Lange Aviation
| Company type | GmbH |
|---|---|
| Industry | Aerospace, Aircraft manufacturing |
| Predecessor | Lange Flugzeugbau GmbH |
| Founded | 1996 |
| Founder | Axel Lange |
| Headquarters | Zweibrücken , Germany |
Key people | Axel Lange (Managing Director) |
| Products | Gliders, electric propulsion systems for aircraft |
Number of employees | 42 |
| Website | www |
Lange Aviation GmbH is a German manufacturer specializing in gliders and the development of electric propulsion systems for various aircraft. Established in 1996 by Axel Lange, who remains the managing director, the company was originally named Lange Flugzeugbau GmbH and based in Zweibrücken. Currently, Lange Aviation employs 42 staff members. In late September 2007, the company underwent financial restructuring when Lange Faserverbundtechnik GmbH acquired all physical assets and intellectual property rights of Lange Flugzeugbau GmbH. Production of the Antares gliders continued at Zweibrücken Airport under this new ownership. Since 2008, the firm has operated under the name Lange Aviation GmbH.
Gliders
Lange Aviation produces and markets an electric self-launch glider known as the Lange Antares 20E. This model incorporates lithium-ion batteries paired with a 42 kW brushless DC electric motor. The propulsion system was first tested in flight on 7 May 1999 using a heavily modified DG-800 B. The prototype of the Antares 20E took flight in 2003, with the initial production aircraft delivered in 2004. Additionally, this electric propulsion system was offered as an option on the Schempp-Hirth Arcus until 2016.
Derived from the 20E is the Antares 18, an 18-meter class glider that made its maiden flight on 28 May 2006. The Antares 18 is available either as a pure glider (18S) or equipped with a two-stroke engine variant (18T).
On 23 April 2011, Lange Aviation revealed plans for a 23-meter Open Class glider named the Antares 23E. This project was developed in partnership with Schempp-Hirth, which concurrently announced its own 23-meter glider called the Schempp-Hirth Quintus. Both companies agreed to collaborate on marketing efforts. The primary distinctions between the Antares 23E and Quintus lie in their fuselage designs and propulsion systems; Lange Aviation’s model features an electric powerplant, whereas the Quintus employs a combustion engine.
Fuel cell experimental aircraft
In collaboration with the German Aerospace Center (DLR), Lange Aviation developed a flying test platform for fuel cell technology. Named "Antares DLR-H2," this aircraft is based on the Antares 20E but includes reinforced wings equipped with hard-points. These hard-points carry two pods measuring 2.8 meters each: one on the right housing a pressurized hydrogen tank and one on the left containing fuel cells. The aircraft retains its full set of Li-Ion batteries and can operate solely on fuel-cell power, battery power, or a hybrid combination, facilitating versatile testing of fuel cell systems. The project was announced at Stuttgart Airport in September 2008, with its first flight powered exclusively by fuel cells occurring in April 2009. A public demonstration followed in July 2009 in Hamburg.
The company is also working on a successor experimental aircraft called the Antares H3, again partnering with DLR. This new model aims to offer enhanced performance over the DLR-H2 and is scheduled for its maiden flight in 2011. Like its predecessor, it is based on the Antares 20E platform and utilizes hydrogen fuel cells.
The Lange Antares E2 surveillance aircraft, boasting a 40-hour endurance capability, was slated for unveiling at AERO Friedrichshafen from April 18 to 21, 2018, with its inaugural flight planned for June of that year. Weighing approximately 1,650 kg (3,640 lbs), the E2 features six 6.7 kW (9.0 hp) reformed methanol fuel cell units supported by 12 kWh (43 MJ) lithium-ion batteries powering six 15 kW (20 hp) electric motors. It can sustain horizontal flight using just two motors and three fuel cells simultaneously. The aircraft’s wingspan measures 23 meters (75.6 feet) and includes two pods dedicated to fuel cells along with outboard pods carrying 300 kg (660 lb) of fuel. Propellers measuring 1.06 m (3 ft 6 in) are mounted on struts above the trailing edge to minimize interference drag. Payload capacity totals 200 kg (440 lb), distributed between fuselage compartments and outboard wing pods. Intended applications focus on civilian uses such as maritime surveillance equipped with radar, electro-optical/infrared sensors, and satellite communication antennas.
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