"We want to use our knowledge to rapidly advance climate-compatible aviation - an important industry in Europe. DLR can act as a bridge between research, small and medium-sized enterprises and industry, and so we are making our expertise available in the knowledge that together we can really make a difference," said Bjorn Nagel, Head of the DLR Institute of System Architectures in Aeronautics.
Currently featuring seven aircraft designs, the Digital Hangar presents models with seating capacities from 9 to 250 passengers and ranges spanning 600 to 4630 kilometers. The designs incorporate various propulsion approaches, from traditional and synthetic fuels to hydrogen. Each aircraft is summarized in a user-friendly card format, offering key data points, distinctive features, and outstanding technical hurdles. Visitors can also manipulate 3D models to examine exterior structures from multiple perspectives. Several of the featured concepts stem from DLR's EXACT initiative, one of the most extensive research efforts into sustainable, commercially viable aviation. EXACT integrates expertise from twenty DLR institutes to assess the full life cycle of future aircraft across diverse propulsion methods.
The DLR-F25 model, a medium-haul aircraft designed for synthetic fuel operation, stands out as a benchmark for environmentally friendly aviation technologies. It features folding wingtips to boost aerodynamic performance-a design already under evaluation by leading aircraft manufacturers. Meanwhile, the D150-BWB (Blended Wing Body) concept, with its wide fuselage and twin top-mounted engines, promises superior aerodynamics, quieter engines, and expanded cargo space, though it still faces challenges in passenger comfort and structural optimization.
"The Digital Hangar is like a library for different configurations and will be continuously expanded. DLR's ability to offer end-to-end modelling in aviation is unique worldwide," explained Nagel. DLR's holistic approach digitally integrates aerodynamic surfaces, internal structures, and propulsion choices into cohesive system models, ensuring that all design elements and their interactions are accurately represented.
DLR's leadership in digital aircraft development is anchored in CPACS (Common Parametric Aircraft Configuration Schema), a framework that has evolved over two decades to connect multidisciplinary aspects of aircraft design. Initially a modest internal project, CPACS now supports the modeling of aircraft, helicopters, propulsion systems, environmental impacts, and even entire fleets. "CPACS describes the characteristics of aeroplanes, helicopters, engines and climate impacts, and even includes entire fleets. Workflows can also be analysed," noted Nagel. "A CPACS data set contains everything we need for a comprehensive aircraft design and the available fields continue to grow. We recently added descriptions of onboard systems such as air conditioning and flight control."
Every aircraft showcased in the Digital Hangar was developed using CPACS, underscoring the platform's vital role in advancing collaboration and innovation across the aviation sector.
Related Links
Digital Hangar
Aerospace News at SpaceMart.com
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