise, infrastructure and results from different projects, each characterized by its own objectives and funding sources. The success of the test campaign further strengthens CIRA’s position as a reference point for the coordinated management of complex research and development initiatives and confirms the company’s ability to design, set up and conduct full-scale crash tests by bringing together multidisciplinary expertise and experimental infrastructures in support of future aeronautical and space programmes.