The DLR Project Wirbelschleppe - Detecting, Characterizing, Controlling, Attenuating, Understanding, and Predicting Aircraft Wake Vortices

Abstract

This collection of reports presents an excerpt of the investigations that were performed in the framework of the DLR Projekt Wirbelschleppe. A similar sample of reports was presented as part of three dedicated wake vortex sessions accomplished at the 1st European Air and Space Conference (CEAS 2007) and Deutscher Luft- und Raumfahrtkongress 2007 in Berlin. The Projekt Wirbelschleppe was conducted in two phases in the time frame from 1999 to 2007 with the five contributing DLR Institutes Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Institute of Aerodynamics und Flow Technology, Institute of Flight Systems, Institute of Flight Guidance, Institute of Robotics und Mechatronics and the Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics of the University of Technology Berlin. The project unified a multitude of different aspects and disciplines of wake vortex research which can be characterized by four main themes: • Minimization of wake vortices by measures at the aircraft • Development and demonstration of a system for wake vortex prediction and observation • Airborne wake vortex detection and active control • Integration of systems into air traffic control The Projekt Wirbelschleppe greatly benefited from the European projects AWIATOR, ATCWake, Credos, C-Wake, Eurowake, FAR-Wake, FLYSAFE, I-Wake, S-Wake, WakeNet, WakeNet2-Europe, WakeNet3-Europe, and Wavenc. DLR’s wake vortex activities will be continued in the Projekt Wetter & Fliegen (2008-2011). Because the current compilation represents only a limited extract of the accomplished work, it is completed by a list of references emerging from the project.