The IPROP project was recently presented at the inauguration of the new MITEB aviation hangar at Kamenz airfield in Germany, an event bringing together representatives from the aviation industry, research community and public institutions. Among those attending were a minister from the German state of Saxony-Anhalt and the Mayor of Kamenz.
The newly inaugurated facility provides around 1,500 m² of space dedicated to the development, assembly and testing of aircraft. Representing an investment of approximately €3 million, the hangar will support MITEB’s activities in emerging aviation technologies, including electric motor gliders and unmanned airships.
The inauguration featured both political and technical sessions, creating an opportunity to discuss current developments and future perspectives in aviation and Lighter-Than-Air (LTA) technologies.
During the morning technical session, Associate Professor Carlo E.D. Riboldi from Politecnico di Milano presented the potential of electric powertrains combined with highly efficient aircraft configurations, including motor gliders and airships, before focusing on current research in the Lighter-Than-Air field and highlighting the IPROP project and its work on ionic air-breathing propulsion.
The technical panel also brought together expertise from industry and academia, providing an opportunity to exchange perspectives on the development of LTA technologies and their future applications.
The new facility reflects the growing activity around innovative aviation technologies in Kamenz. Alongside its work on electric motor gliders, MITEB is developing an unmanned airship for remote-sensing applications, with the new hangar providing dedicated infrastructure for aircraft development, assembly and testing.
For IPROP project, the event provided an important opportunity to bring research into dialogue with the wider aviation community. Exchanges between researchers, technology developers and industry are particularly valuable for exploring the potential of emerging LTA technologies and building connections across the European ecosystem.
