Prof. Dr. Christoph Kutter, VDE President
| Sarah Kastner / VDEThe articles in this edition vividly demonstrate how diverse aviation technologies have become. What sounded like science fiction only yesterday is gradually becoming reality today.
What excites me most is that many of these developments are emerging from Europe. Young companies are working on electric aircraft for regional travel, developing autonomous aerial robots for infrastructure inspection and disaster response, and laying the groundwork for Europe to remain technologically sovereign in space. Behind all these ideas are engineers, researchers, and entrepreneurial teams with the courage to rethink what is possible. We need to bring this enthusiasm for technology back into society – especially to younger generations. After all, the future is not built through skepticism alone, but by people who are willing to create and innovate.
Aviation also illustrates that technology never develops in isolation. It is closely linked to energy supply, digitalization, safety, regulation, and the challenge of making mobility more sustainable. Electric aviation requires advanced battery systems, aerial robots depend on intelligent sensors, and space exploration is built on highly complex microelectronics. Many of the key technologies we are discussing today will be crucial in determining how competitive Europe will be tomorrow. This makes it all the more important that we do not merely observe technological change, but actively help shape it. This issue offers fascinating insights, thoughtful perspectives, and inspiring examples. With that, I wish you an enjoyable and engaging read.
Prof. Dr. Christoph Kutter, VDE President
