A Natural Laminar Flow (NLF) wing is considered to be one of the key developments to reduce drag in the next generation of aircraft and has the potential to provide 3-4% fuel savings.

GKN Aerospace is now taking NLF wing design and evaluation work, completed in phase one of Clean Sky, into the 'phase two' development of a ground-based structural systems demonstrator. The Company is also set to design and manufacture major components of the NLF wing flight demonstrator, due to be tested in 2014/2015.

Download GKN press release hereafter.