Gliding Science Club of the Silesian University of Technology at the Aviation Fair in Friedrichschafen
Operating at the Faculty of Transport and Aviation Engineering of the Silesian University of Technology - the Gliding Science Club of the Silesian University of Technology, visited the world's largest AERO fair dedicated to general aviation. The event took place in the German Friedrichschafen on April 19th -22nd , 2023.
The Fair was attended by over five hundred exhibitors from around the world, offering gliders, gyroplanes, helicopters, drones, ultralight and tourist aircraft with piston, turboprop and jet engines.
Participation in the fair is an opportunity for students to learn about the latest trends in aviation.
- Members of the Gliding Scientific Circle are students of Air Navigation, i.e. they are future professional pilots. The aviation fair is a great opportunity for us to gain many valuable contacts in the industry, talk to engineers and learn about new technologies. A large part of the exhibitors are the best specialists from whom you can learn a lot, get inspiration for scientific research or establish cooperation - said Michał Sujkowski, a second-year student at WTiIL (The Faculty of Transport and Aviation Engineering) and Aviation and Space Engineering.
The chance to visit the cabin of luxury planes, which in the near future may become the workplace of current students was also a unique opportunity. This not only gave the chance to observe the similarities and differences between HPA (High Performance Aircraft) and training aircraft. The fair was also attended by companies involved in the development and production of aviation fuels.
- One of the companies from the fuel industry present at the fair was the Polish company Warter Aviation, which deals with the research and development of modern aviation fuels and their distribution. During the fair, we were invited by a representative of this company to a short presentation of the research results and the flagship WA UL 91 fuel, which was compared with car petrol 98/95 (also used in aviation engines) currently available on the market and E10 petrol - said Miłosz Gondek - student I year of second-cycle studies at WTiIL in Katowice.
Manufacturers of high-performance light and ultralight aircraft, which are becoming more and more popular every year, also presented at the fair. – A large number of modern aircraft, their concepts and prototypes were presented, which were characterized by the optimization of aerodynamic structures and weight reduction through the use of modern construction materials. The leaders in the materials used were composite materials, such as glass fibre and carbon fibre, characterized by low weight while maintaining high mechanical strength - said Marcin Kawaler, first year student of second-degree studies at WTiIL in Katowice.
The fair also showed the impact of new solutions focusing on low emission of harmful substances. One of the eleven halls has been fully devoted to low-emission units. In the centre of the hall were two companies presenting prototype hydrogen-powered electric motors. The Swiss company Cellsius has presented a prototype of the H2 hydrogen engine. - The most interesting attraction was undoubtedly the stand of the Würzburg-Schweinfurt University of Technology, which exhibited a model of the Taifun 17 motor glider with a hydrogen installation powering the electric motor. Hydrogen-powered planes already exist, but they are large twin-engine machines carrying around 10 passengers. Meanwhile, the Tajfun 17 is a two-seater motor glider that could be approved for use by individual users in the future. The development of hydrogen-powered aircraft is particularly important because, compared to electric aircraft powered by lithium batteries, we do not have to wait for the battery to recharge. The hydrogen tank can be filled in a time similar to filling the tank with standard aviation fuel, said Adam Banaś, a first-year student of second-cycle studies at WTiIL in Katowice.
Another interesting solution in the field of innovative drives in sports aviation was presented by AdvanTec GmbH, demonstrating a project called SafeBatt2fly at the fair. – It is a modular battery system designed for applications in gliders or ultralight aircraft. This concept boasts two innovative solutions in the field of energy management in an electric aircraft. Firstly, operating parameters and data coming from individual system modules are transmitted to control devices wirelessly, reducing weight and increasing reliability. In addition, a modern redundancy system has been developed to ensure safe operation of the system, even in the event of a failure of individual modules. Flight tests using the above system are scheduled for mid-2023. In addition to the presentation of the SafeBatt2Fly project, AdvanTec GmbH also demonstrated a glider with a hybrid drive implemented as part of the E-ROP project - added Mateusz Jawień, first year student of second-degree studies at WTiIL in Katowice.
The AERO Aviation Fair in Friedrichshafen, Germany was held from 19 to 22 April 2023. It was attended by students from the Gliding Science Club of the Silesian University of Technology, supervised by pilot Dr Eng. Miroslaw Jemielniak.
More information about the Fair on the website: AERO Friedrichshafen | April 17 - 20, 2024 (aero-expo.com) .
