AeroFEM Meets Modern Airworthiness Standards Using NX and Simcenter

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AeroFEM GmbH, a Swiss aerospace engineering company, undertook an ambitious project to digitally reconstruct and demonstrate the airworthiness of the historic Junkers Ju 52 aircraft. With original production data lost during World War II, AeroFEM relied on advanced reverse engineering, modern simulation tools, and material substitution to meet today’s strict aviation certification standards. Using NX software, the team created a detailed digital model from extensive 3D scans of existing aircraft, preserving the original design while enabling modern engineering analysis.

• Historic aircraft digitally recreated: AeroFEM rebuilt the Junkers Ju 52 digitally after original data was lost.
• Reverse engineering enabled accuracy: NX tools and 3D scans created a precise digital aircraft model.
• Simulation validated airworthiness: Simcenter supported aerodynamic and structural certification analysis.
• Take-off weight reduced significantly: The aircraft’s weight was reduced from 10.5 to 8.6 tons.
• Original engineering proved advanced: Analysis showed the Ju 52 was already highly optimized.
• Modern materials replaced legacy alloys: New aluminum alloys matched original properties and standards.
• Digital model preserved heritage: The model now serves as a permanent historical record.
• NX and Simcenter bridged old and new: Modern tools connected historical design with current regulations.