We are enormously proud that Mark Ommert, alumnus and former colleague of the Aviation Technology programme at Inholland University of Applied Sciences Delft, has been nominated for the prestigious Prins Friso Ingenieursprijs. Meanwhile, he is even one of the three finalists! This prize, awarded by the Royal Institute of Engineers (KIVI), is intended for engineers whose innovative work makes a significant contribution to both their profession and society.

An impressive career
Mark is still young, but already has a multifaceted career behind him. Immediately after his studies, he gained valuable experience at sustainable aviation startups and played a key role in the development of the electric Dragonfly by Inholland. His experience is broad: from structural design and aeroelasticity to electric propulsion systems for aircraft. As co-founder and Engineering Manager of the Inholland Electric Flight Lab, Mark has made a crucial contribution to the development of electric aircraft. Over the past five years, he has worked closely with more than 200 students and teachers from Inholland Delft on innovative research and education for sustainable aviation. His work is bringing the certification and market introduction of sustainable aviation technology ever closer.

Towards sustainable aviation
Mark currently works as Project Manager at the Netherlands Aerospace Group (NAG), where the Dutch ecosystem is helping in the transition to sustainable aviation. Because, as Mark himself says: ‘We really need to start flying more quietly and cleaner.’ His mission is clear: to inspire young engineers, strengthen industry cooperation and bring innovative technologies to market faster. His work has contributed to greater recognition for sustainability initiatives in aviation. He has also connected knowledge, promoted cooperation and helped position the Dutch ecosystem within the international aviation sector. Think industry, knowledge and educational institutions and government. As aviation is international, it is crucial to position the Dutch ecosystem globally to achieve societal impact, including more earning power and jobs for the Netherlands.

Founded in 2014, the AQUILO Rocket Team, is a unique student project from the Aeronautical Engineeringand Luchtvaarttechnolgie programs. The team comprises a group of enthusiastic students who design, build, test, and launch rockets together. Timo van Spelden, a former team manager, explains: "The AQUILO Rocket Team originated from an internship assignment. One of the Aeronautical Engineering students was tasked with building and launching a rocket. This was AQUILO I. The group working on it decided to continue, forming the current student team."

What Does the AQUILO Rocket Team Do?
The AQUILO Rocket Team is involved in designing and building rockets, managing almost everything in-house. "We create almost everything ourselves, except for a few electronic components and parts of the motor," says Timo. "One of our strengths is working with composites. We make lightweight but very strong rockets with excellent performance."

The team develops so-called "sounding rockets," used to conduct experiments in the upper layers of the atmosphere. What makes the AQUILO Rocket Team unique is that they design, test, and build their motors, unlike most other teams that buy off-the-shelf motors.

The Structure of the Team
The AQUILO Rocket Team is divided into five main departments. Each team member contributes to the success of the rocket missions.

The structural department plays a crucial role in building the rocket. They handle the fins, the nosecone, and the rocket's tubes, ensuring the design is sturdy and aerodynamic. These components are made from composite materials such as carbon fibre and fiberglass. These lightweight yet strong materials give the rocket a high-performing structure.

The electronics team deals with all the electronic aspects of the rocket. Both the software and hardware are made by AQUILO. This department ensures that the navigation, sensors, and communication systems work together perfectly. Without their efforts, the rocket would be blind and unable to collect crucial data.

The propulsion department is the heart of the rocket. Their expertise in solid propellant fuels is vital. The so-called fuel "Rocket Candy" is made by the team, making them one of only two rocket teams in the Netherlands to do so. A good motor design and fuel are essential for AQUILO's successful launches.

After the launch, the recovery team takes responsibility. They ensure the rocket returns safely to the ground. Using various parachutes and deployment techniques, they ensure the rocket remains undamaged after launch and can be reused.

Since one year, the team has expanded with a marketing department. This department increases AQUILO’s visibility through social media, the website, and promotional materials.

In addition to the five departments, AQUILO has a safety team. This team safeguards safety during all team activities, both at ASK ’t Harde and during CO₂ activation operations of the recovery system in the Delft region. Team members assess risks and reduce them where necessary when working with rocket technology.

The Dutch government aims to reduce all CO2 emissions to zero by 2070. This seems an impossible challenge  for future aviation engineers. How can we make aviation more sustainable? This question was central during ‘SWAPEC 2024: Future of Flight - A Runway to Sustainable Aviation,’ a symposium held at Rotterdam The Hague Airport organized by the student association V.S.V. Sipke Wynia of the Aeronautical & Precision Engineering program at Inholland University of Applied Sciences Delft. Interesting speakers and companies presented their innovations and discussed the challenges facing the aviation industry. The event offered students plenty of opportunities to meet industry professionals and explore their roles as future engineers.

SWAPEC stands for ‘Sipke Wynia Aeronautical & Precision Engineering Conference’ and was organized this year for the 42nd time. Why focus on sustainable aviation? “Because it is important to prepare young professionals for the drastic changes ahead,” says Kiki de Brouwer, chair of V.S.V. Sipke Wynia. The symposium attracted experts and representatives from both large companies and smaller startups, as well as students, researchers, and lecturers from the TU Delft and Inholland University of Applied Sciences. There was also an innovation market with demonstrations from NLR, Saluqi Motors, NRG2Fly, AeroDelft, Vaeridion, and Inholland. The day was chaired by Harm Edens, known from ‘BNR Duurzaam’ (podcast) and ‘Dit was het nieuws’ (TV).

“Extremely interesting to hear about the technological developments taking place and which companies are working on innovations to meet the ambitious goals for sustainable aviation,” says Tjalle Hanzens, a fourth-year Aeronautical Engineering student at Inholland Delft. “It is up to our generation to achieve the climate goals; it’s good to know what skills are expected of us.”

Dutch Ambitions 
Lodewijk Asscher, chairman of the Sustainable Aviation Table, kicked off the event. He emphasized the importance of (global) cooperation and the need for fair prices and kerosene taxes to stimulate innovation. "International travel is essential for building intercultural relationships and avoiding polarization. Instead of blaming individual travelers for pollution, we need to create a viable market and economy for sustainable flying, possibly supported by government subsidies.” He also called on students to help make companies successful in a changing world.

Knowledge Institutes 
Next, senior Airbus strategist Guido Schwartz presented Airbus’s approach to sustainable aviation: “Decarbonizing flights requires groundbreaking solutions that integrate new fuel types and technologies. Besides international cooperation, societal acceptance is also crucial.” Arvind Gangoli Rao, professor of sustainable aircraft propulsion at TU Delft, discussed the impact of new fuels and propulsion designs on emission reduction and aircraft designs, while Denise Eikelenboom from NLR (Netherlands Aerospace Centre) addressed the challenges around certifying new technologies. “It takes courage, perseverance, and especially time to meet all safety standards and develop new ones,” she stated.

Second-Year Project Award Ceremony 
After the lunch break, the award ceremony for second-year Aeronautical Engineering students took place. Their assignment? Design, build, test and fly a remote-controlled electric scale model airplane for extinguishing small fires. The four prototypes, which made their first flights the day before, were on display. “A hugely educational project,” said lecturer Rick van de Ploeg. “These students overcame technical challenges and learned to communicate and collaborate effectively.”

New Initiatives 
The afternoon highlighted various new initiatives. Ron van Baaren, CTO of Fokker Next Gen, represented the hydrogen movement, where the major challenge lies in convincing both technicians and investors of a kerosene-free future. Erik Geertsema, CEO of Conscious Aerospace, and Joseph Michaels presented strategies to accelerate the introduction of hydrogen-electric propulsion systems through retrofit solutions. And Hubert Blijie spoke about the AeroDelft project, in which mainly students from TU Delft and Inholland design, build, and test a liquid-hydrogen-electric two-seater aircraft.

Then the electric movement was spotlighted, with designs such as the Maeve M80, a hybrid-electric aircraft for 84 passengers from Maeve Aerospace, and the Microliner from Vaeridion, with battery engines in the wings. Finally, Joaquin Exalto, Aircraft Performance Engineer at Elysian Aircraft, explained the possibilities of battery technology for electric flights. A potentially shorter range is less relevant, according to him: "80% of all turboprop flights in Europe are less than five hundred kilometers."

Young & Disruptive 
The conference concluded with a panel discussion on the shortage of human capital in sustainable aviation. Young professionals Tessa Mennink (GKN Fokker) and Sjoerd Luijckx (TANIQ) spoke with industry experts Jolanda Stevens (KLM), Frank Jansen (NAG), and Victor Rijkaart (TU Delft). The urgency was clear: within ten years, 50% of the sector will retire. To prevent losing young talent to other sectors, established companies must become more attractive and respond to the needs of the new generation. Sjoerd: “Ensure ownership and give newcomers the chance to make an immediate impact.” Tessa also wants more commitment, as 2050 seems far off: “For that, we need new leadership and structures where talent can grow.” The advice: be transparent about sustainability performance, expand collaboration, and also involve suppliers and the energy sector.

Highly Successful 
The unique mix of speakers and the impressive turnout of industry leaders were, according to Inholland program manager Arnold Koetje, crucial to the great success of the symposium. “The panel discussion could have been a bit sharper, but the young professionals did an excellent job! This, combined with Harm Edens’ knowledge of sustainable developments worldwide, interspersed with a humorous note, made SWAPEC 2024 a very successful edition.”

During the Engineering Entrepreneurship (EE) Minor, engineering students are given the opportunity to gain experience with entrepreneurship. The main focus is on the development and feasibility of business cases. Students develop these business cases and try to convince stakeholders of their plans. One group of students focused on a sustainable solution for aircraft on the ground. It turned out to be a runway for their own start-up.

During blocks 1 and 2, fourth-year students of the  Luchtvaarttechnologie and Aeronautical Engineering  study programmes are given the opportunity to apply all their technical knowledge during the EE. Over the course of twenty weeks, the students are challenged to set up their own company based on a technological concept. Ultimately, experts in the business world test their business cases. 

Technical feasibility 
Each team is given the freedom to choose different problems and challenges in the market. By means of a service, product or advice, they try to provide a solution for an organisation. This year's theme was Sustainability. Technology must be the starting point in order to prove its feasibility by means of a prototype or concept. Student Mia Jovetić: "During this project, we really get the opportunity to experience what it is like to be an entrepreneur. In recent years, we learnt a lot about engineering. Now we get a lot of information about entrepreneurship." 

Sustainable solution for ground operations
With the Sustainable Aircraft Ground Operations project, group members Mia, Melvin, Greta, Alvaro, Sven, Arnold, Heinrich and Rafael were given the opportunity to come up with sustainable solutions for aircraft ground operations. Mia continued: "We came up with different solutions and contacted airports. This gave rise to our idea for a sustainable, electric taxi vehicle. At the moment, the aircraft themselves taxi from A to B, which is less sustainable and generates a lot of emissions." Melvin van der Linde: "One of the ideas was to make these ground operations more sustainable. With this concept, you would convert kinetic energy of the aircraft during landing into electrical energy."

Registering at Chamber of Commerce 
Mia and Melvin’s group won the EE this year. Because there is a demand from many aviation companies for sustainable solutions for ground operations, the group is continuing with this project and wants to register in the trade register with the Chamber of Commerce. Rafael Schaeffers Félix: "We were often asked whether we wanted to carry on; there is a lot of interest in this idea. So we want to continue this alongside our studies in order to make airports more sustainable." The students in the group really enjoyed getting to know the business aspect of engineering. Alvaro Lopez: "We haven't done this before and you get a good idea of what the industry is really looking for. I think we got involved more closely to global problems and got the chance to solve them." 

Currently, the group of students have started their own start-up. Check out the LinkedIn-page to discover more.

After 16 weeks it was finally time; the self-designed gliders built by Aeronautical Engineering students of Inholland University of Applied Sciences in Delft took to the air. One of the students, Robin Mens, and his team (High Flyers) had their glider reach a height of 110 metres. “We learned so much, from start to finish. It was a very special project to be part of.”

Robin has been fascinated with technology from an early age. According to him, the Aeronautical Engineering programme in Delft includes all aspects that are important to him. Robin is fascinated with motorsport. He hopes to eventually start his career in this industry. “I already have connections with engineers who work in different Formula 1 teams. It would really be a dream to make it in this industry.”

The start of the project
Each year, Aeronautical Engineering students start two projects. One major project is the Design, Build & Test (DBT) project. In 16 weeks, 14 groups of students build different gliders that can reach a height of 100 metres within 120 seconds. The glider that stays in the air the longest wins that year's competition. Robin's group got to work with this information. “We started by coming up with different concepts. Everyone had to come up with their own concept. Next, we looked at which individual elements we could use for the final design.”

Selection of materials
Each group applying an innovative design receives additional points. To earn these points, the High Flyers team chose a unique tail wing for the glider. “We finally decided on a V-Tail. It was difficult to develop, but in the end, we put in a lot of time to get it done.” All groups received a budget for the purchase of materials. “For the selection of materials we had to take into account two aspects; it had to be strong enough, but also lightweight.” The team decided on balsa wood and plywood. Balsa wood is twice as light as plywood and is mainly used for parts that need to withstand less force.

Time pressure
After the design phase, the construction phase started. “We experienced a great deal of time pressure. No one in our group had any construction experience. That made it very tricky at times. So we quickly ordered the materials and just started building, in order to get a better feel for it.” By building the aircraft, the project was a very nice mix between theory and practice. “The DBT project is not just about entering data into computer programs; we really had work with materials.” Unfortunately, the pandemic was the cause for the construction days not always running as smoothly as we'd liked. “We split up the group; three of us worked at school. The others contributed to the calculations from home. We kept in touch through MS-Teams.”

Ready for take off?
And finally, the test phase in which the entire aircraft is examined and technically inspected. The test day is also the competition day, so there is no more time to adjust the aircraft. If you don't fly, the team is eliminated. “It is a very important, crucial moment, everything has to go right on the day. Because a lot of wind had been forecast, we had to assemble in Oosterhout at six o'clock in the morning. I only slept three hours myself.” Every team was present that day. The wind was getting stronger by the minute. Robin's team was the last team. “In the end, our plane made it well over 100 metres. I was super proud of us all.” Unfortunately, the plane did not survive the landing. But the result speaks for themselves. Team Highflyers took first place: Best Overall Project.

Looking back
Looking back on the project, Robin is very satisfied with the result achieved. “The collaboration was difficult at times. Normally you all work on a report at school. This was so much more! It was rather complex and took a lot more time. I have learned that it is very important to maintain good communication, from start to finish.”

Would you like to see the results of all groups? Click on this link.

In recent months, students Aeronautical Engineering have proved that they are just as versatile as the electric aircraft they are building. Development of the aircraft as part of Project DragonFly started at Inholland Composites in Delft in October 2019 and has not stopped since: coronavirus or no coronavirus!

Mark Ommert is the Project Manager for Project DragonFly and used to be an Aeronautical Engineering student himself. He talks enthusiastically about the project, in which an average of 15 students are involved. ‘The programme has been able to develop a broad network in recent months. The fast pace of developments means that major breakthroughs in electric propulsion are set to happen throughout the world in the near future. I’m pleased to say that projects like ours have a very important role to play.’

The website for Project DragonFly went live in May 2020. A feasibility study and technical research were carried out on the construction too, says Arnold Koetje, Programme Manager at Inholland Composites. ‘The government wants the industry to have switched to climate-neutral aviation by 2070, so it is important for us to quickly familiarise ourselves with the technologies that this will require. Electric motors are part of the solution.’

Creative challenges
Luca Baak is one of the students who is involved in Project DragonFly. His final research project focuses on the design for the engine mount in the front of the electric-powered DragonFly - it keeps the electric motor, motor controller and batteries in place. This presented Luca with a whole host of challenges. ‘I had to be very creative. There isn’t much literature on the subject, because it’s not something that’s been done a lot before; electric aircraft are still few and far between at the moment. So, I had to base my design on photos, amongst other things.’

Luca says that some of his fellow graduating students have had to set up workshops at home, to be able to physically test the various aircraft components. He hasn’t had this problem; an advanced design program on his laptop enables him to do his part of the project - which is handy given the current coronavirus crisis. ‘There’s nothing I can’t do: running strength calculations, deciding on the best design and making sure the ultimate design complies with all relevant regulations.’

Luca says that he has learned a lot about project management recently. ‘Working from home, there’s less informal contact between me and my supervisor and lecturers. I can’t quickly ask them a question as I pass them in the hallway, which I would have done normally. So, I have to find the answers I need myself. It’s even more important to make clear agreements about meetings and the next steps to be taken now too. The same applies for self-discipline, because this ensures that you continue to be productive while you’re at home.’

Widely known
The work being done as part of Project DragonFly has come to the attention of parties in the Netherlands and abroad, says Project Manager Arnold. ‘One of these was Saluqi Motors, an Eindhoven-based company that develops electric motors for the aviation industry (and other industries). It says that this type of aircraft is the perfect “airframe” in which to test one of its first electric motors. There are just a handful of manufacturers worldwide, so it’s very special for us to be working with a new, Dutch player.’

Designing, building, testing
The coronavirus crisis is hitting the aviation industry hard, but that doesn’t mean that Project DragonFly will suffer too, Arnold Koetje says. Quite the opposite actually. ‘We stand to benefit from the fact that big companies are facing difficulties and cutting back their research as a result. Also, attention is currently shifting from the subject of aircraft maintenance and more to the designing, building and testing of aircraft - the aspects we focus on here in the Aviation Technology programme.’

SMEs are faced with the challenge of gaining knowledge and experience with automation solutions and implementing new inspection technologies, as this the only way that they will be able to meet the growing demand for composite repairs. With this is mind, the goal of FIXAR (Future Improvements for Composites Sustainable Automated Repair) is to carry out applied research that is aimed at developing automated composite repairs that are technically and economically feasible. Inholland Composites, including its Composite research focus area, is working together with a number of knowledge institutions and SME partners to achieve this goal.

Aviation and wind energy sectors are joining forces
The project consists of four sub-studies: tools for automated repairs, inspection and validation, materials testing and SME employee training. The focus is on aviation and wind energy. These two sectors are particularly familiar with lightweight designs and fibre-reinforced polymers, and are thus well suited for exchanging knowledge to create pioneering opportunities for innovation. Technologies such as augmented reality play an important role in the project, as does the use of drones and other robot technologies. 

'In aviation, companies are currently replacing their existing fleets with new aircraft like the B787 and A350, which are made up of more than fifty percent composites', Antoine Gerritse, Aeronautical Engineering training manager, explains. 'The question is what can be done when these aircraft are hit by lightning or birds and need to be repaired. The current methods of maintenance, repair and overhaul are often not fast enough or are outdated. It is therefore high time to look for new ways of repairing damaged composites.'

Applied research on the shop floor
Some of the research will take place on the shop floor, so that participating companies can benefit directly from the study results. Internships and graduation projects will also be available to students from the participating universities of applied sciences. The project results and findings will also be used to develop new ‘sustainable’ educational material for degree programmes in Aviation Technology, Mechanical Engineering and Computer Engineering. On top of this, the FIXAR project will have a lasting impact on professional practice, as it will enable SME entrepreneurs to increase their knowledge of repair processes. 

The research question was developed thanks to a successful grant application to the SIA-RAAK SME programme. The collaboration includes the aviation and wind energy companies SPECTO Aerospace, Fusion Engineering, KVE Composites, Colosso Engineering, Pontis Engineering, Schatmaker and Carbon Racing. An advisory council was also assembled, with representatives from the Royal Netherlands Air Force, KLM, Fokker GKN, the Royal Netherlands Aerospace Centre, the Delft University of Technology, Fieldlab Zephyros, the Hanze University of Applied Sciences Groningen, and LM Windpower.

Fore more information please contact Arnold Koetje (+31 6 105 126 76, arnold.koetje@inholland.nl) or Rogier Nijssen (+31 6 543 526 54, rogier.nijssen@inholland.nl).