Aeronautics blog

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Aeronautics |

What do people think about drones?

Our team at the DLR Institute of Flight Guidance has worked with market research institute SKOPOS to conduct an extensive online survey on drones in six different EU countries. The poll forms part of the USpace4UAM project, and the results are now available. Countries surveyed include Germany, UK, Poland, Spain, Czechia and Austria, with a total of 2998 people taking part.

by Maria Stolz
Aeronautics |

Towards climate-compatible aviation – DLR is investigating the use of alternative fuels

DLR has set itself the goal of making aviation low-emission and therefore climate-compatible by driving forward all of the existing technologies – hydrogen, electric propulsion and sustainable synthetic fuels. The flying test laboratory Uplift provides the first opportunity to investigate them together and in different combinations.

by Patrick Le Clerq
Climate researchResearch aircraft
Aeronautics |

DLR researches support to commercial aircraft from co-pilots on the ground

In the future, could a co-pilot on the ground remotely support up to eight aircraft in the air at the same time? Researchers in the 'Next Generation Intelligent Cockpit' (NICo) project are addressing these and similar questions as they investigate the concept and architecture of a future, highly automated flight deck.

by Christian Niermann
Space, Aeronautics |

The beauty of microstructures

As slightly darker spots appear rather subtly in the uniformly grey image on the screen, Maike Becker moves in closer with her chair. Her eyes focus on the top right-hand corner, where barely perceptible changes in shades of grey can be seen. This is the moment the molten metal sample solidifies under the X-ray beam. Where it turns dark, the material has solidified. The experimental facility’s cooling system and the vacuum pump are humming, and a red warning light indicates that the X-ray tube is in operation. Maike Becker is not consciously aware of any of this. From now on, the process to which the researcher has dedicated her time for 10 years is underway. From now on, she is only interested in one thing – what happens in the aluminium-germanium samples that she has melted in a small furnace? With one click, she starts recording the data.

by Manuela Braun
DLR career
Aeronautics |

Making the invisible visible

Chris Willert deals with what the human eye cannot perceive. He works on the airflows that occur in and around turbines, aircraft wings, combustion chambers and compressors. And also, behind the blades of wind turbines or on road vehicles. Wherever fluids such as air or water flow around objects, measurement technologies must make the invisible visible. To do this, Chris Willert and his team in the Engine Measurement Systems Department at the Institute of Propulsion Technology have mastered a variety of methods. “Optical measurement technology as a field is very heterogeneous and has many disciplines,” he says. However, all measurements have one thing in common. The environment in which they are carried out is always very complex and usually not routine. In our blog, Willert talks about his career, his work at the Institute and in his home laboratory, where he likes to develop and try out new techniques on a small scale

by Manuela Braun
DLR career
Aeronautics |

High-tech drones and cardboard boxes for the future of humanitarian aid

Days full of excitement, little sleep and conquering the skies – that was the adventure undertaken by researchers from the German Aerospace Center (DLR) and the Dutch company Wings for Aid. They recently tested an innovative unmanned aircraft, specifically designed for the delivery of supplies, which could significantly shape the future of humanitarian aid. Together, they fought adverse conditions and explored how new technologies can contribute to life-saving operations.

by Johann Dauer
Unmanned aircraftHumanitarian aid
Aeronautics |

The life of a DLR pilot: a combination of campaign assignments and regular day-to-day tasks

Thomas Kalfas is a pilot at DLR. He has flown our HALO research aircraft over the Amazon rainforest in Brazil for the CAFE-Brazil research campaign. As he soared over the endless rainforest, the team of researchers in the cabin behind him used their instruments to study the atmospheric composition. Thomas’ day-to-day life consists of measurement flights and securing approvals, but he also carries out engineering tasks on the computer. As far as he is concerned, this variety of campaign assignments in places like Manaus and desk-based tasks in Oberpfaffenhofen are what make his job so appealing. Thomas explains how he first joined DLR’s Flight Experiments facility as a pilot and how he is currently faring in terms of work-life balance now that he is a father.

by Manuela Braun
DLR careerHALO
Aeronautics |

Gathering airborne data, even with a blocked nose

During climate research campaigns like CAFE-Brazil, Christian Mallaun is always running out of time: immediately after each flight, he provides vital data on the temperature, humidity, aircraft position and wind speeds recorded during the measurement flights. The science teams researching the chemical processes in the atmosphere above the Amazon rainforest in Brazil require this information to be able to evaluate the data collected by their own on-board instruments. That’s why Christian takes turns with his colleagues from the Measurement and Sensor Technology group at DLR's Flight Experiments facility to accompany the deployment of the HALO research aircraft. It's a job that requires both accuracy and speed but is never boring. Back at the desk at home, it's time for the detailed analysis.

by Manuela Braun
DLR careerHALO
Aeronautics |

Checking HALO to fly safely over Brazil's rainforest

Sandrine Battesti is a very precise person. And at DLR, she has the power to say no. Although such sticklers for detail could be called pedantic, in Sandrine's case it is immensely important that she is as precise as possible. After all, it is her job to check the modifications and equipment installed on our research aircraft, HALO. She is responsible for ensuring that HALO, with its pilots, scientists and all instruments, safely completes its flights over the Amazon. Without her careful scrutiny, there is no approval. If she doesn't give the green light, the plane stays on the ground. In our latest blog post, we show why her work involves copious paperwork and a great deal of responsibility.

by Manuela Braun
DLR careerHALO
Aeronautics |

Wings over the Amazon: project management for climate research

These days, Thomas Sprünken’s daily commute takes him through the urban traffic of Manaus. Outside, the temperature is around 30 degrees Celsius and humidity is over 80 percent. The project manager is on his way to the aircraft hangar at the Eduardo Gomes airport that currently houses HALO, the High Altitude and Long Range Research Aircraft designed to carry 16 climate research instruments over the tropical rainforest. Thomas is on site with a team of technicians, engineers and pilots from our Flight Experiments facility to get the CAFE-Brazil campaign off the ground. But his work – planning the HALO measurement campaign – started much earlier: read our blog post to find out how the project manager makes it all happen.

by Manuela Braun
DLR careerHALO
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