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MAV are characterized by numerous closely coupled subsystems. A separate design of the single items is not possible and experts knowledge of each item is needed. First of all this affects the aerodynamics and flight mechanical characteristics. For example, due to a high rate of wetted surface of the wing by the slip stream, the local pressure distributions change significantly. This can cause changes in the lift coefficient of up to 50 %. Second, the miniaturisation of the airplane and the components poses new problems. For example, the knowledge of the aerodynamics of aircraft in low Reynolds numbers (50.000 - 300.000) is still quite limited. The miniaturised components, like e.g. actuators or sensors, do not have the desired accuracy and reliability even though there was a rapid development of these micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) in the last years. Typical methods for the creation of an aerodynamic and a flight mechanical dataset are theoretical and experimental techniques. Even if the further development of the numerical methods delivers deeper insights into the fluid mechanics, the application on complex configurations or in an early design process is time and cost consuming. Therefore the usage of experimental techniques is still essential. Here, two methods can be used: wind tunnel and free flight experiments. The Chair of Flight Dynamics at the RWTH Aachen University is conducting research on a project for identification of flight mechanical characteristics on free flying models in a wind tunnel. The main goal is to create a reproducible free flight environment for cost effective identification of important values even in an early design stage. It will combine the advantages of free flight with wind tunnel techniques as it takes the free flight into a reproducible environment under laboratory conditions. The paper should give an overview of the project and provide insight into the the work done so far.