AERO 2007 Review

I decided to do this in english..you German guys could easily have attended the fair yourself... shame on you if you didn't 055.gif

For all people overseas: the AERO is one of Europes biggest GA fairs. It takes place in Friedrichshafen at scenic lake of Konstanz. If you're interested, Ill give you my very personal review:

 

Almost half of the show is dedicated to UL aircraft. Most of these qualify as LSA in the US. It seems to be the only field of GA where true innovations take place. We now have ultralights in Europe with retracable gear, constant speed props and glass cockpits, that easily outperform anything but a war bird or a 500 000 $ production aircraft.

Anyhow, my focus this year was on metal birds and their construction techniques, of course..

 

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 WOW finally we have a Aircraft Spruce dealer in Germany!!

 

 

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Nope, this is not a bonsai Vulcanair, this is a Technam P2006T Twin Rotax equipped  4 seater production aircraft from Italy...

 

 

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Nice Cockpit view of a Super Decathlon. This one is for rent at Tempelhof airport Berlin

 

 

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Several boothes had fake campfires this year...my plane, my tent and me ;-)

 

 

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Thielert had a HUGE booth with many converted production aircraft on display..unfortunately they don't sell their Diesels to us Experimental folks...

 

 

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Rare view on the new Diamond Superstar 5 seater..usually there gathered a cloud of people around...

 

 

 

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That's what I call a glass cockpit.....(also Superstar)

 

 

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Mock up of a new "toy" this is supposed to be a amphibic ultralight with foldable wings....so you can stow it away into your Yacht

 

 

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They even brought a very high quality mock up cockpit

 

 

 

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French Wankel engine, 190 HP on the weight and size of an O320...forgot the name though....

 

 

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It was almost impossible to take a picture of this extremely beautiful italian 2 seater...too many folks around it

 

 

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There where many Czech companys around. This is a design study of a flying car with foldable wings...VERY futuristic! It reminded me at these "Transformer" manga comics from Japan

 

 

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Goebler Hirth makes 2stroke Engines...this Year they had a variety of unusual aircraft with their engines mounted on display...here a Cricri clone,...

 

 

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...a single seat Gyro,...

 

 

 

 

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A hang glider trike with a fuselage, the slogan was "flying without medical",...

 

 

 

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...and a paraglider trike that is also a STREET LEGAL CAR...this really means something in Germany!!

 

 

 

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This is the cockpit view of a "Breezer" Ultralight, the German competitor of my Zodiac

 

 

 

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I love this sleek Czech single seater ! It 's suppposed to be a ultralight...making 150 knots on a Rotax 582

 

 

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Nice Italian Cub clone called "Savage" (also UL/LSA)

 

 

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Beautiful German Bipe "FK Comet" (also UL/LSA)

 

 

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Former Zenith distributor Czech aircraft now has their own Design

 

 

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601 builders, you will not believe what this is....

 

 

 

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...a RETRACTABLE GEAR version of your trusty Zodiac...read to buy from the shelf..... I WANT ONE!!!!!

..did I mention that I want one?

 

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"upskirt" ;-)

 

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...if somebody was in doubt...I want one!!

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Very Light weight italian engine,  Idf you're interested I'll dig out the name and specs from my "fair bag"

 

 

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mock up of a twin

 

 

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italian propellors for your Jab

 

 

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Nice LSA "Texan 600" ...hmmm I wonder where it might come from  ;-)

 

 

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I liked this solution for the baggage compartment

 

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No, this is NOT a Lancair (YES it is, of course), It is a "Dynamic", believe it or not this qualifies as Ultralight here.......

 

 

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Zoche, the guy who had the original idea of a modern Diesel aviation engine decades ago, but did not manage to bring it to the market to this day

 

 

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Wood/composite, retractable Gear Ultralights  from Italy (remember: in Italy ULs do not qualify to fly ABOVE 500 ft GND!!! )

 

 

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nice collection of single seat Gyros. Gyrocopters have quite a market impact right now in Germany since they got legal a few years ago.

 

 

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C150 with Rotax 912 conversion

 

 

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Moving map was Yesterday!! Now you must have 3D Terrain navigation and a bluetooth connection to your UHMPC all clear?

 

 

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close up

 

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Very successful UL from Technam now also has RG

 

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Online friend Peter Holland (blue shirt) and his "Pulsar "experimental were constantly crowded

 

 

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Finally some imressions from the flightline, there were no airshows going on by that time...not like sun'n fun but who cares...

 

 

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Iren Dorniers DO24, built back in '44 right here in Friedrichshafen is back

 

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The Zeppelin NT doing  its passenger routine