Altair Enhances Aerodynamics Capabilities with Acquisition of Research in Flight

In a move that significantly bolsters its aerodynamic analysis offerings, Altair has acquired Research in Flight, the developer of the groundbreaking FlightStream® software. This strategic acquisition integrates FlightStream®, known for its exceptional capabilities in the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) arena, into Altair’s extensive suite of simulation tools, marking a pivotal advancement in aerodynamic research and applications across multiple sectors.

Altair acquired Research in Flight, forging a new path for aerodynamic analysis and pushing the the boundaries of modern computational techniques

“Our growth in the aerospace, defense, and surrounding industries has accelerated in recent years through our best-in-class computational intelligence solutions,” said James R. Scapa, founder and chief executive officer, Altair. “The integration of FlightStream® into our portfolio will enhance our offering with its specialized, modern, and efficient approach to meet the increasingly complex customer demands in these industries, including the urban air mobility and eVTOL sectors.”

FlightStream® is recognized for its cutting-edge panel methods aerodynamic solver which allows for a comprehensive analysis of flow problems across a diverse range of applications. With a modernized graphical user interface, the software enables engineers to navigate complex aerodynamic challenges efficiently. It includes specialized toolboxes like Solver Sweeper, Stability & Control, and API scripting, enhancing its capability to rapidly estimate aircraft performance and conduct extensive aerodynamic studies.

“We are proud to be a standard tool in the aircraft designer’s toolbox,” said Vivek Ahuja, co-founder, Research in Flight. “Joining Altair will allow us to scale and reach countless engineers seeking best-in-class, powerful, and specialized tools for faster design iterations.”

FlightStream® offers an integrated workflow from design to analysis, simplifying the aerodynamic analysis process considerably. Its capabilities extend from handling native and external CAD files for capturing engineering designs to providing advanced meshing tools that create watertight models without the need for volumetric meshing. The proprietary surface-vorticity solver of FlightStream® ensures high-fidelity results at reduced computational costs.

Additionally, FlightStream® is adept at integrating seamlessly with various CAD/CAE tools, supporting multiple file formats for import and export. This includes direct mesh imports and the ability to transfer solution results using formats like Tecplot and ParaView. For structural analysis, it can export detailed aerodynamic force or pressure distributions, ensuring smooth integration with structural analysis software such as Abaqus and MSC Nastran.

Research in Flight has established itself as a key player in the field with FlightStream® being approved for use by prominent institutions like the United States Air Force and NASA, highlighting its reliability and effectiveness in critical applications.

With this acquisition, Altair not only expands its capabilities in simulation technology but also reinforces its commitment to driving innovation in aerodynamics, offering an integrated, efficient solution that meets the evolving needs of industries pushing the boundaries of speed and efficiency.

Tags: Altair, FlightStream

Category: Altair

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