Press release 26 November 2013

 

 

 

Winners of the Berblinger Competition 2013

 

On November 16^th

 

In 1811 Albrecht Ludwig Berblinger had the vision of crossing from one bank of the Danube River to the other using a hang-glider. In the spirit of Berblinger and continuing his vision, the City of Ulm aims to promote developments in general aviation that make it possible to follow the course of the Danube from source to mouth (about 2,800 km) as free of noise and emissions as possible with the aid of an innovative and environmentally sustainable aircraft, whereby this feat could also be completed in stages. The Berblinger Prize of the City of Ulm will initially be awarded in theoretical competitions for ideas that will particularly contribute towards reaching this goal.

 

Apart from purely solar airplanes and some single research-oriented aircraft, 

 

The jury evaluated 21 entries. Since the competition was open to all imaginative and future-oriented applicants, the suggestions ranged from visionary pipedreams to practical and airworthy concepts.

 

The expert jury appraised the submissions according to the extent the objective had been met on the basis of the following criteria:

-         Environmental sustainability                   25%

-         Future potential                                   20%

-         Performance/effectiveness                    25%

-         Suitability for general use                      10%

-         Quality of documents submitted             20%

 

One result of the competition is the conclusion that as long as there are not batteries with a higher gravimetric energy density, there are only two alternatives to achieve an ecological long-range flight with motor gliders in the near future: purely solar-driven flight, provided that there is sufficient solar radiation, and a combination of electric and combustion engine which uses the benefits of both systems. These concepts also served as the basis for the proposals submitted by the three winners chosen to share the prize money.

According to the Berblinger jury, Stefan Senger from Holzheim/Germany
submitted the currently best possible solution for ecological, long-range flight with engine-driven aircraft and was therefore awarded first prize The combination of all performance characteristics in this concept promises to best fulfill the vision of a low-emission Danube flight. The approach presented is realistic, suitable for aviation, and optimally combines the advantages of electric and combustion engines. According to calculations, a range of more than 2,500 km can be expected. The concept is in such an advanced stage that its realization can begin (design, prototyping, flight testing and certification).

 

Second prize Eric and Irena Raymond

 

 

Third prize from Ostelsheim in southwestern Germany for his ambitious concept for a two-seater canard aircraft. The project is still in the development stage and some questions are still to be answered. However, since the data presented move a low-emission Danube flight nearer to reality, the jury decided to financially support this project through prize money and to encourage the committed designer to continue his work.

 

 

All submissions are displayed in a roll-up exhibition opened as part of the award ceremony. The exhibition can be viewed until December 20^th in the foyer of Ulm's City Hall. Furthermore it can be seen at the AERO trade fair in Friedrichshafen in April 2014. The Ulm Department for Culture will gladly receive requests for a presentation of this touring exhibition.

For more information, see www.berblinger.ulm.de

 

Appendices:

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Caption: Berblinger award ceremony on 16 November 2013 in the Ulm City Hall.

^rd prize), Eric and Irena Raymond (2^nd prize), Dipl.-Ing. (FH) Stefan Senger (1^st

2^nd row, left to right: jury members Prof. Dr. Karsten Urban, Dr.-Ing. Hartung Wilstermann, Dr.-Ing. Gert Hinsenkamp, Dipl.-Ing. Josef Prasser, Dr.-Ing.

 

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Caption: engine installation of Hybrid- / Range-Extender in the Antares 18

 

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Caption: Eric Raymond with the Sunseeker Duo

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Caption: Temporary roll-up exhibition on the Berblinger Prize 2013 in the foyer of Ulm's City Hall showing all entries in the Berblinger Competition 2013. An exhibition of the City of Ulm Department for Culture; concept and design: Schindler Kommunikations-Design.