Aircraft design | Turgis Gaillard

Gaillard Avions et Systèmes Avancés designs innovative aircraft, assembles prototypes and carries out tests, with short cycles focused on the effects to be achieved, while fully complying with civil and military aeronautical regulations.

The men and women of Gaillard ASA are committed to meeting the challenges facing our partners — the armed forces, major manufacturers and research centers — because they are passionate about aviation, technology and high performance. But also because they are convinced of their ability to provide units deployed in theater with aircraft that enhance their operational effectiveness.

We are the heirs of our visionary designs: Gerfaut, Foudre, MIGALe, Nitrathe, AAROK. Since 2011 we have offered innovative architectures that revive the French tradition of simple, robust and inexpensive aerospace systems.

The design office

The design office is made up of the various departments needed to develop an aircraft:

preliminary projects, charged with imagining the technical solutions capable of meeting the specifications, whether they come from a formal expression of need or an opportunity identified by the teams;
aerodynamics, to determine the main technical choices for the aircraft’s external envelope; we use state-of-the-art CFD software and carry out practical tests;
architecture and loads, to define the aircraft’s structure and interior layout using state-of-the-art CAD software.
onboard systems: propulsion systems, flight controls, fuel systems, landing gear, etc., featuring hydraulic, electric, mechanical actuators, etc.;
avionics and mission systems, to enable the aircraft to fly and ensure its operational efficiency. Our experts are specialized in the integration of complex systems, which some of our ex-military personnel developed and used in operations prior to their careers with Turgis Gaillard.

Prototype assembly

The engineers and technicians in the design office work alongside the skilled production workers during all phases of aircraft manufacture, and sometimes even participate directly in assembly. Aware of the demands of production, they move forward with the design and, in return, help production to better adjust its requirements.

The teams draw on the Group’s capabilities in tooling design and manufacture, and in the production of parts and sub-assemblies to focus on aircraft assembly.

With dozens of prototype and major structural projects under their belts, our technical teams have the experience needed to meet the production challenges of a new airframe with confidence.

We have expertise in the assembly of metallic subassemblies (aluminum, titanium, steel, etc.) and composites (carbon prepreg, infusion, etc.), and the integration of aircraft systems, avionics and mission systems.

Aircraft manufacturing is Gaillard ASA's raison d'être. Our goal is always to build a prototype, and that involves everyone in the company.

Ground and flight tests

We believe in taking small steps and gaining experience gradually. To do this, we have to see what happens, and therefore get the aircraft in the air quickly. Testing is at the heart of our design process. We use the latest simulation tools, but we also set up flight tests as soon as they can teach us something about the machine.

We build, fly, test, learn, adjust. We are there to develop prototypes and adapt them to users’ needs by confronting them as soon as possible with the reality of the elements.

We rely on experienced test teams and pilots, all graduates of EPNER, the French training school for test personnel.

Airworthiness

Gaillard ASA’s teams carry out developments in compliance with European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) regulations, and oversee the airworthiness of their prototypes.