Akaflieg Braunschweig

Akaflieg Braunschweig is a student association at the Technical University of Braunschweig whose members share a passion for aviation and aim to develop innovative and unique glider prototypes. The group carries out the entire development process, from design and calculation of components to manufacturing and integration into an aircraft, and maintains its own workshop. Its prototypes carry the designation 'SB' (Segelflugzeug Braunschweig).

According to the group's history page, after the first gliding flights by Akaflieg members from Hannover, Aachen and Darmstadt with their own designs in the slope lift of the Wasserkuppe, a few aviation-enthusiastic students and assistants of the Technical University of Braunschweig met and, supported by suggestions from Professor Schlink, decided on 8 November 1922 to found a 'Flugwissenschaftliche Vereinigung an der Technischen Hochschule zu Braunschweig'. It was later renamed 'Flugwissenschaftliche Gruppe der Technischen Hochschule' and in 1930 'Akademische Fliegergruppe Braunschweig'. In March 1923 the team moved the SB 1 'Storch' (Segelflugzeug Braunschweig Nr. 1) through the streets of Braunschweig to the Nussberg for first hops; during practice flights near Bad Harzburg for participation in the Rhön competition in autumn 1923 the SB 1 was destroyed. The SB 2 'Heinrich der Löwe' was created as the first diploma thesis in this field at the TH, a monoplane with wing twist for better flight stability, while the biplane SB 3 'Brockenhexe' was built from the wreckage of the SB 1. A workshop was set up in the unfinished construction of the aerodynamic research institute on Bienroder Weg, completed in July 1923, and in August nine Akaflieg members travelled to the Wasserkuppe with SB 2 and SB 3. In winter 1923/1924 one of the co-founders gave the first aeronautical lectures for the Akaflieg. The group's own account states that in its more than 100-year history it has set milestones of significance not only for gliding but also for aeronautical science and civil aviation, and that its prototypes with the 'SB' designation have given aviation new impulses, flown records and won countless competitions.

Student-run research, construction and flying group developing glider prototypes.

• SB 1 'Storch'

  Segelflugzeug Braunschweig Nr. 1, destroyed in 1923.

• SB 2 'Heinrich der Löwe'

  Monoplane with wing twist, first diploma thesis in this field at the TH.

• SB 3 'Brockenhexe'

  Biplane built from the wreckage of SB 1.

1. 1Akaflieg Braunschweig – Forschen | Bauen | Fliegenakaflieg-braunschweig.de
2. 2Geschichte – Akaflieg Braunschweigakaflieg-braunschweig.de
3. 3Über uns – Akaflieg Braunschweigakaflieg-braunschweig.de
4. 4Werkstatt – Akaflieg Braunschweigakaflieg-braunschweig.de