Aeronautics

Guiding concepts

The Electric Aircraft
The demand for air transport is on the rise. At the same time, there is an ever-increasing call from society at large to significantly reduce the impact of air transport on the environment and climate.
The Commercial Aircraft
Passenger numbers for global air travel have been rising steadily for many years. The number of passenger kilometres flown worldwide doubles every 15 years.
The Urban Air Mobility
Whether in urban or sparsely populated areas, new and highly automated types of aircraft are set to play an ever-increasing role in global passenger and cargo transport over the coming decades.
The Rescue Helicopter 2030
Future rescue helicopters are expected to be able to reach their destination quickly, safely, quietly and flexibly – around the clock, regardless of weather conditions and over long distances.
The Efficient Air Transport
The EU's vision for air transport, Flightpath 2050, sets out clear requirements. In future, 90 percent of all passenger journeys within Europe should take no more than four hours door to door.
The Virtual Product
At present, the development, testing and production of new aircraft designs is associated with such considerable timing and financial risks that a mere setback could threaten the existence of entire companies.

International networks

National and International Networking

DLR aeronautics research is networked at national, European and global levels. Together with government representatives as well as partners from industry and research, and involving extensive cooperation with trade associations and interest groups, DLR is working to help shape the air transport system of the future. It plays a leading role in many areas of aeronautics research, both nationally and internationally.

Research aircraft fleet

In action worldwide – flying for research

The German Aerospace Center (DLR) operates the largest civilian fleet of research aircraft and helicopters in Europe. These highly-modified aircraft are either themselves the subject of aeronautics research or are used to observe the Earth, the ocean surfaces and the atmosphere. The aircraft are stationed at DLR’s sites in Braunschweig and Oberpfaffenhofen. This facility provides scientific services for DLR flight experiments as well as for other national and international institutions, public authorities and industrial customers.

Dossier

The electrification of aviation
Electric flight opens up a new dimension in aviation and offers unprecedented opportunities for sustainable mobility in the future. DLR is one of the pioneers in the field of electric flight. It combines fundamental and application-oriented research in this field in a way that is unique in Europe.

News / Aeronautics

Infrastructure

Large-scale research facilities
The portfolio at DLR currently comprises some 180 large-scale research facilities at 15 locations, including the polar regions. DLR also makes its large-scale facilities available to partners from industry and academia as part of its cooperative research activities.

Jobs / Aeronautics

Course paper / final thesis

Impact of contrail formation on clouds and climate in northern high latitudes

Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Oberpfaffenhofen

Publication

Brochure: DLR in facts and figures

3 MB I PDF

Institutes

Low Cost Monitor

Facts / Aeronautics

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49

Institute of System Architectures in Aeronautics: number of employees (2019)
11,38

11

Female
11,38

38

Male

Global air traffic

Aeronautics Research at DLR

The Electric Aircraft

The Commercial Aircraft

The Urban Air Mobility

The Rescue Helicopter 2030

The Efficient Air Transport

The Virtual Product

National and International Networking

In action worldwide – flying for research

The electrification of aviation

New DLR institutes will investigate solar-chemical fuels and the future of air transport

LNAS pilot assistance system enables quieter and more fuel-efficient landing approaches

Interaction between pilot and helicopter – detection, evaluation and avoidance of pilot induced oscillations

Research into flexible wing surfaces at DLR

DLR atmospheric researcher Christiane Voigt reports on the research flights of the BLUESKY mission

DLR studies the spread of viruses in aircraft and trains

Two research aircraft investigate reduced concentrations of pollutants in the air

Up to 90 percent fewer condensation trails due to reduced air traffic over Europe

The DLR/NASA Design Challenge seeks new ideas for package delivery drones in inner-city areas

Conceptual study for environment-friendly flight

DLRmagazine 164 – Rolling out the red carpet for ISTAR

Supporting small airports using virtual reality

How the digitalisation of aircraft cabins enables innovations for tomorrow's passengers

Detecting supercooled water droplets under icing conditions

Significant reduction in global and particularly German air traffic expected, with prospects for recovery

DLR researchers measure the noise generated by the impingement of engine exhaust gases on landing flaps

Optimised flight routes for climate-friendly air transport

ISTAR has its official rollout in Braunschweig

Electric flight from Mannheim to Berlin in a 19-seater aircraft

New DLR ISTAR research aircraft arrives in Braunschweig

Large-scale research facilities

Impact of contrail formation on clouds and climate in northern high latitudes

Brochure: DLR in facts and figures

Institute of Aeroelasticity

Institute of Flight Systems

Institute of Flight Guidance

Institute of Propulsion Technology

Institute of Structures and Design

Flight Experiments facility

Institute of Composite Structures and Adaptive Systems

Institute of Aerodynamics and Flow Technology

Institute of Air Transport and Airport Research

Institute of Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul

Institute of Air Transportation Systems

Institute of Atmospheric Physics

Institute of Software Methods for Product Virtualization

Institute of System Architectures in Aeronautics

Institute of System Dynamics and Control

Institute of Technical Physics

Institute of Test and Simulation for Gas Turbines

Institute of Combustion Technology

Institute of Materials Research

Low-cost airlines see widespread growth and a slight rise in prices in summer 2018

Record number of flights and moderate price rises following Air Berlin insolvency

Rapid expansion of low-cost airlines

DLR study on low cost airlines: record supply, rising competition and falling prices

Trend check for low-cost airlines – the long-haul business is taking off

Institute of System Architectures in Aeronautics: number of employees (2019)

Main menu

Chair of the DLR Executive Board is honoured with the Women in Aerospace Europe Outstanding Achievement Award 2020

DLR commences extended minimal operations

8th Industrial Days at the DLR site in Lampoldshausen

Pascale Ehrenfreund takes office as President of the IAF

Space – accessibility, diplomacy and cooperation

The DLR delegation during a visit to the JAXA Tsukuba Space Centre on 31 July 2019

Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and DLR welcome European policy-makers to Brussels