Branch Lectures & Events

Organised by the Academie de L'Air et de L'Espace (AAE) in cooperation with DGLR, RAeS Hamburg, VDI & Bremer AIRbe

For a long time the A400 was considered a problem at Airbus. Deadlines could not be met due to technical hurdles and the rising cost of the project kept the A400M in the headlines for a long time. Originally planned as a traditional military transport aircraft, requirements increased over the years. With regard to comparable aircraft types, payload and range had to double. Today, the complex project includes parachute and load capabilities, air refuelling and unpaved runway operations. The A400M thus became a mammoth project, requiring cutting edge technology. In the meantime, it proved itself in military and humanitarian operations following natural disasters.
At this round table, four presentations and a panel discussion will show what the A400M can do, what challenges the development teams had to master, what was really behind the headlines in the media, and what services the A400M can provide now and in the future. Representatives from the A400M Chief Engineering and Flight Testing departments at Airbus will provide insights into the design, development and testing, and the German Air Force will report on its introduction into the air force and operational experience.

Come and meet us in Bremen, discover the flight test phase and technical developments and find out what is really behind the A400M.

 Download poster (2,14 MB)

Please register with the AAE

This year we are planning a 3-day visit in October to South Germany. The dates are 29 October to 1 November and a preliminary itinerary is given below. 

We will be staying in Motel One in Garching.

If you wish to come with us, could you please confirm your booking by 20 September. Note that all are welcome and you don't have to be a RAeS member!

The provisional programme is as follows

• Tuesday 29 October
  Travel to Munich and hotel in Garching
• Wednesday 30 October
  AM: Visit IABG in Ottobrunn
  PM: Free time in Munich followed by 
  Evening: Get-together with Munich Branch in Munich
• Thursday 31 October
  AM: Visit Airbus Helicopters in Donauworth
  PM: Visit Airbus Defence & Space in Manching
  Evening. Open
• Friday 1 November
  AM: Visit Deutsches Museum, Flugwerft Schleissheim
  PM: End of visit. Return home or own programme

Download full details and a booking form 

RAeS lecture in cooperation with DGLR, HAW-Hamburg & VDI.
Lecture in English if requested.

Winglets, the small "wings" at the tip of aircraft wings, have long been of particular interest. Do they only offer a convenient area for the airline logo, or are there any other good reasons for equipping a aircraft with winglets? In fact, winglets have a global influence on the flow field and can thus make a significant contribution to reducing air resistance.

But how does a winglet work in detail? How can aerodynamic mechanisms be used to generate a noticeable effect on the aircraft system in a severely restricted parameter space? It also requires profound knowledge of various interactions with other disciplines.

Is the integration of winglets the real challenge? There are clear differences between retrofitting existing aircraft or a new design.

Finally, all solutions, along with their respective motivations, will be presented on the basis of the complete Airbus fleet.

DGLR lecture in cooperation with RAeS, HAW-Hamburg & VDI

RAeS lecture in cooperation with DGLR, HAW-Hamburg & VDI

Featuring one of the most voluminous cargo holds of any civil or military aircraft flying today, the Airbus Beluga plays a key role in keeping Airbus production and assembly network operating at full capacity. The current fleet of 5 Beluga, based on A300-600, carries complete sections of Airbus aircraft from different production sites around Europe to the final assembly lines in Toulouse, France and Hamburg, Germany.

To support the A350 XWB ramp-up and other production rate increases, Airbus will gradually replace its current Beluga’s with six BelugaXL aircraft, derived from the company’s versatile A330 widebody product line. Veronique Roca, Chief Engineer of the BelugaXL, will tell us about the BelugaXL since its launch in Nov 2014. With the First Flight in July 2018, the BelugaXL is now in the middle of the Flight Test Campaign, on its way to certification later in Q3 2019.

Veronique has been BelugaXL Technical Director & Chief Engineer since 2016.  As part of her mission she holds the Technical Authority to define and validate the target configuration of the aircraft, in line with operational and certification requirements, and meeting highest safety standards. Previously, Veronique was A330 Chief Engineer for France for two years.

RAeS lecture in cooperation with DGLR, HAW-Hamburg & VDI

Describing the life of a Royal Air Force fighter pilot in the 1970s with a focus on the exciting job of chasing Soviet Tu-95 'Bear' long-range reconnaissance aircraft over the North Sea as they approached UK airspace.

In addition Nick will also talk shortly about his experiences flying the A340-600 and other Airbus aircraft

During a 19 year career in the RAF, Nick moved from the Phantom to the Hawk T1 trainer as an A1 fast jet Qualified Flying Instructor, then back to the Phantom to become a Qualified Weapons Instructor.  He then moved to Australia on an exchange tour flying the F/A 18 for the No 77 Sqn RAAF, and finally back to the UK to fly the Panavia F3 Tornado Air Defence Variant.

After obtaining his Air Transport Pilot’s Licence and leaving the military, Capt. Nick joined an airline, flying the Airbus A340-300, Airbus A340-600, and the Airbus A330-300 on long haul flights.

Listen to podcast with Nick Anderson

RAeS Lecture in cooperation with DGLR, HAW-Hamburg & VDI

The lecture looks at how Concorde came into existence. It starts with the Supersonic Transport Committee in the UK, and early research in France, and covers a selection of alternative SST configurations. Next comes the establishment of a joint Anglo-French programme and descriptions of the workshare and various areas of necessary research (engines, materials, etc). Then an assessment of the noise issue, back-up research aircraft, and finally flight testing. The talk ends with Concorde's entry into service.

RAeS Lecture in cooperation with DGLR, HAW-Hamburg & VDI

More information about Rich Graham

The world’s fastest and highest flying aircraft was conceived as early as 1958 by the renowned aircraft engineer, Kelly Johnson. The gigantic leap in technology he and his engineers had to overcome at the Lockheed “Skunk Works” was phenomenal. Built in total secrecy, the first Blackbird flew on April 26, 1962. The Blackbird’s only purpose was to gather highly classified intelligence on hostile countries around the world. Flying at Mach 3+ speeds and cruising at over 85,000 feet, the SR-71 could survey over 100,000 square miles every hour, gathering millions of bits of intelligence. When cruising at over 2,200 mph, with skin friction temperatures reaching 600 degrees F., the SR-71 performed at its very best.

Col. Richard Graham flew the Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird from 1974-1981.