Akaflieg is an abbreviation for ''Akademische Fliegergruppe'', groups of

aeronautical engineer Aerospace engineering is the primary field of engineering concerned with the development of aircraft and spacecraft. It has two major and overlapping branches: aeronautical engineering and astronautical engineering. Avionics engineering is s ...

ing students from individual

German German(s) may refer to: * Germany, the country of the Germans and German things **Germania (Roman era) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizenship in Germany, see also Ge ...

universities of technology An institute of technology (also referred to as technological university, technical university, university of technology, polytechnic university) is an institution of tertiary education that specializes in engineering, technology, applied science ...

and

Technische Hochschulen A ''Technische Hochschule'' (, plural: ''Technische Hochschulen'', abbreviated ''TH'') is a type of university focusing on engineering sciences in Germany. Previously, it also existed in Austria, Switzerland, the Netherlands (), and Finland (, ) ...

, pre and postwar, who design aircraft, often gliders.

History

Otto Lilienthal Karl Wilhelm Otto Lilienthal (23 May 1848 – 10 August 1896) was a German pioneer of aviation who became known as the "flying man". He was the first person to make well-documented, repeated, successful flights with gliders, therefore making t ...

published his book ''Der Vogelflug als Grundlage der Fliegekunst (Birdflight as the Basis of Aviation)'' in 1889. This described the basics of modern aerodynamics and aircraft construction. Lilienthal then made many successful flights starting in 1891. However attention then shifted to powered flight after

World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

Gliding Gliding is a recreational activity and competitive air sports, air sport in which pilots fly glider aircraft, unpowered aircraft known as Glider (sailplane), gliders or sailplanes using naturally occurring currents of rising air in the atmospher ...

re-emerged as a sport after the war because the building of powered aircraft was restricted in Germany by the

Treaty of Versailles The Treaty of Versailles was a peace treaty signed on 28 June 1919. As the most important treaty of World War I, it ended the state of war between Germany and most of the Allies of World War I, Allied Powers. It was signed in the Palace ...

. The main originator of the gliding movement was

Oskar Ursinus Carl Oskar Ursinus (11 March 1877 – 6 July 1952) was a pioneer of German aviation and is remembered mainly for his contributions to sailplane designs and the sport of gliding. He has been nicknamed the ''Rhönvater'' ("Rhön father") because he ...

, who in 1920 organised the first contest, known as the Rhön-Contest, on the

Wasserkuppe The Wasserkuppe (;) is the highest mountain in the Rhön Mountains, Rhön range and the tallest elevation in the Germany, German state of Hesse, standing at above sea level. It forms a prominent plateau within the Fulda district and is known as ...

. Thereafter the contest was held annually. Students of

brought gliders which they had developed and built themselves for testing to these contests. An ''esprit de corps'' developed known as ''Rhöngeist''. These informal beginnings caused the formation of groups of engineers at

with the aim of scientific and practical education. The first groups were formed in 1920 in Aachen, Darmstadt and Berlin-Charlottenburg, but others soon followed. Many of the first members had been pilots in the German Air Force. However it was the love of flying rather than militarism or nationalism that motivated them. As a result a fraternal spirit was created that has been maintained to this day. During the Nazi period some Akafliegs escaped regulation for a while through the patronage of the ''Deutsche Versuchsanstalt für Luftfahrt (DVL)'', a forerunner of the present-day ''

German Aerospace Center The German Aerospace Center (, abbreviated DLR, literally ''German Center for Air- and Space-flight'') is the national center for aerospace, energy and transportation research of Germany, founded in 1969. It is headquartered in Cologne with 3 ...

(DLR)'', however shortly before

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

the akafliegs were forced to integrate into the ''NS-Deutsche Studentenbund (Nazi-students-federation)''. The projects at this time mainly had a military application.

Present day

After the war, the Akafliegs re-formed in 1951, co-ordinated by ''Interessengemeinschaft Deutscher Akademischer Fliegergruppen e.V. (Idaflieg)''. As of 2009 there are ten groups. The aim of the Akafliegs is the development, design and construction of aeroplanes, especially gliders and scientific research into flight. Much of the practical work is done at the summer meetings of the ''Idaflieg'' in co-operation with the ''

(DLR)'', while the results of the research are presented at the winter meetings. The ''Idaflieg'' also offers many events and courses to its members such as the specification, design and certification of aeroplanes. The quality of additional education provided by the Akafliegs is widely respected and so German glider manufacturers recruit almost exclusively from the Akafliegs. Members have to devote approximately 150 to 300 man-hours annually in order to be able to fly with the Akafliegs. The cost of flying for these members is usually much lower than at other gliding clubs. American Universities have also implemented programs similar to the Akafliegs but based around the American style of teaching,

Penn State #Redirect Pennsylvania State University The Pennsylvania State University (Penn State or PSU) is a Public university, public Commonwealth System of Higher Education, state-related Land-grant university, land-grant research university with ca ...

's AERSP 404H is one example of this implementation. ;

Akaflieg Berlin ''Akaflieg Berlin'' is one of around thirteen flying groups, or ''Akaflieg'', currently attached to German universities. ''Akaflieg Berlin'', is the abbreviation of ''Akademische Fliegergruppe Berlin e.V.'' (Academic Aviator Group Berlin), a grou ...

:''

Technische Universität Berlin (TU Berlin; also known as Berlin Institute of Technology and Technical University of Berlin, although officially the name should not be translated) is a public university, public research university located in Berlin, Germany. It was the first ...

'' ;

Akaflieg Braunschweig Akaflieg is an abbreviation for ''Akademische Fliegergruppe'', groups of aeronautical engineering students from individual German universities of technology and Technische Hochschulen, pre and postwar, who design aircraft, often gliders. Histor ...

:''

Technische Universität Braunschweig TU Braunschweig (, unofficially ''University of Braunschweig – Institute of Technology'') is the oldest ' (comparable to an institute of technology in the American system) in Germany. It was founded in 1745 as Collegium Carolinum and is a membe ...

; Akaflieg Darmstadt :''

Technische Universität Darmstadt The Technische Universität Darmstadt (official English name Technical University of Darmstadt, sometimes also referred to as Darmstadt University of Technology), commonly known as TU Darmstadt, is a research university in the city of Darmsta ...

'' ;

Akaflieg Dresden Akaflieg is an abbreviation for ''Akademische Fliegergruppe'', groups of aeronautical engineering students from individual German universities of technology and Technische Hochschulen, pre and postwar, who design aircraft, often gliders. Histor ...

:''

Technische Universität Dresden TU Dresden (for , abbreviated as TUD), also as the Dresden University of Technology, is a public research university in Dresden, Germany. It is the largest institute of higher education in the city of Dresden, the largest university in Saxony a ...

'' ;

Akaflieg Erlangen Akaflieg is an abbreviation for ''Akademische Fliegergruppe'', groups of aeronautical engineering students from individual German universities of technology and Technische Hochschulen, pre and postwar, who design aircraft, often gliders. Histor ...

:''Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg'' -

University of Erlangen-Nuremberg A university () is an institution of tertiary education and research which awards academic degrees in several academic disciplines. ''University'' is derived from the Latin phrase , which roughly means "community of teachers and scholars". Univ ...

;

Akaflieg Hamburg Akaflieg is an abbreviation for ''Akademische Fliegergruppe'', groups of aeronautical engineering students from individual German universities of technology and Technische Hochschulen, pre and postwar, who design aircraft, often gliders. Histor ...

:''Technische Universität Hamburg'' -

Hamburg University of Technology The Hamburg University of Technology (in German language, German ''Technische Universität Hamburg'', abbreviated TUHH (HH as acronym of Hamburg state) or TU Hamburg) is a research university in Germany. The university was founded in 1978 and in ...

;

Akaflieg Hannover Akaflieg is an abbreviation for ''Akademische Fliegergruppe'', groups of aeronautical engineering students from individual German universities of technology and Technische Hochschulen, pre and postwar, who design aircraft, often gliders. Histor ...

:''Leibniz Universität Hannover'' -

Leibniz University of Hannover Leibniz University Hannover (), also known as the University of Hannover, is a public research university located in Hanover, Germany. Founded on 2 May 1831 as Higher Vocational School, the university has undergone six periods of renaming, its ...

;

Akaflieg Karlsruhe Akaflieg Karlsruhe is one of ten flying groups (Akaflieg) attached to German universities. Akaflieg is an abbreviation for ''Akademische Fliegergruppe'', an academic group of students working with a German University. The ''Akademische Fliegergru ...

:''Karlsruhe Institut für Technologie'' -

Karlsruhe Institute of Technology The Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT; ) is both a German public research university in Karlsruhe, Baden-Württemberg, and a research center of the Helmholtz Association. KIT was created in 2009 when the University of Karlsruhe (), founde ...

;

Akaflieg Köln Akaflieg is an abbreviation for ''Akademische Fliegergruppe'', groups of aeronautical engineering students from individual German universities of technology and Technische Hochschulen, pre and postwar, who design aircraft, often gliders. Histor ...

:''Universität zu Köln'' -

Cologne University The University of Cologne () is a university in Cologne, Germany. It was established in 1388. It closed in 1798 before being re-established in 1919. It is now one of the largest universities in Germany with around 45,187 students. The Universit ...

;

Akaflieg München Akaflieg is an abbreviation for ''Akademische Fliegergruppe'', groups of aeronautical engineering students from individual German universities of technology and Technische Hochschulen, pre and postwar, who design aircraft, often gliders. Histor ...

:'Technische Universität München'' -

Technical University of Munich The Technical University of Munich (TUM or TU Munich; ) is a public research university in Munich, Bavaria, Germany. It specializes in engineering, technology, medicine, and applied and natural sciences. Established in 1868 by King Ludwig II ...

; Akaflieg Stuttgart :''Universität Stuttgart'' -

University of Stuttgart The University of Stuttgart () is a research university located in Stuttgart, Germany. It was founded in 1829 and is organized into 10 faculties. It is one of the oldest technical universities in Germany with programs in civil, mechanical, ind ...

; Akaflieg Wilhelmshaven :''Jade Hochschule'' - Jade University of Applied Sciences ;

Flugwissenschaftliche Vereinigung Aachen Flugwissenschaftliche Vereinigung Aachen (abbreviation: FVA, ) is a non-profit organization, founded in 1920, which is closely associated to RWTH Aachen University (''Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule – Aachen''), with members consi ...

(FV Aachen) :''Rhein-Westphalia Techische Hochschule Aachen Universität'' -

RWTH Aachen University RWTH Aachen University (), in German ''Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule Aachen'', is a German public research university located in Aachen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. With more than 47,000 students enrolled in 144 study prog ...

; Flugwissenschaftliche Arbeitsgemeinschaft Bremen (FWAG Bremen) : ; Flugtechnische Arbeitsgemeinschaft Esslingen (FTAG Esslingen) :''Hochschule Esslingen'' - Esslingen High School There are also academical gliding clubs with other focus than building aircraft, like the Akaflieg Frankfurt which is devoted on research of thermals, mountain wave and flight safety.

External links

Idaflieg

Flugwissenschaftliche Vereinigung Aachen

Akademische Fliegergruppe Berlin

Akademische Fliegergruppe Braunschweig

Akademische Fliegergruppe Darmstadt

Akademische Fliegergruppe Dresden

Flugtechnische Arbeitsgemeinschaft Esslingen

Akademische Fliegergruppe Hannover

Akademische Fliegergruppe an der Universität Karlsruhe

Akaflieg München

Akaflieg Stuttgart

Akaflieg Wilhelmshaven

Akaflieg Frankfurt

* :de:Akaflieg#Akaflieg Darmstadt Akaflieg article in German {{Authority control Aircraft manufacturers of Germany Aeronautics organizations Engineering education in Germany