The aim of this paper is to give an overview over “LuFo”, the civil Aeronautics RTD Programme of the Federal Government of Germany, and similar activities of the German Länder. LuFo was established in 1994, to back up the technological preparation for actual aircraft programmes in the civil sector. Since then, a significant number of calls have been launched. In the frame of the actual programme line, LuFo IV, annual spending has increased to more than EUR 100 million .