Pilot – June 2018

pilotweb.aero | Pilot June 2018 | 11

wing in a fashion that reminds
one of another German design,
the fabulous and long-lost DoX
flying boat. Power comes not
from batteries but a fuel cell.
The aircraft, used for research
or surveillance purposes, can
fly manned or unmanned and is
intended to stay airborne for up
to forty hours, all while staying
(it is claimed) CO 2 neutral. It is
expected to take its maiden flight
in summer.
Also from Lange Aviation,
the Antares 20E is a high
performance twenty-metre
sailplane with an electric
‘sustainer’ motor that is used
when the thermals are weak.
Czech aircraft maker Jihlavan
Aeroplanes brought along its
Skyleader 400. This electric
ultralight two-seat low-wing
aircraft was also flown in the
e-flight demo and is claimed to be
capable of reaching speeds of up
108 knots.
Conventional (as far as you can
call them that) ultralights in fixed-
wing, helicopter and autogyro
form dominated the exhibition
space, together with numerous
suppliers of pilot equipment, and
cockpit and on-board systems. We
didn’t note as many entirely new
aircraft as we have seen before,
but perhaps we have grown better
at recognising the same design in
different forms! ‘In the ultralight
area in particular, the new 600kg
class was met with strong interest,’
say the organisers. ‘This an area
in which manufacturers expect
significant revenue growth in
the future.’
The Messe Friedrichshafen
team also claimed its ‘be a pilot

campaign’ had made a noticeable

impact, special offerings like

drone demos and the simulator

area bearing fruit in its effort

to recruit a new generation

of pilots.

The next AERO will take

place from 10 - 13 April, 2019

at Messe Friedrichshafen.

More information is available

from dedicated show website:

http://www.aero-expo.com

Show Report: AERO Friedrichshafen

Electric aircraft lined up at ‘the pumps’. With Siemens behind it, this will all come about

Fuel cells generate electricity for the Lange Research E2’s six motors... ... giving its single pilot rather a large number of dials to monitor!

Everything under the bonnet in one presentation box! A Siemens SP200D 200kW motor for the CityAirbus