For the second year in a row, SynTrac joined Science Day 2025 at the University of Stuttgart, inviting visitors to explore an unusual question:
What does a rowing ergometer have to do with flying?

As part of the SynTrac public outreach initiative, the Science Lab aims to make physical phenomena and engineering concepts tangible for the non-scientific public. The SynTrac team joined the Science Day with a hands-on simulation where participants used a rowing ergometer to “power” a passenger aircraft into flight.

In this interactive experience, visitors could feel for themselves how much energy (scaled for comparison) is currently needed to lift and sustain an aircraft in flight. Then, they were challenged to try again—this time with the SynTrac concept aircraft, which represents a future of efficient, highly integrated flight systems. Visitors were able to experience how the same output could be delivered with far less energy input. The difference in effort demonstrated the transformative potential of SynTrac’s approach to reducing energy consumption and environmental impact in aviation.

The ergometer setup returned this year with an upgraded, aircraft-inspired design. Thanks to the creative efforts of the SynTrac team members at the Institute of Aircraft Design (IFB) at University o Stuttgart, a custom cockpit structure and attachable wings turned the machine into a plane-like simulator, making the experience more immersive than ever.

Inspired by last year’s enthusiastic participation, a live leaderboard kept track of top performances from children and adults. While some visitors were breaking personal records, others engaged in conversations with team members about SynTrac’s mission and vision for sustainable air travel. Beyond showcasing technological innovations, the booth also encouraged guests to share their own ideas and hopes for a greener future in mobility.

Overall, it was a lively and successful event—full of energy, curiosity, and great discussions about how aviation can evolve in a more sustainable direction.