In the research project "Further development of a functionally integrative and resource-saving lightweight structure for aviation" (InteReSt-II), a hybrid lightweight structure made of bio-based and conventional materials is to be developed for aviation using a helicopter cabin door as an example, building on the previous project InteReSt. The composite materials used for the cabin door are to be equipped with newly developed and, as far as possible, bio-based or more environmentally friendly coatings in order to increase the proportion of bio-based materials in the component to over 50 %.

Two points are essential here: firstly, the newly developed composite materials must withstand aviation-relevant environmental influences and meet high technical requirements for this purpose, and secondly, they should offer an ecologically more sustainable variant compared to products used to date.

The project is intended to promote the use of bio-based (hybrid) materials in today's aviation in order to contribute overall to the achievement of global climate targets.

The overall objective of the project is chronologically divided into the following main points:

1. selection of suitable materials and analysis of critical environmental impacts.
2. application and evaluation of the suitability of a coating for natural fiber composites to protect against environmental influences
3. optimization of the design of a cabin door structure based on hybrids with variable-axial fiber design
4. fabrication of a coated cabin door and evaluation of its aeronautical suitability
5. ecological evaluation of the concept of a structurally optimized, environmentally compatible cabin door made of natural fiber composites.