Aircraft Design

The field of investigation Aircraft Design is dedicated to the design and construction of manned and unmanned aerial systems in addition to the classic preliminary aircraft design.

Research fields

Analytical Aircraft Design

The aim is the improvement of the statistical preliminary draft tools and the development of new design approaches.

Further Information

Manned Aircraft Projects

This topic deals with the development, construction, and testing of trendsetting light plane projects. The focus lies on the combination of eco-efficient concepts with alternative propulsion technologies. The solar aircraft ‘icaré’ and the battery powered aircraft ‘e-Genius’ are used by the Institute of Aircraft Design (IFB) for the practical testing of both alternative propulsion and energy storage technologies.

Further Information

Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS)

The research group ‘UAS’ conducts research on the design and construction of fixed-wing and helicopter UAVs, development of avionics, system integration and professional flight test planning and execution. The biggest UAVs realized until today are ‘VELA2’, ‘NACRE’ and ‘AMPAIR’.

Further Information

Job vacancies and student theses

Publications

Journals and Books

  1. 2025

    1. Zistler, Stefan, Dalong Shi, Walter Fichter und Andreas Strohmayer. 2025. Adapting e-Genius for Next-Level Efficient Electric Aerotow with High-Power Propulsion and Automatic Flight Control System. Aerospace 12 (Mai): 409. doi:10.3390/aerospace12050409, .
    2. Schlittenhardt, Jakob, Yannik Freund, Jonas Mangold, Richard Hanke-Rauschenbach und Andreas Strohmayer. 2025. Preliminary Design of Regional Aircraft---Integration of a Fuel Cell-Electric Energy Network in SUAVE. Aerospace 12 (April): 249. doi:10.3390/aerospace12030249, .
    3. Nussbaumer, Eskil Jonas, Sara Hijazi, Dominique Paul Bergmann, Hanno Streit und Andreas Strohmayer. 2025. Development of a Modular Test Rig for In-Flight Validation of a Multi-Hole Probe Onboard the e-Genius-Mod. Aerospace 12 (April): 345. doi:10.3390/aerospace12040345, .

  2. 2024

    1. Albrecht, Alexander, Joachim Siegel und Andreas Strohmayer. 2024. A simplified automated approach for a preliminary safety assessment of distributed electric and hybrid propulsion systems. CEAS Aeronautical Journal (November). doi:10.1007/s13272-024-00779-x, .

  3. 2023

    1. Albrecht, Alexander, Andreas Bender, Philipp Strathoff, Clemens Zumegen, Eike Stumpf und Andreas Strohmayer. 2023. Influence of Electric Wing Tip Propulsion on the Sizing of the Vertical Stabilizer and Rudder in Preliminary Aircraft Design. Aerospace 10 (April): 395. doi:10.3390/aerospace10050395, .

  4. 2022

    1. Moebs, Nicolas, Dominik Eisenhut, Evert Windels, Jenny van der Pols und Andreas Strohmayer. 2022. Adaptive Initial Sizing Method and Safety Assessment for Hybrid-Electric Regional Aircraft. Aerospace 9 (Januar): 150. doi:10.3390/aerospace9030150, .
    2. Mangold, Jonas, Daniel Silberhorn, Nicolas Moebs, Niclas Dzikus, Julian Hoelzen, Thomas Zill und Andreas Strohmayer. 2022. Refueling of LH2 Aircraft---Assessment of Turnaround Procedures and Aircraft Design Implication. Energies 15 (März): 2475. doi:10.3390/en15072475, .
    3. Lay, J., A. Bender und A. Strohmayer. 2022. Layout and testing of a serial hybrid electric powertrain for a light twin demonstrator platform. IOP Conference Series: Materials Science and Engineering 1226 (Januar): 12068. doi:10.1088/1757-899X/1226/1/012068, .

  5. 2021

    1. Pfeifle, Ole, Stefan Notter, Walter Fichter, Dominique Paul Bergmann, Jan Denzel und Andreas Strohmayer. 2021. Verifying the Effect of Wingtip Propellers on Drag Through In-Flight Measurements. Journal of Aircraft 37 (Oktober): 1–10. doi:10.2514/1.C036490, .
    2. Eisenhut, Dominik, Nicolas Moebs, Evert Windels, Dominique Bergmann, Ingmar Geiß, Ricardo Reis und Andreas Strohmayer. 2021. Aircraft Requirements for Sustainable Regional Aviation. Aerospace 8. doi:10.3390/aerospace8030061, https://www.mdpi.com/2226-4310/8/3/61.
    3. Bergmann, Dominique P., Jan Denzel, Ole Pfeifle, Stefan Notter, Walter Fichter und Andreas Strohmayer. 2021. In-flight Lift and Drag Estimation of an Unmanned Propeller-Driven Aircraft. Aerospace 8. doi:10.3390/aerospace8020043, .

  6. 2020

    1. Filipenko, M., K. Plötner, J. Kaiser und A. Strohmayer. 2020. Elektrifizierung in der Luftfahrt für einen nachhaltigeren Flugverkehr. Physik Journal: 34–40.

  7. 2019

    1. Bergmann, Dominique, Jan Denzel, Asmus Baden, Lucas Kugler und Andreas Strohmayer. 2019. Innovative Scaled Test Platform e-Genius-Mod - Scaling Methods and Systems Design. Aerospace 6: 20. doi:10.3390/aerospace6020020, .

  8. 2017

    1. Geiß, Ingmar und Rudolf Voit-Nitschmann. 2017. Sizing of the energy storage system of hybrid-electric aircraft in general aviation. CEAS Aeronautical Journal 8: 53–65. doi:10.1007/s13272-016-0220-5, .
    2. Strohmayer, A. 2017. Unmanned Aerial Systems -- Auslegung, Einsatzbereiche und operative Rahmenbedingungen. DVW-Schriftenreihe: 27–44.
    3. Geiß, Ingmar und Rudolf Voit-Nitschmann. 2017. Sizing of fuel-based energy systems for electric aircraft. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part G: Journal of Aerospace Engineering 231: 2295–2304. doi:10.1177/0954410017721254, .
    4. Molter, C. und Po Wen Cheng. 2017. Propeller Performance Calculation for Multicopter Aircraft at Forward Flight Conditions and Validation with Wind Tunnel Measurements. In: . 9th International Micro Air Vehicles Conference and Flight Competition. Toulouse, France, September.

  9. 2016

    1. Strohmayer, A. 2016. Im Elektroflug über die Alpen und darüber hinaus. Ingenieursspiegel.

  10. 2014

    1. Voit-Nitschmann, Rudolf und T. Keilig. 2014. Q3:~Luftfahrzeuge. In: Dubbel, hg. von Heinrich Dubbel, Jörg Feldhusen, und Karl-Heinrich Grote, 69–103. Berlin: Springer.

  11. 2010

    1. Schmollgruber, P., J.-L. Gobert, P.-E. Gall, Z. Goraj, H. W. Jentink, A. Näs und Rudolf Voit-Nitschmann. 2010. An innovative evaluation platform for new aircraft concepts. The Aeronautical Journal 114: 451–456. doi:10.1017/S0001924000003936, .

Conference Proceedings

  1. 2024

    1. Moebs, Nicolas und Andreas Strohmayer. 2024. LH2 tank modeling, integration concepts and implications on fuselage design. In: . EASN Conference 2024. Thessaloniki, GR, Oktober.
    2. Moebs, Nicolas und Andreas Strohmayer. 2024. Hydrogen tank integration and implications onto fuselage design. In: . Deutscher Luft- und Raumfahrtkongress DLRK 2024. Hamburg, DE, September.

  2. 2023

    1. Reyes Barbosa, Felipe, Higor Feltrin Teza, Felipe Odaguil, Ricardo Gandolfi, Dominik Eisenhut, Felix Brenner, Jonas Mangold, Nicolas Moebs und David Bento. 2023. Integration of a Thermal Management System in a Hybrid Electric Aircraft - FUTPRINT50. In: AeroBest 2023 - II ECCOMAS Thematic Conference on Multidisciplinary Design Optimization of Aerospace Systems, hg. von André C. Marta und Afzal Suleman, 439–451. Lisboa: IDMEC Instituto Superior Técnico Universidade de Lisboa, Juli. https://aerobest2023.idmec.tecnico.ulisboa.pt/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/AeroBest2023_proceedings.pdf.
    2. Brenner, Felix, Jonas Mangold, Dominik Eisenhut und Andreas Strohmayer. 2023. Environmental and Economic Assessment of Alternative Fuels and Power Trains on Aircraft Level. Proceedings of the Aerospace Europe Conference - EUCASS - CEAS - 2023, Juli. doi:10.13009/EUCASS2023-904, .
    3. Mangold, J., D. Eisenhut, F. Brenner, N. Moebs und A. Strohmayer. 2023. Preliminary hybrid-electric aircraft design with advancements on the open-source tool SUAVE. Journal of Physics: Conference Series 2526 (Juni): 12022. doi:10.1088/1742-6596/2526/1/012022, .
    4. Brenner, F., J. Mangold, D. Eisenhut, N. Moebs und A. Strohmayer. 2023. Deriving a year 2040 reference aircraft from a modern turboprop, implemented and calibrated in SUAVE. Journal of Physics: Conference Series 2526 (Juni): 12009. doi:10.1088/1742-6596/2526/1/012009, .
    5. Eisenhut, D., J. Mangold, N. Moebs, F. Brenner und A. Strohmayer. 2023. Case study on hybrid-electric aircraft designs enabled by an enhanced SUAVE version. Journal of Physics: Conference Series 2526 (Juni): 12019. doi:10.1088/1742-6596/2526/1/012019, .
    6. Moebs, N., R. Reis, E. Windels, K. Ertman, C. van Woensel, T. Kipouros, M. Westin und A. Strohmayer. 2023. Development of the initial certification and technology roadmap for the FUTPRINT50 framework. Journal of Physics: Conference Series 2526 (Juni): 12015. doi:10.1088/1742-6596/2526/1/012015, .
    7. Eissele, J., S. Lafer, C. Mejía-Burbano, J. Schließus, T. Wiedmann, C. Rotundo, E. Beyne, u. a. 2023. FUTPRINT50 Academy -- Aircraft Design Challenge 2022: Development of a hybrid-electric regional aircraft. Journal of Physics: Conference Series 2526 (Mai): 12020. doi:10.1088/1742-6596/2526/1/012020, .

  3. 2022

    1. Mangold, Jonas, Felix Brenner, Nicolas Moebs und Andreas Strohmayer. 2022. Aircraft Design Implications of Alternative Fuels for Future Hybrid-Electric Regional Aircraft Configurations. Proceedings of the 9th European Conference for Aerospace Sciences. Lille, France, 27 June - 1 July, 2022 (September). doi:10.13009/EUCASS2022-7294, .

  4. 2021

    1. Pfeifle, Ole, Michael Frangenberg, Stefan Notter, Jan Denzel, Dominique Bergmann, Johannes Schneider, Werner Scholz, Walter Fichter und Andreas Strohmayer. 2021. Distributed Electric Propulsion for Yaw Control: Testbeds, Control Approach, and Flight Testing. In: . Juli. doi:10.2514/6.2021-3192, .
    2. Moebs, N., D. Eisenhut, D. Bergmann und A. Strohmayer. 2021. Selecting figures of merit for a hybrid-electric 50-seat regional aircraft. IOP Conference Series: Materials Science and Engineering 1024: 12071. doi:10.1088/1757-899x/1024/1/012071, http://dx.doi.org/10.1088/1757-899X/1024/1/012071.
    3. Eisenhut, D., E. Windels, R. Reis, D. Bergmann, C. Ilário, F. Palazzo und A. Strohmayer. 2021. Foundations towards the future: FutPrInt50 TLARs an open approach. IOP Conference Series: Materials Science and Engineering 1024: 12069. doi:10.1088/1757-899X/1024/1/012069, .

  5. 2020

    1. Denzel, J., D. Bergmann und A. Strohmayer. 2020. Identification of the flight performance of the e-Genius-mod. In: . 9th EASN International Conference. Athens, Greece, September.
    2. Geiß, I. und A. Strohmayer. 2020. Operational Energy and Power Reserves for Hybrid-Electric and Electric Aircraft. In: . Deutscher Luft- und Raumfahrtkongress. September. doi:10.25967/530149, .
    3. Schneider, J., M. Frangenberg, S. Notter, W. Scholz, W. Fichter und A. Strohmayer. 2020. Integration of propelled yaw control on wing tips. A practical approach to the Icaré solar powered glider. In: . Deutscher Luft- und Raumfahrtkongress. September.
    4. Bergmann, D., J. Denzel, O. Pfeifle, S. Notter und A. Strohmayer. 2020. In-Flight Thrust Measurement and Drag Estimation of an Unmanned Propeller Aircraft. In: . 10th EASN Virtual International Conference on \grqqInnovation in Aviation & Space to the Satisfaction of the European Citizens\textquotedbl. September.
    5. Strohmayer, A. 2020. New Challenges in Aircraft Design - from urban air mobility to zero emission air transport. In: . 8. Fachkongress Composite Simulation. Fellbach, Februar.
    6. Strohmayer, A. 2020. Future Propulsion and Integration: towards a hybrid-electric 50-seat regional aircraft. In: . Workshop EU-funded Aviation Research on Hybrid-Electric Aircraft. Brussels, Belgium, Januar.

  6. 2019

    1. Strohmayer, Andreas. 2019. Electric flight for a more sustainable aviation. In: . european energy innovation Winter 2019, pp. 46-47. Hertfordshire, England, Dezember.
    2. Strohmayer, Andreas. 2019. Elektrisches Fliegen: wann wird es zum Alltag? Auswirkungen auf die Gesellschaft? In: . 8. Kaminabend Acentiss GmbH. Stuttgart, Oktober.
    3. Bergmann, D., J. Denzel, O. Pfeifle, M. Schollenberger und A. Strohmayer. 2019. Wing Tip Propeller Technology Testing with UAS -- Concept of Pod and In-Flight Measurement System. In: . 9th EASN International Conference. Athens, Greece, September.
    4. Strohmayer, Andreas. 2019. Aircraft design for electric flight. In: . Innovative Summer School. Nottingham, UK, Juli.
    5. Pfeifle, O., Walter Fichter, Dominique Paul Bergmann, Jan Denzel, A. Strohmayer, M. Schollenberger und T. Lutz. 2019. Precision performance measurements of fixed-wing aircraft with wing tip propellers. In: . AIAA AVIATION Forum. Dallas, USA, Juni.
    6. Bergmann, D., J. Denzel und A. Strohmayer. 2019. Free-Flight test platform e-Genius-Mod, Motivation for test platform, Introduction LuFo-Project ELFLEAN. In: . UAV Flight Test Convention. Hamburg.

  7. 2018

    1. Bergmann, Dominique Paul, Jan Denzel, Andreas Strohmayer, K. Kontis und S. Pantelakis. 2018. UAS as flexible and innovative test platform for aircraft configuration and systems testing. MATEC Web of Conferences 233 (November): 1. doi:10.1051/matecconf/201823300001, .
    2. Strohmayer, Andreas. 2018. The challenge of accelerating impact of academic aviation research for increased competitiveness of the European Aeronautics: the EASN approach. In: . 8th EASN-CEAS Workshop on Manufacturing for Growth and Innovation. Glasgow, Scotland, September.
    3. Strohmayer, A. 2018. New Trends in Aircraft Design and their Implications on Structures and Materials. In: . ICEAF V - 5th International Conference of Engineering Against Failure. Chios, Greece, Juni.
    4. Geiß, Ingmar, Stefan Notter, A. Strohmayer und Walter Fichter. 2018. Optimized Operation Strategies for Serial Hybrid-Electric Aircraft. In: . Aviation Technology, Integration, and Operations Conference, AIAA AVIATION Forum. Atlanta, USA, Juni.
    5. Strohmayer, A. 2018. EASN Proposal for an Open Innovation Test Platform. In: . EASN Open Workshop on accelerated impact of academic aviation research for improved air transport for all European citizens. Brussels, Belgium, April.
    6. Strohmayer, A. 2018. Elektrisches Fliegen - Was bedeutet das für den Flugzeugentwurf? In: . 25. Kolloquium Luftverkehr. Darmstadt, Februar.

  8. 2017

    1. Strohmayer, A. und Ingmar Geiß. 2017. Power management of hybrid-electric propulsion chains. In: . 5th More Electric Aircraft Conference. Hamburg, Oktober.
    2. Molter, C. und Po Wen Cheng. 2017. Optimal Placement of an Airflow Probe at a Multirotor Uav for Airborne Wind Measurements. In: . European Rotorcraft Forum 2017. Milan, Italy, Oktober.
    3. Schumann, L. 2017. Hybrid-Elektro-Pendlerflugzeuge - eine geeignete Anwendung im kommerziellen Luftverkehr. In: . e$^2$-Symposium - Emissionsfreies und elektrisches Flugsymposium. Stuttgart, Oktober.
    4. Strohmayer, A. 2017. A European Aeronautics Science Network - The EASN~Association. In: . Aerospace Symposium 2017 - Manufacturing for Growth. Glasgow, Scotland, Oktober.
    5. Strohmayer, A. und Ingmar Geiß. 2017. Eco4: Hybridelektrische Viersitzflugzeuge der neuen Generation. In: . e$^2$-Symposium - Emissionsfreies und elektrisches Flugsymposium. Stuttgart, Oktober.
    6. Lay, J. 2017. Hybridisierungskonzepte mit der heutigen Technologie. In: . e$^2$-Symposium - Emissionsfreies und elektrisches Flugsymposium. Stuttgart, Oktober.
    7. Lay, J. 2017. Hybrid-Electric Flight -- what are we waiting for? In: . 7th EASN International Conference. Warsaw, Poland, September.
    8. Strohmayer, A. 2017. The Effect of Wing-tip Propulsors on ICARÉ 2 Aeroelasticity. In: . 7th EASN international conference: Innovation in European Aeronautics Research. Warsaw, Poland, September.
    9. Strohmayer, A. 2017. Turning Icaré II into a test platform -- will the modifications affect aeroelasticity? In: . 7th EASN International Conference. Warsaw, Poland, September.
    10. Molter, C. und Po Wen Cheng. 2017. Propeller Performance Calculation for Multicopter Aircraft at Forward Flight Conditions and Validation with Wind Tunnel Measurements. In: . 9th International Micro Air Vehicles Conference and Flight Competition. Toulouse, France, September.
    11. Strohmayer, A. 2017. Electric Flight at University of Stuttgart. In: . Seminar, Beijing Institute of Technology. Bejing, China, April.

  9. 2016

    1. Strohmayer, A. 2016. Aircraft design for hybrid-electric flight. In: . Electric & Hybrid Aerospace Technology Symposium. Cologne, November.
    2. Strohmayer, A. 2016. Innovative Emerging Trends: A Hybrid-Electric Demonstrator Aircraft in the Commuter Category. In: . CAPPADOCIA Workshop, 6th EASN International Conference. Porto, Portugal, Oktober.
    3. Strohmayer, A. 2016. Flugzeugentwurf für den Luftverkehr von morgen. In: . KOLLOQUIUM Luft- und Raumfahrttechnik. Stuttgart, Juni.
    4. Strohmayer, A. 2016. Electric Flight - New ideas for tomorrow’s air transportation. In: . Symposium E2 -Fliegen. Stuttgart, Februar.

  10. 2015

    1. Strohmayer, A. 2015. Elektrisches Fliegen - Neue Ideen für den Lufttransport von morgen. In: . Wissensforum Rathaus: Samstags-Uni. Stuttgart, November.
    2. Lay, J., L. Schumann, Ingmar Geiß und A. Strohmayer. 2015. Electric and Hybrid Aircraft - Current Research at the University of Stuttgart. In: . 10th AirTec. Munich, November.
    3. Schumann, L. 2015. Elektroflug im praktischen Einsatz. In: . e$^2$-Symposium. Stuttgart, Februar.

  11. 2014

    1. Geiß, Ingmar und Rudolf Voit-Nitschmann. 2014. Dimensionierung des Energiespeichers hybrider Elektroflugzeuge. In: . Deutscher Luft- und Raumfhartkongress. Augsburg, September.
    2. Schumann, L. und Peter Middendorf. 2014. FVK in der allgemeinen Luftfahrt - Leichtbau am Beispiel des Elektroflugzeugs e-Genius. In: . SAMPESymposium Deutschland 2014. Stuttgart, Februar.
    3. Schumann, L. 2014. e-Genius auf den Green Speed Cup 2013. In: . IDAFLIEG Wintertreffen. Stuttgart, Januar.

  12. 2013

    1. Schumann, L. 2013. Electric Aircraft research - two years of flying e-Genius. In: . Electric aircraft symposium. Santa Rosa CA, Mai.
    2. Schumann, L. 2013. Massenreduktion durch Weglassen - Theoretische Baukonzeptuntersuchung. In: . IDAFLIEG Wintertreffen. Hannover, Januar.
    3. Schumann, L. 2013. Flugleistungsvermessung des e-Genius. In: . IDAFLIEG Wintertreffen. Hannover, Januar.
    4. Beilstein, L., M. Arnold und S. Rudolph. 2013. Methodische Darstellung der Relativität von Optimalbegriffen im Flugzeugvorentwurf am Beispiel von Flugzeugpanels. In: . DLRK. Stuttgart.

  13. 2012

    1. Dolezal, Kittmann, Senner und Claupein. 2012. Collecting geo-referenced data for agricultural purposes with an UAS. In: . 3rd International Conference on Machine Control & Guidance. Stuttgart.
    2. Schumann, L. 2012. Flight Testing of the e-Genius aircraft. In: . Airbus e-Genius Day. Toulouse.

  14. 2011

    1. Kittmann, Breeman und P. Schmollgruber. 2011. The NACRE Innovative Evaluation Platform and its Navigation - Control Strategies. In: . SAE 2011 AeroTech Congress. Toulouse.

  15. 2010

    1. Goraj, Kittmann, Rudolf Voit-Nitschmann und Szender. 2010. Design and integration of Flexi-bird- a low cost sub-scale research aircraft for safety and environmental issues. In: . ICAS. Cancún.
    2. Beilstein, Klaus Drechsler und S. Rudolph. 2010. Gewichtsabschätzungen von geklebten und geschweißten Strukturverbindungen im Flugzeugvorentwurf. In: . DLRK. Hamburg.
    3. Rudolph, S., Jan-Philipp Fuhr und Beilstein. 2010. A validation method using design languages for weight approximation formulae in the early aircraft design phase. In: . EUCOMAS. Mannheim.

  16. 2008

    1. Kunze, C. Wellhausen, Leistner, Demel, Roser und Klaus Drechsler. 2008. Entwicklung von Faserverbund-Hohlbauteilen in RTM-Bauweise am Beispiel eines Traglenkers von Passagierflugzeugtüren. In: . Proc. Deutscher Luft- und Raumfahrtkongress. Darmstadt.
    2. Trittler, Walter Fichter, Rudolf Voit-Nitschmann und Kittmann. 2008. Preliminary System Identification of the Blended Wing Body Flight Demonstrator VELA2 from Flight Data. In: . AIAA Atmospheric Flight Mechanics Conference. Honolulu.

  17. 2007

    1. Beilstein und Klaus Drechsler. 2007. A methodology of weight prediction for joints in aircraft design. In: . SAWE. Madrid.
    2. Drechsler, Klaus und Friedrich. 2007. Wege zur kostengünstigen Fertigung von Hochleistungsverbundstrukturen in innovativen Fahrzeugkonzepten. In: . Handelsblattsymposium „ Werkstoffe und Fertigungstechnik, Technologien und Bauweisen“. Stuttgart.
    3. Voit-Nitschmann, Rudolf, L. Schumann und Geinitz. 2007. HYDROGENIUS: FLYING WITH HYDROGEN. In: . Workshop of Aircraft System Technologies AST 2007. Hamburg.

Head of Aircraft Design

This image shows Andreas Strohmayer

Andreas Strohmayer

Prof. Dr.-Ing.

Managing Director, Head of Department Aircraft Design

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