TRIcEPS aims at fulfilling all the requirements of the JTI-CS2-2018-CfP08-FRC-01-21, “Development of integrated engine air intake and protection systems for Tilt Rotor” by designing, manufacturing, testing and qualifying the air intakes and their integrated engine protection system for the NextGenCTR technology demonstrator, contributing to meet the goals of the CS2JU FRC WP1. The proposed engine protection system is geared on two key enabling technologies: • a removable thermoelectric ice protection system based on the heater layer technology. This is already under development on the blade of the NextGenCTR and on the wing of the regional aircraft; • a vortex tubes filter for protecting the engine from ingestion of particles in harsh environment. The air intake will be equipped with a bypass for operation in clean flow and a compressor washing system. The choice of a vortex tubes instead of a barrier filter is key in TRIcEPS. This solution, despite providing 1-to-2% lower particle separation efficiency, allows for: • full self-cleaning capabilities, thus not requiring maintenance (i.e. fit and forget approach); • stable pressure drop in brownout operation, resulting in no need of emergency bypass actuation which would expose the engine to the harsh environment; • significantly reduced icing issues; • easier flight certification path, according to FAA; resulting in the best technical compromise for the NextGenCTR considering its mission profile. Moreover, this choice does not to infringe IPRs on tilt rotor air intake (as per patenting activities by Bell Helicopters on barrier filter), thus securing the position of Leonardo with respect to the future market. TRIcEPS will deliver the air intake, its engine protection system and all the relevant sub-systems at TRL 7, supplying Leonardo with the reference technical solution for engine protection of the NextGenCTR, strengthening the competitiveness of the European rotorcraft industry.

In the JTI Clean Sky 2, the Fast Rotorcraft Project (FRC) aims at demonstrating that the compound rotorcraft configuration opens up to new mobility roles that neither conventional helicopters nor fixed wing aircraft can currently cover. These advanced rotorcraft concepts aim at high cruise speed, low fuel consumption and further benefits for operators as well as the society. The 4 doors will be developed in order to provide flightworthy flush & lightweight doors for an unpressurized Fast Rotorcraft demonstrator. The applicants are proposing latest state-of-the-art FRP composite technologies & design methods as well as support the topic manager up to test & certification documentation as well as a flight test survey. The major challenges include the development of a preliminary concept from concepts up to flightworthy demonstrators at TRL6 for all four types of FRC doors. Pivotal questions relate to material selection, production methods as well as quality assurance in the context of innovation & sustainability in the aeronautical branche.