Experience Flight Tests Hands-On: Students from TU Dresden at the DLR_Summer­_School

This year’s DLR_Summer_School took place from September 7 to 11 at the Braunschweig-Wolfsburg Research Airport. This joint event organized by the German Aerospace Center (DLR) and Germany’s aviation universities offers students the opportunity to apply theoretical knowledge directly in practice and gain an authentic insight into the work of flight test engineers.

Representing TU Dresden at the DLR_Summer_School were Noah Teferi (Transportation Engineering), Moritz Engelmann (Mechanical Engineering/Aerospace Engineering), Simon Köhler (Industrial Engineering), and Anton Moros (Industrial Engineering).

The students prepared intensively for the event well in advance. The focus was on the theoretical fundamentals of selected flight tests, aspects of flight mechanics, and data analysis using MATLAB. Using a sample dataset, they were able to gain initial experience with the systematic analysis of flight data. At the start of the DLR_Summer_School, the participants presented to one another the flight test theories they had developed.

Flight Tests with the Reims Cessna F406

The practical part of the event focused on actual flight tests. The Reims Cessna F406 D-ILAB from the Institute of Flight Control (IFF) at the Technical University of Braunschweig was used for this purpose. Accompanied by experienced flight test engineers, the students gained first-hand insight into the flight test process and took measurements during various flight maneuvers. The collected data was recorded directly on the prepared test sheets.

© Noah Teferi

The tests conducted included, among other things, determining the stall speed in different aircraft configurations, investigating dynamic longitudinal stability using the phygoid, and analyzing flight mechanics during turns. In addition, the flight data was recorded by the IFF’s measurement equipment to enable a detailed analysis at a later time.

After completing the flight tests, the students systematically analyzed the collected data in mixed groups together with participants from other universities using MATLAB. At the conclusion of the DLR_Summer_School, the groups presented and discussed their results in a plenary session.

Insights into Research and Industry

In addition to the flight experiments, the DLR_Summer_School offered numerous opportunities to learn about the research and work areas at the Braunschweig site. The DLR organized guided tours of selected institutes and facilities. A particular highlight was the opportunity to test the simulator for the DLR research helicopter EC135 FHS at the Institute of Flight Systems Engineering.

In addition, the students gained insights into the work of two institutes at TU Braunschweig: the Institute for Aircraft Propulsion and Fluid Machinery and the Institute for Fluid Mechanics. The company Aerodata also opened its facilities to the participants and offered a behind-the-scenes look. Another highlight of the program was a visit to the Remote Tower at Braunschweig-Wolfsburg Airport.

The DLR_Summer_School thus combined theoretical fundamentals, practical flight tests, and the subsequent scientific data analysis with insights into current fields of research and application in aviation. For the students, the week in Braunschweig offered a hands-on opportunity to gain firsthand experience with the methods and procedures of flight testing.