The "Normal Segelapparat" comprises a fabric-covered, wooden skeleton. The video shows the fabric and rope. Later, the willow-wood sticks with the insect holes are shown. They are displayed in blue because of the low material density. (Video: Michael Mosch, Airbus Helicopters, Denis Kiefel, Testia-Airbus, Rainer Stössel, Airbus Group Innovations)
Research news More than 125 years ago, Otto Lilienthal laid the foundation for modern aviation with his innovative gliding apparatus, the "Normal Segelapparat". Only four specimens of the gliding apparatus have survived to this day, one of them at home in Deutsches Museum in Munich. Computer tomography investigations carried out by researchers at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) in collaboration with Airbus have for the first time provided a glimpse into the inner workings of the construction design. The images will help researchers and conservators at Deutsches Museum during restoration. "The apparatus is a masterpiece of engineering: built to be extremely light and using flexible materials that are reinforced at critical points." Prof. Christian Große , head of the TUM Chair of Non-destructive Testing , goes into raptures when he talks about Otto Lilienthal's gliding apparatus. The "Normal Segelapparat" comprises a fabric-covered, wooden skeleton with a wingspan of nearly seven meters. From today's perspective, the ingenious construction serves as a basis for further developments in modern aviation: The Wright brothers, for example, took advantage of Lilienthal's insights to construct the first powered airplane.
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