Aviation Science Association Aachen

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FVA
The FVA logo
Surname Aviation Science Association Aachen 1920 eV
Founded 1920
Place of foundation Aachen
Association headquarters Templergraben 55
52056 Aachen
Members 29 (as of 2016)
Homepage http://www.fva.rwth-aachen.de/

The Aviation Science Association Aachen 1920 eV (FVA for short) is a student group at RWTH Aachen University and FH Aachen that deals with the design, construction and flying of gliders and motorized aircraft. She is a member of Idaflieg .

Structure and organization

The FVA was founded in 1920 under the direction of Theodore von Kármán and Wolfgang Klemperer to take part in the first Rhön competition on the Wasserkuppe . Other well-known members were Felix Kracht and Hermann Landmann .

In addition to the aviation groups from Berlin , Braunschweig, Danzig , Darmstadt, Dresden, Hanover, Koethen, Munich and Stuttgart, the FVA was a founding member of the interest group of the Academic Aviation Groups (Idaflieg).

The association researches, builds and flies new flight systems. 29 projects were started and various prototypes built.

The training at the FVA includes the glider and towing as well as the training of aerobatic pilots , flight instructors , cell and parachute attendants.

The aircraft fleet consists of a Robin DR400-180 as a towing machine , DG 1000T , ASH 25E , an ASW 28-18 , a Club Libelle , a 304 glass wing and a 206 Hornet .

Projects

Three-sided view of the FVA-1
FVA-1 "Schwatze Düvel"
The "Schwatze Düvel" was the first glider designed and constructed by Theodore von Kármán and his assistant Wolfgang Klemperer under the FVA. The occasion was the "first Rhön gliding and gliding competition" on the Wasserkuppe in 1920. The "Schwatze Düvel" was mainly made of wood and was covered with black voile fabric . It was built in day and night shifts in absolute secrecy, as Germany was prohibited from any aviation activity by the Versailles Peace Treaty .
During the event, Klemperer achieved a flight of 2 minutes and 22 seconds and a distance of 1830 meters, setting a record and winning the competition.
FVA-2 "Blue Mouse"
Based on the success of the “Schwatzen Düvel”, an aircraft with improved details was created, with a deeper seat to cause less drag and a wingspan of 9.70 m. The "Blue Mouse" took part in the Rhön competition together with the FVA-1. On August 30, Klemperer set a new world record for flight time (13 minutes) and flight distance (4.6 kilometers). A total of four aircraft were built.
FVA-3 "duck"
The FVA-3 was the first two-seater built by the FVA and the first canard aircraft. It broke during the Rhön competition in 1922 (a runners leg broke).
FVA-4 "Pipö"
The FVA-4 was an easy-to-repair, two-seat aircraft. Due to the biplane configuration, it was not used as a performance aircraft, but as a training aircraft. It was named "Pipö" after the nickname of Professor Kármán's sister.
FVA-5 "Rhineland"
The last construction developed by Klemperer for the FVA was built at the same time as the FVA-4. Characteristic of the "Rheinland" was the compact fuselage that fully accommodated the pilot, the shoulder- wing arrangement of the wings, which were bent backwards in the aileron area. Although this wing was still two-spar, in order to accommodate the moments of the wing that was bent backwards, it had, in contrast to the predecessor types, a plywood-clad torsion nose. The "Rheinland" could not show any outstanding achievements at the 1923 Rhön competition.
FVA-6
In 1924 motorized aviation was allowed again. In 1926 , Ilse Kober and Theodor Bienen designed the FVA-6 as the FVA's first powered aircraft . It was a two-seater biplane with a 30 hp ABC Scorpion engine. Due to an unfavorable center of gravity and the relative inexperience of the pilot, it was destroyed on the first flight.
FVA-7 (M Ia)
The FVA-7 (and the FVA-8) were not officially built. Despite this, the next aircraft was named FVA-9. In the meantime, there is mostly agreement that the FVA-7 was identical to the M Ia - the improved version of the Mayer MI by Hermann Mayer . Mayer was a friend and sponsor of the FVA and only later became a member. The "MI" was a stripped high- wing aircraft with a deliberately simple design, as it was intended as a training glider. Nevertheless, this machine was only slightly inferior to the highly developed gliders in competition. After the Rhön competition decided, the span was increased from 14.5 m to 16.5 m and other details improved.
FVA-8
FVA-8 was the name of a " Grunau Baby " brought to the Rhön by the Aacheners in 1934, with the label D-Orsbach, whose origin could not be clearly identified.
FVA-9 "Blue Mouse II"
The "Blue Mouse II" was developed in 1934 as a lightweight construction with a low rate of descent of only 0.54 m / s for cross-country flights . The high-deck, single-spar aircraft with a wing span of 15.60 m had a nose covered with diagonal plywood.
FVA-10a "Theodor bees"
Building on the good results of the FVA-9, a new type was developed in 1935. In addition to improved flight characteristics, the assembly of three people should be guaranteed by automatic rudder connections in five minutes. The wings were cantilever gull wing wings in a middle- wing arrangement . A handwheel control was installed for reasons of space.
FVA-10b "Rhineland"
The FVA-10 was an improved version of the "Theodor Bienen" built in 1936 with a new fuselage shape for easier landings, airbrakes on the top and bottom of the wings, retractable landing gear and stick instead of handwheel controls. With the help of the FVA-10, Felix Kracht managed to cross the Alps for the first time in a glider. It took second place in the 1937 Rhön competition and won the prize for the most advanced construction. The "Rheinland" was produced by Schmetz und Kracht a total of 29 times.
FVA-11 "Eifel"
Dia FVA-11 should serve as an example of an "ideal airplane". The construction was designed for a cruising speed of 80 km / h, a low rate of descent and a landing speed of 40 km / h. To achieve most of these requirements, a thin wing with a wingspan of 18 m and Fowler flaps were necessary. Due to difficulties in procuring materials, the "Eifel" could not be completed for the 19th Rhön competition. Flight tests were carried out in Merzbrück , and the aircraft was destroyed when the Second World War broke out.
FVA-12
The FVA-12 was the design for a powered airplane as part of a diploma thesis. The construction was not started because of the FVA-13.
FVA-13 Olympic dinghy
In 1940, gliding was to be introduced as an Olympic discipline . The FVA participated in the tender for a standard glider according to the guideline:
  • Span 15 m
  • Uniformity of material: steel , plywood and pine
  • The machine should be able to stay floating on the water for some time.
  • Swoop brakes that limit the maximum speed in a dive to 200 km / h.
  • When setting up the driver's seat, a pilot height of 1.80 m is assumed.
  • Hull with skid without undercarriage
  • Driver's seat with back parachute
  • outer driver's cab width 600 mm
  • Max. Setup weight 160 kg
  • Payload 95 kg
  • If necessary, the payload must be increased to 95 kg by adding weights . The secure attachment of ballast must therefore be taken into account during the construction.
Based on the FVA-9 “Blue Mouse II”, the Olympic dinghy with a weight of 156 kg and a maximum load of exactly 95 kg was created with a few modifications such as a self-supporting surface suspension.
The international commission selected the " Olympia Meise " from the DFS , so the two aircraft produced were kept in the club's possession until they were destroyed in the Second World War.
FVA-14 ring wing
The first project after the Second World War was an aircraft in the so-called ring wing configuration, in which the wings protruded around the cockpit and both sides were brought together at the rear. The aim was to research the aerodynamics of this and an investigation of any benefits. However, it turned into the wind tunnel investigations determined that the longitudinal stabilization behavior was problematic: In the high-speed flight the aircraft had a tendency in the inverted flight to go. Since it was impossible to change the large version for financial reasons, the construction was no longer continued.
FVA-15
Development of a blow-through control as a replacement for ailerons (1952), testing on the Grunau Baby III
FVA-16 foam wing
Investigation into the construction of a Dural covered foam wing (1954/55), abandoned
FVA-17 flying wing
Motorization and testing of the Horten Ho 33 V1 with Zündapp engine (1954) as a research contract from the Federal Ministry of Transport
FVA-18 primitive crow
"Primitive Crow" (1959–1965), powered aircraft, light two-seater high-wing aircraft
FVA-19 silver crow
Project tow plane design study, became the basis of the construction ESS 641 of the aeronautical working group Bremen (first flight: September 17, 1971)
FVA-20
"Ferdinand Bernhard Schmetz" (from 1967, first flight 1979) standard class glider in GRP construction, designers: Irmer, Dewes, Solies
FVA-21 flaps automatic
Development, construction and testing of a hydraulic automatic flap system, from 1972 on VFW FK-3, from 1980 on LS3 . This automatically sets the flaps to the optimum position depending on the speed, wing loading and load factor . The automatic flap system of the Mü 28 was built according to this principle .
FVA-22 paper missile
Development and construction of a sounding rocket head for an Akaflieg rocket in Munich (1970–1975, never flew)
FVA-23
Development, construction, testing and type approval of a low-noise exhaust system for the Robin DR 400 / 180R "Remorqueur" (1976). Series production by Wolf Hirth / Nabern
FVA-24 Wimi
Development, construction, testing and type approval of a tow rope winding device for the Robin DR 400 / 180R "Remorqueur" (1980), later also for other tow planes and motor gliders. Series production
FVA-25
Single-seat duck - ultralight aircraft in aramid - carbon fiber construction (from 1984), project abandoned and sold for weight reasons (later probably flew in Belgium with F approval)
FVA-26
Project of a wing with a profile that changes in flight ("cambered surface") (1984), abandoned
FVA-27
Glider in duck configuration, abandoned
In the meantime there are efforts to continue building them
FVA-28
Project name for the new workshop in Würselen
FVA-29
Electrically driven motor with specially designed propeller for the ASW 28-18

literature

  • Karl Heidler: 60 years of FVA , RWTH Aachen, Aachen 1980.

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Carsten Karge: Report Historical Archive . In: Akademische Fliegergruppe (Ed.): Annual Report 2013/2014 . Berlin 2015, DNB  013347667 , p. 52-54 .
  2. ^ Training , FTAG Esslingen, accessed on February 15, 2014.