Akaflieg Karlsruhe
| Type | Non-profit |
| Founded | 1928 and 1951 |
| Headquarters | Karlsruhe, Germany |
| Membership | Students and University faculty |
| Field | Aviation research |
| Number of Members | 30 (in 2015) |
| Website | www.akaflieg.uni-karlsruhe.de |
Akaflieg Karlsruhe is one of approximately twenty flying groups attached to German universities. Akaflieg is an abbreviation for Akademische Fliegergruppe, an academic group of students and faculty from a German University.
Akaflieg history
Otto Lilienthal published his book Der Vogelflug als Grundlage der Fliegekunst (Birdflight as the Basis of Aviation) in 1889, describing the basis of modern aerodynamics and aircraft construction. Lilienthal made many successful gliding flights from 1891 onwards. But the focus of attention shifted to powered flight after the Wright Brothers had demonstrated their Wright Flyer.
Gliding re-emerged as a sport after the war because the building of powered aircraft was restricted in Germany by the Treaty of Versailles. The main originator of the gliding movement was Oskar Ursinus, who in 1920 organised the first contest, known as the Rhön-Contest, on the Wasserkuppe. Held annually, students of technical universities brought gliders which they had developed and built themselves for testing at these contests, developing an esprit de corps known as Rhöngeist.
These informal beginnings stimulated the formation of groups of engineers at universities with the aim of scientific and practical education, with the first groups being formed, in 1920, at Aachen (Flugwissenschaftliche Vereinigung Aachen), Darmstadt and Berlin-Charlottenburg (Akaflieg Berlin), Karlsruhe followed in 1924. Many of the first members had been pilots in the Luftstreitkräfte (Imperial German Air Service), but it was the love of flying rather than militarism or nationalism that motivated them, resulting in a fraternal spirit that has been maintained to this day.
During the Nazi period some Akafliegs retained their autonomy through the patronage of the Deutsche Versuchsanstalt für Luftfahrt (DVL), a forerunner of the present-day German Aerospace Center (DLR). However, shortly before World War II the akafliegs were forced to integrate into the NS-Deutsche Studentenbund (Nazi-students-federation), with the Akaflieg projects having mostly military applications.
Present day
After the war, the Akafliegs re-formed in 1951, co-ordinated by Interessengemeinschaft Deutscher Akademischer Fliegergruppen e.V. (Idaflieg – interest group for German academic flying groups), with ten groups formed by 2009.
The aim of the Akafliegs is scientific research into flight development, as well as design and construction of aeroplanes, especially gliders. Much of the practical work is done at the summer meetings of the 'Idaflieg' in co-operation with the German Aerospace Center (DLR), while the results of the research are presented at the winter meetings. The 'Idaflieg' also offers many events and courses to its members such as the specification, design and certification of aeroplanes.
The quality of additional education provided by the Akafliegs is widely respected and so German glider manufacturers recruit almost exclusively from the Akafliegs. Once accepted as a member, students have to devote approximately 150 to 300 man-hours annually in the workshops to qualify for membership of the Akaflieg clubs, where the cost of flying is usually much lower than at other gliding/flying clubs.
American Universities have also implemented programs similar to the Akafliegs but based around the American style of teaching, Pennsylvania State University's AERSP 404H is one example of this implementation.
Akaflieg Karlsruhe
The Akademische Fliegergruppe Karlsruhe e.V. (Akaflieg Karlsruhe) - (Academic Aviator Group Karlsruhe) is a group of students enrolled at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, who are involved with the development and the design of gliders, as well as research in aerodynamics. Aircraft designed and/or built at Akaflieg Karlsruhe include;
- Akaflieg Karlsruhe HL-28 Bliemchen Brigant – built by SGK (Segelflieger Gruppe Karlsruhe)
- Akaflieg Karlsruhe AK-1 Mischl self-launching sailplane
- Akaflieg Karlsruhe AK-2[1]
- Akaflieg Karlsruhe AK-5 Ardea
- Akaflieg Karlsruhe AK-5b Otto K.K.
- Akaflieg Karlsruhe AK-8
- Akaflieg Karlsruhe DG-1000J Turbine
References
- ^ Taylor, John W.R. (1983). Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1982-83. London: Jane's Publishing Company. pp. 594 & 616-617. ISBN 978-0-7106-0748-5.
Bibliogarphy
- Frank-Dieter Lemke, Rolf Jacob: Forschen – Bauen – Fliegen Die Akademischen Fliegergruppen (Akaflieg) in Deutschland bis 1945. Teil 1. In: Flieger Revue extra, 29. Heft, Juni 2010, S. 18–31. Template:De icon