Abstract:

Recently, a Falcon 20 aircraft donated by the Spanish Air and Space Force (in Spanish Ejercito del Aire, EA) has arrived at the Campus “Fábrica de Armas – Toledo” of the University of Castilla – La Mancha. Located on a platform between two buildings, the aircraft is becoming a distinctive element that arouses interest in visiting the campus. However, it also makes possible the creation of a multipurpose teaching laboratory that covers many of the thematic areas in engineering training.

Such a platform will allow for the development of demonstrative and participatory work in areas such as materials and structures, propulsion systems, fuels and other service fluids, generation and distribution of electrical energy, electronic and communications equipment, and even areas related to environmental pollution or waste recycling processes.

Many tasks must be carried out in a proposed duration of two years. For the first year, cleaning, bracing to the ground and external conditioning of the aircraft together to the laying of a three-phase electrical line for the aircraft energization will be the priority tasks. These constitute the main part of the enhancement as a distinctive element of the campus.

The rest of the tasks, during the second year, are aimed at internal adaptation for teaching use:
- Cleaning of the interior of the aircraft.
- Disassembly of the necessary panels to reveal the structure of the fuselage and the pneumatic, hydraulic and electrical lines that show the interior construction of the aircraft.
- Installation of methacrylate sheets to protect the part of the structure that must be left visible.
- Review and repair, when necessary, the onboard instrumentation and communications equipment.
- Acquisition of an aircraft “ground power unit (GPU)” to provide electrical power to the navigation and communication devices in both, alternating and direct current.

The GPU will adapt the usual three-phase electrical supply (400V 50Hz) to the voltage and frequency used by the aircraft equipment.

The School of Industrial and Aerospace Engineering of Toledo (in Spanish Escuela de Ingeniería Industrial y Aeroespacial, EIIA) attempts with these actions to take a big step up in quality for the teaching practices of not only the Degree in Aerospace Engineering but also of Electrical and Electronics and Automation Degrees.

Keywords:

Aircraft, multipurpose laboratory, engineering degrees.