The main question in the application of scaling approaches is whether one can achieve a sufficient similarity while maintaining an actual flying demonstrator made of real materials, with a realistic balance of effort and quality, and accuracy that allows the scaled results to be transferred to full-scale aircraft.
The application and immediate transfer of the theoretical knowledge and models to a real-world demonstrator that may involve many, if not all, engineering disciplines.
Technology demonstration is a critical point in the propagation of a new technology, its acceptance within the industry, and the emergence of new unidentified research questions. Scaled demonstrators can accomplish all of this at a high speed and comparatively low cost. In addition, compared to digital experiments, unknown and therefore unmodeled effects can be observed.
It is precisely the interdisciplinary discourse and perspective within SE²A that enables the holistic perspective that is sought and also needed in the development of scaled demonstrators.
