German Gliding Museum

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German Glider Museum
Deutsches Segelflugmuseum mit Modellflug
GliderM.jpg
German Gliding Museum
EstablishedAugust 1987
Location Wasserkuppe, 15 km east of Fulda, Germany
Type Aviation Museum
Website http://info@egelflugmuseum.de
Deutsches Segelflugmuseum.Wasserkuppe.Germany (8653598167).jpg

The German Glider Museum (German : Deutsches Segelflugmuseum mit Modellflug), situated on the Wasserkuppe in the German state of Hesse is the national gliding museum, opened in 1987.

Contents

History

German glider pilots and designers have made many contributions to the development of glider aerodynamics and flight techniques. The Wasserkuppe has been a gliding site since about 1910 and was closely associated with the emergence of gliding as a sport during the interwar period. In particular it hosted the annual series of gliding competitions, started in 1920, that became known as the Rhön contests. Initially national, they became international events. [1]

Because of its long association with the sport, it seemed a natural home for a national gliding museum, an idea conceived in 1970 with the 50th anniversary of the first Rhön contest. The Deutsches Segelflugmuseum mit Modellflug was officially opened in August 1987 in a purpose built hall. [1] By 2014 the collection included more than sixty aircraft, [2] all German, showing their development from Otto Lilienthal's hang gliders through wooden machines to the earliest glassfibre aircraft of the 1960s. There are also photographic records, focussing on the series of Rhön contests, with aircraft pilots and designers. [1]

The museum has a store for aircraft which are not currently on display and a workshop for restoring them. In 2014 these held some twenty-five aircraft. [2]

Content

Rhoen Wasserkuppe.jpg

List from Bob Ogden, Air Britain News, November 2014. [2]

On display

See also

Related Research Articles

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The Deutsche Forschungsanstalt für Segelflug, or DFS, was formed in 1933 to centralise all gliding activity in Germany, under the directorship of Professor Walter Georgii. It was formed by the nationalisation of the Rhön-Rossitten Gesellschaft (RRG) at Darmstadt.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Akaflieg</span>

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Akaflieg München Mü13</span> German single-seat glider, 1935

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hannover H 1 Vampyr</span> German single-seat glider, 1921

The Hannover H.1 Vampyr was a German glider designed by Georg Madelung for the 1921 Rhön gliding competition, which was held at the Wasserkuppe from 8 August to 25 August 1921. The Vampyr is believed to be the first heavier than air aircraft to use stressed skin. Several historical societies have argued that the aircraft is the precursor of all modern sailplanes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">DFS Reiher</span> German single-seat glider, 1937

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Schleicher Rhönadler</span> German single-seat glider, 1932

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jacobs Hols der Teufel</span> German single-seat glider, 1928

The Jacobs Hols der Teufel was a single seat trainer glider produced in complete and plan forms in Germany from 1928. It was built and used worldwide.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lommatzsch Libelle</span> German single-seat glider, 1957

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Edmund Schneider was a German aircraft designer and owner of a glider factory.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Ogden, Bob (2009). Aviation Museums and Collections of Mainland Europe. Air Britain (Historians) Ltd. pp. 209–211. ISBN   978-0-85130-418-2.
  2. 1 2 3 Ogden, Bob (November 2014). "Preservation notes - Deutsches Segelflugmuseum mit Modellflug". Air Britain News: NOV.1789–90.

50°29′54″N9°56′45″E / 50.4984°N 9.9459°E / 50.4984; 9.9459