Friedrichshafen Aero Fair 2003

Friedrichshafen Aero Fair has something for everyone ranging from rigid/flapped hang gliders to an operational Patriot missile battery to Earth orbiting space vehicles. The site itself is impressive, large, accessible well laid out with FREE transport links

The now thing to have is a folding propellor and a b.r.s. Propellors folded rearward, scissor wise, axially, were faired and even folded forward. Every hall had internet access with about eight computers each, all free. The floors were all carpeted, public transport to and from site was also free. The toilets were spotless and plenty of them, food and drink always to hand and not expensive, stands were all attractively set up with friendly information and good P.R. The place was full of very interesting ideas and people trying out new shapes and theories. Embarrasingly, the UK was represented solely by the Transair Shop. Some highlights from the show were:

• Although not a microlight, a big boys toy with it all hanging out was the AERKIS 200 (the Swiss company who supplied my complimentary ticket!) high “T” tail and small anhedral canard. The fixed undercarriage version has a range of 5 hours at cruise of 162mph. More on www.aceair.ch
• A Dutch company was showing a diesel (Opel) powered two seat light aircraft with a tank capacity of 100ltr, allowing a range of 2,000mls.
• A ¼ scale experimental engine which has been tested, was a combination of a gas turbine, a ram jet and a rocket. (This is not a joke! See below)
• Two Zeppelins (real!) were also in action all the time, giving tours around the surrounding area.

One can't help but compare this show with other UK shows we have attended, even all together they can't hold a candle to this! Something has got to be done now. Overall the result of our visit was a state of depression due to the state of light aviation in the UK. Its not that we are behind in the race - we are not even at the starting gate due to the obstructive HICK outfits we have as so-called authorities. When one thinks of the hassle we get in the UK even for very minor mods, makes one wonder if we couldn't get an outfit that could handle things instead of continual obstruction of minutia.

Hugh Lorimer

Click on a picture for a larger image

		2 seat all composite with mid engine and c/f extension shaft, retracts.
		Sonic Smart engined two seat trike. If you were flying over water or rough terrain the purring noise from the Smart engine would be very comforting. The whole (new) Smart car costs around £6,300 a second hand run in engine would be about right; reliable, cheap, frugal, long T.B.Os. The reduction gear is a toothed belt. Smart engine, smart thinking someday ?????
		Dewald. Curved wing, flying wing. Could you imagine this being put forward in UK?
		The Isatis 01 all composite, BMW powered (8 l/hr) cruise 230km/hr, folding wings, b.r.s., c/f extension shaft, 260kgs (unladen). http://perso.wanadoo.fr/isatis01/
		The Antares is a self launch electric powered glider. The Li-Ion batteries are moulded into the wing and on one charge they return a self launch with a climb rate of between 500-600ft/min to a height of……….3,000 METRES! Sporting the inevitable folding propellor mounted on the casing / coils which revolve round the mounted fixed 'rotor', 350 volt system. SU- BLOODY- PERB! http://www.Lange-Flugzeugbau.com
		Don`t even think about it. If they can`t handle the Iolaire and the Sgian Dubh what chance this? THIS IS REAL.
		Shown in mock-up form due to the shrouded prop and other mods the LTF – UL 2003 looked like a development of a previous model. This is 2 seat, Hirth 3701s powered, max. wt. 450kgs., Vc. 200km/hr / 110kts., Range 485n.mi.
		Now this, this is the Daddy. The Merlin, Take Offs BMW powered weight shift. The purpose made gear box contains the reduction gear, a centrifigual clutch and a cush drive (which I held in my hand, a work of extreme beauty). All stainless, including the exhaust b.r.s co-axial sliding bar for turbulence automatic control via the wee spoilers outboard on wing upper surface, wide suspension, aero pod – no need for a windscreen. Different class.
		The latest Kolb showing off the moulded pod and the torsion bar arrangement to mount the wide suspension.
		Picture 10
		Pure art. Even the propellor is right.
		Agricultural equipped sprayer. Tank is about 45gal., Different wings, floodlight for night work, wee pull-start engine for spray compressor. Could you imagine putting this type of thing in the UK up as a mod? http://www.aviationproducts.de
		Conceptual space transportation by Sänger, using state of the art turbo-ram jet engines and rocket propulsion systems.
		Picture 15