With 10 aircraft and helicopters, DLR's Flight Experiments (FX) Facility operates the largest civilian fleet of research aircraft in Europe. The Facility provides support to internal and external customers during the planning, execution and post-processing of scientific research missions focusing on flight research and airborne science. These research missions either use the aircraft as a carrier platform for scientific equipment or as a research object in aeronautical research.
Flight Experiments facility
DLR's fleet of research aircraft
The DLR Flight Experiments Facility, which is located in Braunschweig and Oberpfaffenhofen, is responsible for the deployment and utilisation of DLR’s fleet of highly-modified research aircraft. These aircraft are themselves the subject of aeronautical research – for example in the fields of aerodynamics, aeroelasticity, flight control and flight guidance. They are also used as platforms for the installation of scientific instruments for atmospheric research and Earth observation.
ATRA at low altitude over the Magdeburg Cochstedt Airport
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2/10,
Image:
DLR/Marek Kruszewski (CC-BY 3.0).
ATRA at low altitude over the Magdeburg Cochstedt Airport
The DLR ATRA research aircraft flies at around 15 metres above the airport grounds with its landing gear retracted.
DLR's DO 228-212 research aircraft
The DO 228-212 is primarily used for remote sensing, but also for marine and atmospheric research.
Research aircraft
With a focus on research into aircraft and utilising these, the facility is located in Braunschweig and Oberpfaffenhofen. The main user institutes are located at these sites, which ensures continuous access to the experimental facilities, particularly during the preparation phases for campaigns and missions.
In-Flight-Simulator EC 135 FHS
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5/10,
Image:
DLR (CC-BY 3.0)
In-Flight-Simulator EC 135 FHS
EC 135 (FHS), Flying Helicopter Simulator, is a unique, advanced airborne testbed and is designed to allow the in-flight evaluation of new control technologies, cockpit designs, and man-machine interfaces in a real environment and with the pilot in the loop. It is based on an EC 135 helicopter that is refitted with fly-by-light technology, smart actuators, high speed processors, state-of-the-art sensors, and advanced, programmable display systems.
Flying auditorium 'Cessna 208B Grand Caravan'
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6/10,
Image:
DLR (CC-BY 3.0)
Flying auditorium 'Cessna 208B Grand Caravan'
The Cessna C208B Grand Caravan (registration D-FDLR) was converted into a flying auditorium by the German Aerospace Center's (DLR) Oberpfaffenhofen flight facility.
BO 105 flying in the quarry
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7/10,
Image:
DLR (CC-BY 3.0)
BO 105 flying in the quarry
DLR BO 105 research helicopter in flight above the lake at the base of the quarry.
Dornier Do 228-101 research aircraft (registration D-CODE)
The Dornier Do 228-101 research aircraft (registration D-CODE) is used by the German Aerospace Center (Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt; DLR) for a range of experiments.
DLR Flight Facility Oberpfaffenhofen
The DLR Flight Facility Oberpfaffenhofen is Europe’s largest operator of research aircraft for atmospheric research and earth observation.
DLR at a glance
Locations and Offices
Facts / Institutes
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Flight Experiments facility: number of PhD students (2018)
1 -
2018
1
Facts / Institutes
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Flight Experiments facility: number of publications – 68 percent of open access (2014 to 2018)
19,928 -
number of publications of open access between 2014 and 2018 (68 percent)19,919
-
number of publications of non-open access between 2014 and 201819,99
Facts / Institutes
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Flight Experiments facility: number of journal contributions from 2014 to 2018 (83 percent of open access)
2,1012 -
number of non-open access journal contributions (2014 to 2018)2,102
-
number of open access journal contributions (2014 to 2018)2,1010
