Aeronautics

Projects / Guid­ing con­cepts

Environment-friendly and economical aircrafts
Commercial aircraft of the future. The German Aerospace Center (DLR) designs and evaluates environment-friendly, economical, and comfortable commercial aircraft for the increasing air traffic.
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Future rescue helicopters will be all-weather capable and ready to operate around the clock
Flying lifesavers. DLR is developing new configurations and concepts for round-the-clock deployment of rescue helicopters.
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Autonomous air transport
Unmanned flying. Unmanned aircraft will account for an increasing share of global passenger and freight transport.
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Within DLR aeronautics research, six key concepts address the core challenges in air transport for safe and environmentally sustainable flight. They focus programmatic control on target products and do this across discipline and institute boundaries. The aim is to pursue and implement key technologies together with industry within the framework of national guiding concepts and international programmes. This aim extends to the virtual integration of an innovative aircraft.

Scientists and engineers from various DLR institutes and research disciplines work closely together on innovations for aeronautics. They cover the entire air transport system, from individual components and the technical challenges of entire aircraft to the complex interplay of air traffic. The aim is to carry out a complete life cycle and technology assessment.

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.