In March 2026, the Dresden University of Technology will place a new flying test bed for climate-friendly propulsion into operation. The Diamond DA62 MPP (Multi-Purpose Platform) enables in-flight validation of combustion, fuel cell, and electric propulsion systems under realistic boundary conditions. This approach establishes a platform for integrated system-level investigations rather than isolated component testing, thereby significantly increasing the technological relevance of the results.
The initiative is jointly led by the Institute of Lightweight Engineering and Polymer Technology (ILK) and the Institute of Aerospace Engineering (ILR) at TU Dresden under the direction of Prof. Maik Gude (ILK) and Prof. Johannes Markmiller (ILR). Flight operations are based at Kamenz airfield in eastern Germany, within the Lusatia region, where research, academic education, and industrial cooperation are strategically interconnected.
With a payload capacity exceeding 1.5 tonnes, approximately 10 hours of flight endurance, and modular provisions for hydrogen system integration, the twin-engine configuration enables parallel investigations of different propulsion architectures within the same mission profile. The resulting operational and performance datasets provide a robust basis for advancing key technologies toward TRL 7 and higher, including validation under representative environmental and operational conditions.
The total investment, funded by the Sächsische Aufbaubank within the JTF InfraProNet programme, establishes a long-term research infrastructure for sustainable aviation technologies. European partners from industry and academia are invited to engage in joint technology demonstrations, data exchange, certification-oriented studies, and collaborative research projects aimed at accelerating the transition toward fossil-free aviation.
Contact:
Dr.-Ing. Sebastian Spitzer
TUD Dresden University of Technology
Institute of Lightweight Engineering and Polymer Technology (ILK)
E-Mail: sebastian.spitzer@tu-dresden.de
Web: tu-dresden.de/ilk