TL 4000
At the international airshow AERO Friedrichshafen 2009, we made a first public presentation of our latest project, a new fourseater aircraft TL-4000. We introduced a ground demonstrator at our stand and plan the first prototype flight to take place within two years.
This project has been realized with financial support of the Czech state budget through Ministry of Trade and Industry and has arisen in the coorporation of TL-ULTRALIGHT s.r.o., ČVUT Prague - Faculty of mechanical engineering – Department of Aerospace Engineering and Vanessa Air spol s.r.o.
The project has highly benefited from using virtual 3D computer models, CAD/CAM software and FEM calculations. Thanks to these methods we managed to achieve higher precision of aircraft shapes and of all structure elements which helped us to speed up the developement works on the new airplane.
3D CAD model of the airplane showing the basic structure
TL – 4000 technical description
TL-4000 is a single-engine four-seat low-wing plane with fixed tricycle undercarriage.
FUSELAGE: fuselage is designed as a shell reinforced by bulkheads and 95% is made from composit materials. At the front part of fuselage, engine unit is situated on its enginemount under removable cowling. Behind a firewall you will find a spacious cabin which comfortably accommodates 4 crew members.
The cabin is entered by a couple of large side door shaped to allow very easy and comfortable entry and exit of all crew. There are main wing hinges and main undercarriage legs under the floor accessible from the cabin. Behind the crew cabin you will find roomy luggage compartment accessible by a separate door on the fuselage left side. Hinges of horizontal fin, elevator and rudder control are situated at the rear of the fuselage.
mesh model of a fuselage structure used for strength FEM (final element method) calculations
3D CAD model of a basic cabin interior disposition
WING: wing is of a trapezoidal layout with a span of 11m. The main construction materials are again glass or carbon materials. JEC 15 is used as a root airfoil and JDK 13 as a wing tip airfoil. The wing is aerodynamicly twisted at the angle of 1°. Wing dihedral angel is 6°, wing set up angle is 2, 5°. Wing tips are finished with a small aerodynamic winglet. Wing is designed with two spars and these have semibeam ends inside the fuselage. Aircraft wing is equipped with Fowler flap, the lenght is 3, 02m. The flap is split into inner and outer part in its main aerodynamic chord. During its release the flap moves on spheric face and the complicated kinematics is supported by three structural and sliding-block guides. Beside the split flap the wing is equipped with airelon with trim tab set up by servo engine. At the root part of the wing there is a integral fuel tank, each with the capacity of 117 litres (total fuel capacity is 234 litres).
landing configuration of the wing (flaps deflection 38°)
FEM strength analysis of a Fowler flap sliding-blockguide
TAIL - a clasic concept with simple vertical and horizontal tail fin. Elevator is split into right and left half. Vertical fin is a part of a fuselage shell. Elevator is equipped with servo controlled trim tab.
UNDERCARRIAGE - tricycle design with controlled front wheel. Front landing gear leg is embedded into the bulkhead. Laminate spring brackets of the main gear are attached to the fuselage bulkhead. The main wheels are equipped with brakes.
TL – 4000 front view
TL – 4000 rear view
computer ergonomic analysis was used during designing the cabin interior
One of our main goals throughout the whole development process was a maximum time and manpower savings.Therefore all moulds were made by a huge 5-axis milling cutter. The basis for their production were computer 3D models of the airplane.
completion of the ground demonstrator in TL-Ultralight development workshop
ground demonstrator of TL – 4000 airplane at TL-Ultralight stand at AERO Friedrichshafen 2009
