Discus-2c DLR research aircraft
Discus-2c DLR research aircraft
Discus-2c DLR heralds a new era in small aircraft research in almost every way. Based on a widely-used high-performance glider with an 18-metre wingspan, it is built predominantly of carbon fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP). This pioneering research glider, unique in Europe, extends its investigations well beyond mere aerodynamics, delving into areas such as flight mechanics, aeroelasticity, measurement technology, human-machine interaction and certification. Within the field of digitalisation research, the Discus-2c DLR serves as a prototype for the development of and research into a digital twin. Moreover, it acts as a benchmark aircraft for evaluating the performance of emerging glider models. Forty-eight strain gauges are located on the fuselage and wings, meticulously measuring the loads across various flight conditions. Another 22 measuring points equipped with fibre Bragg grating deliver highly precise measurements of structural deflection. The Discus also has magnetic field probes and acceleration sensors at various points on the structure, sensors on all of the control surfaces, an inertial measurement unit in the fuselage, and a nose boom with a probe to detect flow angles and speeds.
