About us | Advanced Aircraft Configuration – Ein Studentenprojekt der FH Aachen University of Applied Sciences

About us

The student hosted project Advanced Aircraft Configuration has been engaged in the study and development of unconventional aircraft configurations since early 2011. Our work is mainly focused on non-planar configurations. These are studied with an MDO-tool (Multidisciplinary Design Optimization Tool) that is being developed as part of this project and compared with regard to their potential performance. This allows various disciplines like:

  • Aerodynamics
  • Flight mechanics
  • Structural mechanics
  • Flight performance
  • Aero elasticity

to be taken into account from the beginning of the design process.
During the initial phase a comparison of various configurations (see: Concepts) in terms of their potential was performed. In doing so the so called Box Wing showed great potential for increases in efficiency of commercial aircraft and was therefore studied more closely. As the future design is based entirely on numerical methods additional experience with the flight performance of this largely unstudied configuration is required. A remote controlled demonstration model is to be employed for this purpose. An efficient lift distribution over both wings can lead to unstable lateral and longitudinal motion. Fortunately such an aircraft can now be controlled thanks to modern flight control systems. As this condition offers other benefits it is therefore the intended design point. Thus the development of a suitable flight control system in the course of the Advanced-Katana project is an essential part of our endeavor.
Currently our international team consists of approximately 15 students with diverse individual and academic backgrounds. During the course of this project several final thesis, research semester and project works were completed and our demand for interested and motivated students is continually increasing.