VALIDATING THE AERODYNAMICS: NOEMI Wind Tunnel Testing at KTH

A brief presentation of the test and the key takeaways, by Kenzo Sasaki, PhD and Head of flight physics | Kristian Kierulf, Head of Subscale

WHY WE TESTED
NOEMI is a clean-sheet aircraft, designed from the ground up as a fully electric, amphibious seaplane. That means aerodynamic efficiency matters - a lot.

Wind tunnel testing allows us to:

Verify lift, drag and stability characteristics
Validate performance across different configurations and angle-of-attack ranges
Compare simulated results with measured data, calibrating our tools and methods
Identify optimisation opportunities before committing to full-scale hardware
Collect reliable data to be used in the company's simulator for an accurate representation of the airplane dynamics

In short: to make sure the physics work, not just on paper, but in reality.

WHAT WE TESTED

The campaign focused on a high-fidelity scale model representing NOEMI’s core aerodynamic configuration. The tests covered:

Highlift configuration optimization
Cruise and takeoff/landing configurations relevant to seaplane operations
Key control and stability characteristics
Flow visualizations

This data feeds directly into our performance models, flight simulation and design freeze decisions.

KEY FINDINGS

The results confirmed that NOEMI’s aerodynamic concept performs as intended. Measured data aligned closely with our simulations, giving us strong confidence in:

The overall aerodynamic efficiency of the configuration
Highlift behavior leading to excellent takeoff and landing performance
Stability and control margins

Just as importantly, the tests highlighted where further refinements can deliver additional gains, exactly what this phase is meant to do.

WHAT THIS MEANS GOING FORWARD

Wind tunnel testing is a critical de-risking step on the path to flight. The data from KTH now informs:

Final design optimisation
Full-scale prototype development
Flight test planning and certification dialogue

It’s another concrete step toward building a safe, efficient and certifiable aircraft, and toward first flight.

This is how we build NOEMI: deliberately, transparently and backed by data.