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ILA Berlin Air Show 2016, a platform for innovation for the global aerospace industry

Berlin, 30 May 2016 – The ILA Berlin Air Show is now even more firmly established as a platform for presenting innovations covering all aspects of the world’s aerospace industry. From 1 to 4 June thILA_logoe ILA 2016 will feature the latest aircraft, innovative hi-tech products and technology, and a varied programme of supporting events and shows for experts and the general public alike.

The year’s most important aerospace show in continental Europe has attracted 1,017 exhibitors from 37 countries, who are displaying the latest technology from all areas of the aviation and space industries. Visitors will be able to see some 200 aircraft of all sizes and categories, both on the ground and in an exciting programme of flying displays. The ILA will also include some 50 conferences, seminars and workshops. Leading experts will be attending the conferences on high profile subjects as Industry 4.0 and 3D printing, and will be focussing attention on strategically important trends and market developments. A total of 250,000 square metres of halls and outdoor display areas are available at Berlin ExpoCenter Airport. The ILA 2016 will be officially opened on 1 June during a tour of the event by the Deputy Chancellor and Federal Minister of Economics Sigmar Gabriel. The Berlin Air Show is organised by the German Aerospace Industries Association (BDLI) and Messe Berlin GmbH.

Future Lab: the technological future in the aviation and space sectors
The Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi) has its own stand in Hall 2 at the ILA Berlin Air Show 2016. With exhibits from various programmes that are being funded by the BMWi, in particular the aviation research programme and the National Programme for Space and Innovation, the ministry is providing insights into the technological future of aviation and the space sector. Among the many items on display are the MANTIS legged robot from the German Research Centre for Artificial Intelligence (DFKI), a demonstration of active noise cancellation by the German Aerospace Centre (DLR), future earth observation satellites and innovative technologies for use in space robotics. One of this year’s outstanding features can be found under the heading of the ILA Future Lab, where the stand of the Ministry for Economic Affairs will be previewing the thematic changes due to be introduced at the ILA in 2018.
In cooperation with the German Aerospace Industries Association (BDLI), one of the organisers of the ILA, there will be exhibits dealing some aspects of major future importance, ‘Digitalisation’, ‘Sustainability’, ‘Technological Competitiveness’ and ‘Space for Earth’.

The German Aerospace Centre (DLR) is again one of the largest institutional exhibitors at the ILA Berlin Air Show 2016, Hall 4. Copyright: DLR
The German Aerospace Centre (DLR) is again one of the largest institutional exhibitors at the ILA Berlin Air Show 2016, Hall 4. Copyright: DLR

Versatile DLR research fleet
The German Aerospace Centre (DLR) will be strongly represented with its research fleet. Formerly the ’chancellor’s Airbus’, the Airbus A310 Zero G now takes to the skies to conduct zero-gravity experiments and is Europe’s only aircraft capable of parabolic flight. The Discus-2c glider is representative of a new generation of research aircraft. Its nose-mounted antenna features a sensor with five holes for precise airflow angle measurement. An A320 ATRA, an Airbus BO 105 helicopter and a Cessna 208B Grand Caravan will be on show for the entire duration of the ILA. These aircraft will demonstrate their research applications in the field of aerodynamics, in low-noise landings and long-distance reconnaissance missions.

The DLR stand in Hall 4 presents the entire range of research being carried out by this organisation: from the unmanned superARTIS helicopter, shown in a simulated landing on the moon with the aid of optical precision navigation, to new aircraft landing systems that permit low-noise, fuel-saving approach flights, an inspection of various types of propulsion units via virtual reality, and a field experiment using a model of the HALO research aircraft for reducing wake turbulence. Aviation applications of the results of research into energy will also be shown. One example is the burner being demonstrated by the DLR that can analyze the combustion of alternative fuels, with the aim of reducing emissions in aviation.

Unique space technology presentation
The display by the space industry at both a national and an international level is one of the highlights of the ILA 2016 Berlin Air Show, making this a unique event among the world’s aerospace trade shows. The 1,500 square-metre ILA Space Pavilion forms the heart of the Space presentation. This has been designed jointly by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi), the European Space Agency (ESA), the German Aerospace Centre (DLR) and the space companies organised under the project management of the (BDLI).

At the entrance, visible from afar, is a 17-metre high, 1:4 scale model of the new Ariane 6 launcher. The many scientific and research projects and applications reflect the range covered by the space-related topics of Navigation and Communication, Earth Observation and Exploration. Visitors will be able to see how space flight makes an active contribution to improving the quality of life on earth, its essential role in protecting the environment and the climate, and how it expands our knowledge. The ILA Space Day on 2 June will be bringing space experts from all over the world to Berlin. The main theme of this conference at the ILA Space Pavilion, with its outstanding international participants, will be ‘Changing Space – Challenges and Opportunities for Space’.

On 3 June the ILA Astronauts‘ Day will include contributions by Jean-François Clervoy (France), André Kuipers (Netherlands), Luca Parmitano (Italy) and, from Germany, Thomas Reiter, Reinhold Ewald and Ulf Merbold. The ESA astronauts will be providing details about their missions and will also be discussing the future of the International Space Station ISS. The global nature of space flight will be underlined by the prominent presence of international space agencies, institutions and companies, which can be found in Hall 4.

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