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Aero 2005: “Vintage Exhibition & Honour”
by Ian Dunkley
The “Aero 2005”
exhibition at Freidrichshafen was Europe’s largest GA event, showing
everything from woolly hats to executive jets. The fact that one large
hall contained only vintage gliders was entirely due to the inspiration of
one man, Chris Wills.
Son of Phillip, brother
of Justin, Chris, a brilliant pilot in his own right, and active in New
Zealand in the 50’s, has made his name synonymous with vintage gliding and
is known as the world authority. This was recognised at “Aero” by the
presentation of a “Commendation”, signed by no less than six aviation
bodies including the FAI.
The Vintage Hall,
organised by the German Vintage glider Club and the German Aero Club
showed not only old gliders but “new” ones built to the old designs, not
replicas but the real thing after 60 or 70 years. Gliders came from across
Europe, Germany, UK, Hungary, Czech Republic, Poland, Switzerland, but
focused on the designs of Hans Jacob, who would have been very sad to see
the state of Weihe GAE. With these gliders came their owners and members
of vintage glider clubs, giving Aero the feel of a vintage rally, but with
only indoor weather.
This must have been the
largest exhibition of vintage gliders anywhere and was appreciated by a
large number of visitors including many taking time off from the stands of
manufacturers of new sailplanes. One wonders how many of these firms will
be in business in two years time. Surely a diminishing market will have
its losers?
If you would like to
find out more about the vintage gliders at Aero 2005, many are covered in
Martin Simon’s excellent books, “Sailplanes 1920 to 1945” & “Sailpanes
1945-1965” available from the Gliding Kiwi Bookroom
(email:
gk@johnroake.com). 
Click on small images
below to
view enlarged version
(N)
indicates New production to original design; (O) indicates
Original
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Salamanda-Poland 1936, 2004/5 build by SZD (N) |
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Harald Kamper, German VGC President with SG38 (O) |
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Rhonbussard,-Germany, Hans Jacob, 1933 (O) |
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Habbict-Germany, Hans Jacob, 1936 & 1988-2001 built by Christoph Zahn and his father and grandfather (N) |
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Reiher-Germany, Hans Jacob, 1936 & 2005 (N) |
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Moswey 4a-Switzerland, Jacob Spallinger 1936 with a 4000 hour renovation (O) |
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Fauvel AV36,1951, Charles Fauvel, French design but German built. New spar fitted after grounding (O) |
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Weihe-Germany, Hans Jacob, 1938, + Grunau Baby 2 (O) |
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Slingsby T21-UK, 1947 (O) |
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Scud 2-UK, L.E.Baynes, 1932 (O) |
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Slingsby T31-UK, 1950 (O) |
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Kranich 3 & Kranich 2-Germany, Hans Jacobs, 1952,1935 (O) |
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Minimoa-Germany, Schemp Hirth, 1935 (O) |
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Weihe-Germany, in evening sun (O) |
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Kranich 3 and Kranich 2, sleep (O) |
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Weihe-Germany, shines (O) |
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Cimbora-Hungary, Erno Rubik, 1940, built 1988 (N) |
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Zefir 2, SZD 19 2A, Poland, 1957, renovated 2004/5 (O) |
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Vintage Pilots from all over Europe in the Vintage Hall (N&O !!!) |
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The Vintage Hall with “Rent a Crowd” |
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Chris Wills and Harald Kamper, German VGC Chairman |
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Chris Wills, VGC Founder and President receives a well deserved “Commendation” |
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Chris Wills and Harald Kamper, German VGC Chairman |
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Chris Wills’s Presentation Party |
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Chris Wills and Harald Kamper, German VGC Chairman |
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A bit of the local scenery |
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Hols der Teufel-German, Alexander Schleicher 1928 (N) |
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Spalinger S 18 III-Switzerland, Jacob Spalinger 1936 (O) |
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Horten IV-Germany, Horten Bro.s 1941, an ambitious project to build a “new” one, a spar and nose ribs on display (N) |
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Hutter 28_Germany, Wolfgang & Ulrich Hutter (N) |
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SG38 Schulgleiter-German, 1938, Rhon-Rossittn (O) |
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Lilienthal-German, 1895Otto Lilienthal (N) |
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DFS Meise (Olympia)-German, 1939, Hans Jacob (O) |
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The Vintage Hall, a virtual tribute to Chris Wills |
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Kranich 3 & 2, Rhonsperber, & Minimoa |
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Slingsby T21-UK, Grunau Baby 2-Germany (O) |
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Moswey 4A-Switzerland (O) |
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Rhonsperber-Germany, 1935, Hans Jacob, new production 1998 (N) |
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Kranich 2 in model form. SeeVintage Kiwis “Model” pages for more models from Aero. |
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