By MIKE TAYLOR
General aviation in Europe flourishes at the intersection of speed and style.
That was clearly evident at AERO 2019, held April 10-13 in Friedrichsafen, Germany.
This year’s show was dominated by light aircraft. Ultralight aircraft, in particular, as it is the most popular segment of GA in Europe.
However, it’s easy to confuse the many two-seat aircraft, which include Ultralight (UL), Very Light Aircraft (VLA), the U.S. standard Light-Sport Aircraft (LSA), and a large number of EASA CS-23/FAR Part 23 certified offerings.
With regards to sheer numbers of aircraft at an indoor exhibition, AERO makes its mark with a healthy dose of European flair. Some of the aircraft that caught the eye included the Blackwing from Sweden, the Fly Synthesis Syncro from Italy, the TL 3000 Sirius by TL Ultralight, and the VL-3 Evolution by JMB Aircraft.
Also catching the eye while walking through the displays were the Tomark Viper SD4 from Slovak Republic, and the colorful Belmont Patino from Latvia.
When old and new technology meet, the results are some interesting aircraft that seem to exist without any particular reference to time and place. Those at AERO include the Bücker Bü 133 Jungmeister “Liesel Bach” and the FK12 Comet tandem folding-wing biplane.
Two unusual-looking aircraft featured at AERO were the “flying wing” from Horten Aircraft and the VTOL e-flyer AutoflightX.
Europe also loves its gliders, and in 2019 they were placed in Hall A1 at the main entrance.
The most crowded areas at AERO, namely the corridors along Halls A3 to A6, were filled with general aviation services, equipment, engines, pilot supplies, and avionics manufacturers, including Garmin, which is gaining its foothold in Europe.
Twelve large hangar-halls were complemented by an outdoor static display area. Here, pre-owned aircraft were offered for sale, a small collection of military and historic aircraft was on display, with the Europa-Park Zeppelin tethered on the adjacent airfield.
Two sides of the Atlantic
Having just arrived from a week at SUN ‘n FUN, a number of exhibitors at AERO admitted to being travel-worn. Back-to-back shows this year put a strain on participants.
Curiously, but perhaps favorably, the two shows will occur at the same time in 2020, making it imperative that show duties be divided up. The next AERO will be held April 1-4, 2020.
Metoos. Would love to see something more innovative than carbon fiber (weak mains) with Rotax (most of them low wing bubbles). Nothing wrong with the advancements in the two techs above but the planes all look and fly alike…nothing innovative (except the flying wing of course). But that wing will never see production.
Carbon fiber has a better strength-to-weight ratio than aluminum, so it only makes sense to use it to build light aircraft. Titanium is even better, but I suspect no one would want to pay what it would cost to build a light plane out of it. In terms of pure air frame efficiency, the flying wing or lifting body (like Barnaby Wainfan’s Facetmobile) is better than the traditional wing and fuselage layout. But if you were investing your life’s savings to start an aircraft manufacturing concern, how likely are you to risk building something like that to sell to oh-so-conservative pilots? I’ve always wondered how cheaply you could build a Facetmobile if you used composite components. It seems like it wouldn’t require that many individual pieces (you wouldn’t need a bunch of wing ribs, for example). But even if you can build it cheaply, the question is how many people are going to buy it.
Dear Mike, there is a mistake in this article. Shark is aircraft made in Slovakia by Shark.aero not a Blackwing from Sweden.
Thank you. The article has been corrected.