DLR Design Challenge This is What the Rescue Planes of the Future Could Look Like

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DLR-Standort Bonn Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt (DLR)

GGB Heilbronn GmbH

Students have developed concepts for a rescue aircraft of the future as part of the DLR Design Challenge. It is intended to provide medical care and transport people quickly and safely.

The jury of the German Aerospace Center (DLR) awarded the student teams Aether from FH Aachen and Asclera from RWTH Aachen (located in Germany) first place in the ninth DLR Design Challenge. At the closing event on August 26, 2025, the teams presented their designs for an innovative emergency evacuation aircraft. Two other student groups had withdrawn from the demanding competition during its course.

Challenge: Design of an emergency evacuation aircraft

Although helicopters and airplanes have long been used in medical evacuations, they are often limited in terms of range, maneuverability, and access to difficult environments. For remote regions, disaster areas, and densely populated urban centers, advanced aircraft are required to enable rescue teams to respond more quickly and flexibly. For these reasons, the DLR Design Challenge 2025 addressed this topic. The task was to design a single, innovative, efficient, and reliable emergency evacuation aircraft.

"The current world events and extreme weather occurrences show us how important it is to provide quick and efficient aid even in hard-to-reach areas. The students in the competition have set remarkable impulses through their commitment on how a safe emergency evacuation could look like, thereby saving lives. Everyone who faced this challenging competition as a team is a winner. Together, they have demonstrated an impressive performance," says Dr. Markus Fischer, DLR's Executive Board Member for Aeronautics.

Know-how, creativity, and team spirit as key competencies

The two student teams presented their designs at the competition's closing event, for which they had around four months to prepare. During this time, the students went through processes similar to those in real aircraft design: from the initial concept idea to the detailed elaboration of technical aspects and their calculation, up to the convincing presentation before the expert jury. They gained valuable experience and combined their acquired knowledge with practical skills by working under realistic conditions and tackling current challenges in the aviation industry. The task required not only technical expertise but also creativity and teamwork.

Fast, efficient, and safe emergency evacuation

This year's task included conceptually designing an efficient aircraft that enables medical assistance in the shortest possible time. The aircraft should be able to transport up to 19 people and cover a variety of predefined mission scenarios. These include medical care during the flight and on the ground, takeoff and landing on various surfaces, as well as executing a range of mission profiles.

To solve their task, the participants had to find a balance between medical transport solutions and optimal aircraft performance for various missions. In doing so, they were to integrate advanced aviation technologies, intelligent medical systems, and optimized rescue procedures into their designs.

An overview of the submitted aircraft designs

FH Aachen with Aether:

Aether is a versatile twin-engine turboprop rescue aircraft designed to transport up to 19 patients. The cabin layout is highly flexible and features a convertible design with quick-change rails and drop-pin seat rail adapters, enabling rapid reconfiguration for various mission requirements. A large rear door allows for quick and efficient patient loading, significantly reducing waiting times in emergency situations. With its simple and reliable twin-engine propulsion, Aether uses sustainable aviation fuel as its energy source.

RWTH Aachen with Asclera:

Asclera is a medical evacuation and ambulance aircraft capable of transporting up to 15 patients over a range of 2,500 kilometers (approx. 1,550 miles). The design is based on a powerful twin-engine turboprop aircraft with advanced flaps and flight control systems for smooth and safe operations, even on short, high-altitude runways. The cabin features modularity, rapid reconfiguration, and enhanced space provided by an elliptical fuselage. Dual doors and a rail-based loading system enable quick boarding and flexible transportation of patients with varying medical needs.