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Akaflieg Stuttgart e.V. (Akademische Fliegergruppe - Universität Stuttgart)
Akaflieg Stuttgart traces its origins to a model aircraft club - the Ortsgruppe Stuttgart des deutschen Flugmodellbundes - started by Paul Brenner. In 1917-1918, that group became the Württembergische Gleitflugvereinigung (Württembergian Gliding Association), then Ortsgruppe Stuttgart des Deutschen Fliegerbundes (Stuttgart chapter of the German Flying Group), and finally, in 1919, the Flugtechnische Verein Stuttgart (Flight Engineering Association of Stuttgart).
Flugtechnische Verein Stuttgart (FVS)
The FVS built two gliders that are often attributed to the Akaflieg Stuttgart (although this organization would not exist for several more years). These gliders were:
FVS 4 - 1921 monoplane school glider
- FVS 4: Designed by Paul Brenner, head of FVS
-- aka Stuttgart I, aka 'Akaflieg Stuttgart I'
-- http://aviadejavu.ru/Images6/FT/FT1921/09/603-3.jpg
-- http://www.j2mcl-planeurs.net/dbj2mcl/planeurs-machines/planeur-fiche_0int.php?code=2946
FVS 5 - 1922 monoplane glider, span 11.60 m
- FVS 5: Very probably the same as FVS Fox (below)
-- Designed by Paul Brenner, Martin Schrenk, (?) Diemer
-- FVS 5 built by Flugtechnischer Verein Dresden (FVD)
FVS 'Fox'* - 1922 monoplane school glider
- FVS 'Fox': Designed by Brenner & Martin Schrenk
-- aka Stuttgart II, aka 'Akaflieg Stuttgart II'
-- * No FVS numerical designation known for 'Fox'
-- http://aviadejavu.ru/Images6/FT/FT1923/01/53-1.jpg
By 1923, Brenner and Schrenk had both left the FVS. In 1926, a student wing of the Flugtechnische Verein Stuttgart - the Akademische Fliegergruppe im FVS - was formed at Universität Stuttgart. That group became known as the Akaflieg Stuttgart e.V. (Academic Flying Group of the University of Stuttgrat) - e.V being for eingetragener Verein or registered association.
Having built gliders designed by others and gathered together a fleet of tow aircraft, the students of Akaflieg Stuttgart began their first original glider design in 1926. Most Akaflieg Stuttgart activities came to an end in 1944 when its shed and equipment were destroyed by Allied bombing. In any case, at the end of WW2, all German flying activities were prohibited and the club was disbanded. Akaflieg Stuttgart was reformed in 1949-1950 and remains active to this day.
Three different designation systems would be employed by Akaflieg Stuttgart. These are described below. Popular names are also routinely applied. In recent years, Spanish names have been used - I have no idea of why
________________________________________________
Akaflieg Stuttgart Aircraft Designation Systems
The first original Akaflieg Stuttgart designs were for two leichtwindsegler or leichtsegler (light gliders) which were designated LS 1 'Roter Rand' and LS 2. Akaflieg Stuttgart had built two similar light gliders earlier - the 'Roter Teufel' and 'Roter Kuckuck', both in 1924 - but these light gliders didn't receive 'LS' designations.
A different (and, as it turns out, unique) designation style was applied to the 1932 glider, 'D-Fledermaus'. The Fledermaus received an 'F' designation for its designer Willi (or Willy) Fiedler. Some sources (including Akaflieg Stuttgart itself sometimes) use 'F.1' with a period but I've stuck with the more typically German 'F 1'.
There is no sign of any Akaflieg Stuttgart design designation numbers between '3' and '15'. This seems to have been the result of an attempt to rationalize the designation system. By 1935, Akaflieg Stuttgart had bought or assembled 15 gliders - most not designed by Akaflieg Stuttgart. [1] For completeness, that list is: FVS 4 (1921), 'Fox' (1922), 'Schwaben' (1923-1924), 'Roter Teufel' (1924), 'Roter Kuckuck' (1924), 'Bremen' (1925), LS 1 'Roter Rand' (1926), 'Heiterer Fridolin' (1926), 'Götz von Berlichingen' (1927) 'Stadt Stuttgart" (1928), LS 2 (1928), 'Württemberg' (1929), F 1 'D-Fledermaus' (1932), Grunau Baby II (1933), and 'Sperber' (1935).
With the sixteenth glider type ('Wippsterz' or 'Wagtail') the designation style was changed to FS for Flugtechnische 'Fachgruppe Stuttgart' (Flight Technical Section Stuttgart). Unusually for a German designation style, a hyphen was placed between FS and type number.
The 'FS' style has been retained to the present day. In later years, Akaflieg Stuttgart abandoned the hyphen. Designation styles are now shown as 'FS xx' or 'FSxx'. For a degree of continuity, I have stayed with the hyphenated designation style.
________________________________________
[1] Of these, 'Roter Teufel' and 'Sperber' were purchases. To confuse matters even further, a Göppingen Gö 3 Minimoa bought in 1937 doesn't seem to feature at all in the Akaflieg Stuttgart designation sequence.
________________________________________
Akaflieg Stuttgart traces its origins to a model aircraft club - the Ortsgruppe Stuttgart des deutschen Flugmodellbundes - started by Paul Brenner. In 1917-1918, that group became the Württembergische Gleitflugvereinigung (Württembergian Gliding Association), then Ortsgruppe Stuttgart des Deutschen Fliegerbundes (Stuttgart chapter of the German Flying Group), and finally, in 1919, the Flugtechnische Verein Stuttgart (Flight Engineering Association of Stuttgart).
Flugtechnische Verein Stuttgart (FVS)
The FVS built two gliders that are often attributed to the Akaflieg Stuttgart (although this organization would not exist for several more years). These gliders were:
FVS 4 - 1921 monoplane school glider
- FVS 4: Designed by Paul Brenner, head of FVS
-- aka Stuttgart I, aka 'Akaflieg Stuttgart I'
-- http://aviadejavu.ru/Images6/FT/FT1921/09/603-3.jpg
-- http://www.j2mcl-planeurs.net/dbj2mcl/planeurs-machines/planeur-fiche_0int.php?code=2946
FVS 5 - 1922 monoplane glider, span 11.60 m
- FVS 5: Very probably the same as FVS Fox (below)
-- Designed by Paul Brenner, Martin Schrenk, (?) Diemer
-- FVS 5 built by Flugtechnischer Verein Dresden (FVD)
FVS 'Fox'* - 1922 monoplane school glider
- FVS 'Fox': Designed by Brenner & Martin Schrenk
-- aka Stuttgart II, aka 'Akaflieg Stuttgart II'
-- * No FVS numerical designation known for 'Fox'
-- http://aviadejavu.ru/Images6/FT/FT1923/01/53-1.jpg
By 1923, Brenner and Schrenk had both left the FVS. In 1926, a student wing of the Flugtechnische Verein Stuttgart - the Akademische Fliegergruppe im FVS - was formed at Universität Stuttgart. That group became known as the Akaflieg Stuttgart e.V. (Academic Flying Group of the University of Stuttgrat) - e.V being for eingetragener Verein or registered association.
Having built gliders designed by others and gathered together a fleet of tow aircraft, the students of Akaflieg Stuttgart began their first original glider design in 1926. Most Akaflieg Stuttgart activities came to an end in 1944 when its shed and equipment were destroyed by Allied bombing. In any case, at the end of WW2, all German flying activities were prohibited and the club was disbanded. Akaflieg Stuttgart was reformed in 1949-1950 and remains active to this day.
Three different designation systems would be employed by Akaflieg Stuttgart. These are described below. Popular names are also routinely applied. In recent years, Spanish names have been used - I have no idea of why
________________________________________________
Akaflieg Stuttgart Aircraft Designation Systems
The first original Akaflieg Stuttgart designs were for two leichtwindsegler or leichtsegler (light gliders) which were designated LS 1 'Roter Rand' and LS 2. Akaflieg Stuttgart had built two similar light gliders earlier - the 'Roter Teufel' and 'Roter Kuckuck', both in 1924 - but these light gliders didn't receive 'LS' designations.
A different (and, as it turns out, unique) designation style was applied to the 1932 glider, 'D-Fledermaus'. The Fledermaus received an 'F' designation for its designer Willi (or Willy) Fiedler. Some sources (including Akaflieg Stuttgart itself sometimes) use 'F.1' with a period but I've stuck with the more typically German 'F 1'.
There is no sign of any Akaflieg Stuttgart design designation numbers between '3' and '15'. This seems to have been the result of an attempt to rationalize the designation system. By 1935, Akaflieg Stuttgart had bought or assembled 15 gliders - most not designed by Akaflieg Stuttgart. [1] For completeness, that list is: FVS 4 (1921), 'Fox' (1922), 'Schwaben' (1923-1924), 'Roter Teufel' (1924), 'Roter Kuckuck' (1924), 'Bremen' (1925), LS 1 'Roter Rand' (1926), 'Heiterer Fridolin' (1926), 'Götz von Berlichingen' (1927) 'Stadt Stuttgart" (1928), LS 2 (1928), 'Württemberg' (1929), F 1 'D-Fledermaus' (1932), Grunau Baby II (1933), and 'Sperber' (1935).
With the sixteenth glider type ('Wippsterz' or 'Wagtail') the designation style was changed to FS for Flugtechnische 'Fachgruppe Stuttgart' (Flight Technical Section Stuttgart). Unusually for a German designation style, a hyphen was placed between FS and type number.
The 'FS' style has been retained to the present day. In later years, Akaflieg Stuttgart abandoned the hyphen. Designation styles are now shown as 'FS xx' or 'FSxx'. For a degree of continuity, I have stayed with the hyphenated designation style.
________________________________________
[1] Of these, 'Roter Teufel' and 'Sperber' were purchases. To confuse matters even further, a Göppingen Gö 3 Minimoa bought in 1937 doesn't seem to feature at all in the Akaflieg Stuttgart designation sequence.
________________________________________
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