Aero 2022 Reconvenes As Europe’s Premier GA Expo

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After a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Europe’s general aviation community reconvenes this week at Aero 2022 in Friedrichschafen, Germany, widely recognized as the most inclusive GA show on the continent. According to organizers, 633 exhibitors from 34 countries are participating in the show, which runs from April 27 to 30.

At a pre-show press conference today (April 26), Klaus Wellmann, CEO of the Messe Friedrichshafen exhibition center, said, “Aero 2022 starts with the best conditions to take off now with great international participation at a full site. Visitors can look forward to full trade show power with innovations, dates and program items.” Aero 2022 organizer Roland Bosch added, “In my opinion, it is the most important Aero since the great start of the trade fair more than 40 years ago.”

Developers of alternative-powered aircraft take the spotlight at Aero 2022, including Hoerselberg-Hainich-based Flight Design General Aviation, whose developmental F2e is an electrically powered version of the F2, which was certified by EASA (European Union Aviation Safety Agency) in December 2021. On the eVTOL front (electric vertical takeoff and landing), the eMagic Aircraft from Grafschaft near Bonn made its public debut last November and will be on show at Aero 2022.

Rolls-Royce Electrical’s motto, “Powering new ways to fly,” spearheads its electric portfolio for advanced air mobility, personified by urban air mobility and electric commuter aircraft. Rolls-Royce participates in the U.K. government-funded ACCEL project, as well as the hybrid-electric Tecnam P2010, along with partners Tecnam and Rotax under the EU-funded “H3PS” project.

Waving the hybrid technology banner, H2FLY, a spinoff from DLR (German Aerospace Center), is showing its four-seater HY4, powered by hydrogen-electric power. On April 13 the aircraft reached a record altitude of 7,230 feet flying from Friedrichshafen. 

Representing more current GA technology, Textron Aviation of Wichita, Kansas, marks its 95th anniversary this year. Textron controls the Cessna Aircraft, Beechcraft and Hawker brands, serving customers in more than 170 countries around the world.

Mark Phelps
Mark Phelps is a senior editor at AVweb. He is an instrument rated private pilot and former owner of a Grumman American AA1B and a V-tail Bonanza.

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3 COMMENTS

  1. While Aero is indeed the premier aviation expo in Europe it is utterly embarrassing that it is still hard to reach by plane. You have to book slots which are sold out shortly after they are on sale (no kidding).

    This year the system did not work properly resulting in spending hours (no kidding here either) behind the computer to get one. If the weather is not good enough for flying into Friedrichshafen during the 20 minutes your slot is good to go… bad luck. No flying into Friedrichshafen.

    Going by airline is not an option too as there are only a few flights which cost way more than the gas for my Bonanza. No way of doing that in one day either because the one and only flight back to where I live (Hamburg) is departing at 3pm already. They should look at Sun n Fun or Oshkosh how to cope with mass arrivals of GA airplanes.

  2. It seems to me that piston GA companies ought to eat more of their own dog food. If they did, they’d perhaps sell more planes as well as create incentives for more airports to be more accommodating in order to attract business.

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