Flugwissenschaftliche Vereinigung Aachen (abbreviation: FVA, ) is a non-profit organization, founded in 1920, which is closely associated to RWTH Aachen University (Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule – Aachen), with members consisting of RWTH Aachen students, which have included Felix Kracht. FVA supports and organizes various training courses for flight training, handling of composites and other aircraft materials including steel and aluminum.
Projects handled include research into alternative flaps configuration for Airbus aircraft. As a reward for work carried out in the laboratories and workshops at FVA, 300 hours per annum minimum, each student is granted free flying at the FVA gliding club. Training at the gliding club includes flying gliders, and glider tugs as well as flying instructor training, workshop supervisors and parachute packers. The FVA is under the wing of IDAFLIEG (Interessengemeinschaft deutscher akademischer Fliegergruppen e.V. - interest group for academic flying groups) and takes part in the Summer and Winter camps and seminars organised by IDAFLIEG. Through designing, constructing and flight testing of aircraft and research projects the students can complete their studies, publishing results and theses and gaining valuable skills knowledge and experience.
The glider fleet at FVA Aachen includes a high performance two-seat DG-1000 training glider, Schleicher ASH 25E open class two-seater, Glasflügel 205 Club Libelle and Glasflügel 206 Hornet club class gliders, as well as a Schleicher ASW 28-18 18m class sailplane, all of which can be flown by suitably qualified students. A Robin DR400 for towing the sailplanes is also owned by the FVA.
Projects
The FVA has undertaken the following development projects:
FVA-1 Schwatze Düvel (Black Devil) Built in 1920 to attend the first Rhön glider contest at Wasserkuppe. Designed by Prof.. Theodore von Kármán and his assistant Wolfgang Klemperer the FVA-1 was a low-wing cantilever monoplane with twin skid undercarriage. The FVA-1 was constructed of wood, with the pilot sitting exposed at the front of the fuselage. Piloted by Klemperer, the FVA-1 won the Rhön contest in 1920, with a straight distance flight of 1,830 m. A year later, on ((date | 30 | August | 1921 | Aviation W)) Klemperer sets a world record for distance, running 4.6 kilometers in 13 minutes. One built.
FVA-2 Blaue Maus (Blue Mouse) Almost identical to the 'Schwatze Düvel', the 'Blaue maus' had revised seating arrangement and other detail improvements, joining the 'FVA-1' at Wasserkuppe for the 1921 Rhön contest. At least four built, to order.
FVA-3 Ente (Duck) This canard glider followed the design philosophy of the FVA-1 and FVA-2, with similar cantilevered wings and trousered undercarriage skids, but used a controllable foreplane for stability and control in the pitch and yaw axes. One built.
FVA-4 Pipö
The FVA-4 was a lightweight, low-powered two-seater aircraft to provide cheap reliable training capacity for the flying group students.
FVA-5 Rheinland
The last of Wolfgang Klemperers designs for the FVA was the FVA-5, built simultaneously with the 'FVA-4'. Introducing what was to become the normal layout for gliders into the 1960s with a high wing supported by struts and a fully enclosed cockpit inside the fuselage, at the wing leading edge. The FVA-5 was a high performance aircraft for its time, using lightweight materials pared down to achieve a low empty weight, resulting in a rather fragile aircraft requiring careful ground handling. One built.
FVA-6
After the Allied Control Commission authorised the design and construction of powered aircraft, in 1924, Ilse Kober und Theodor Bienen designed the FVA-6, a tandem two-seater biplane with a 30hp () ABC Scorpion engine. Design and construction overcame many challenges. The first flight, at Düsseldorf-Lohausen airfield, ended in destruction for the FVA-6, the cause put down to inexperience on the part of the newly qualified test pilot. One built.
FVA-7 M Ia
It is uncertain which design was given the FVA-7 designation. The most probable candidate is the M 1a, derived from the Mayer M I by Hermann Mayer, a close associate of FVA. With resurgent interest in soaring the FVA set about building a new sailplane design, the 'FVA-7 m Ia', for training new pilots and to fly in Rhön contests at the Wasserkuppe. After Hermann Mayers success at the 1929 Rhön contest in the Mayer M I, the students at the FVA modified the design with a longer wingspan to improve performance, flying the 'FVA-7 M Ia' at the 1930 Rhön contest with qualified success. One built.