Beginnings from 1909
The first traces of an academic flying group can be found in today's Berlin. Inspired by aeronautical engineering lectures at the Technical University of Charlottenburg, especially by the airship designer August von Parseval, the student Roland Eisenlohr founded the student group for aviation in the spring of 1909, which "can definitely be described as an academic flying group" (Peter Supf: The book of German flight history). The group built a hang glider based on Eisenlohr's design and disbanded at the latest in 1914 when the war began.
In addition to Eisenlohr as an aircraft designer, author of aviation publications and member of the technical commission of the Rhön competitions, some members of this association later became known: Vsevolod Abramowitsch became chief pilot of Flugmaschine Wright GmbH, Albert Betz head of the Aerodynamic Research Institute (AVA) in Göttingen, Heinrich Schulte-Frohlinde director of the North German Dornier-Werke Wismar and Gerhard Sedlmayr founded the specialist company for automobiles and aviation (Autoflug) in Johannisthal.
Akaflieg 1920-1926
The actual Berlin Akaflieg was constituted in 1920 at the Technical University of Berlin-Charlottenburg as an "academic working group for the promotion of flight science through practical and theoretical activities". The experimental aircraft "Charlotte" and "Teufelchen" and two trainers for flight training of new members were created. It was flown in the Berlin area, including at Gollenberg near Rhinow.
In August 1922 - during the Rhön competition on the Wasserkuppe - the Akaflieg Berlin-Charlottenburg became a founding member of the interest group of academic flying groups (Idaflieg) alongside the flying groups from Aachen, Braunschweig, Danzig, Darmstadt, Dresden, Hanover, Köthen, Munich and Stuttgart. In the middle of 1926, the association's activities ebbed away after the first members had completed their studies.
Akaflieg 1927-1934
On the initiative of Wilhelm Hoff, the club was revived in early 1927; this time with a conscious focus on powered flight. A Heinkel HD 32 was made available by the Ministry of Transport. Later Albatros L 68a, Messerschmitt M23b, Junkers A 50, Arado L IIa, Udet U 12 and a Klemm L 26 with Argus engine were added. It was flown at the Johannisthal airfield.
In 1931, the A.B.4 light aircraft was created as an Akaflieg contribution and later winning design for a design competition of the German Aviation Association (DLV).
Aeronautical Technical Group 1935–1945
During the time of National Socialism, the Akaflieg existed as an "Aeronautical Technical Group (FFG) at the TH Berlin at the German Research Institute for Aviation e.V." away. After all aircraft had to be handed over to the DLV at the end of 1933, the club received a Rhönbussard and a Klemm L 25. Due to the high utilization of Johannisthal during the week up to 1937, flight operations had to be switched to Bork airfield.
In 1939 the forced entry into the NSDStB followed.
During this period, the B5, B6 and two versions of the B8 were successful glider designs and the B9 was a twin-engine experimental aircraft commissioned by the RLM. The project for a forward-swept glider two-seater (B7) did not get beyond the drawing board stage because of the priority given to the B8. From 1944 only a few assemblies were in production for the twin-engine Amphibium B10.
The first traces of an academic flying group can be found in today's Berlin. Inspired by aeronautical engineering lectures at the Technical University of Charlottenburg, especially by the airship designer August von Parseval, the student Roland Eisenlohr founded the student group for aviation in the spring of 1909, which "can definitely be described as an academic flying group" (Peter Supf: The book of German flight history). The group built a hang glider based on Eisenlohr's design and disbanded at the latest in 1914 when the war began.
In addition to Eisenlohr as an aircraft designer, author of aviation publications and member of the technical commission of the Rhön competitions, some members of this association later became known: Vsevolod Abramowitsch became chief pilot of Flugmaschine Wright GmbH, Albert Betz head of the Aerodynamic Research Institute (AVA) in Göttingen, Heinrich Schulte-Frohlinde director of the North German Dornier-Werke Wismar and Gerhard Sedlmayr founded the specialist company for automobiles and aviation (Autoflug) in Johannisthal.
Akaflieg 1920-1926
The actual Berlin Akaflieg was constituted in 1920 at the Technical University of Berlin-Charlottenburg as an "academic working group for the promotion of flight science through practical and theoretical activities". The experimental aircraft "Charlotte" and "Teufelchen" and two trainers for flight training of new members were created. It was flown in the Berlin area, including at Gollenberg near Rhinow.
In August 1922 - during the Rhön competition on the Wasserkuppe - the Akaflieg Berlin-Charlottenburg became a founding member of the interest group of academic flying groups (Idaflieg) alongside the flying groups from Aachen, Braunschweig, Danzig, Darmstadt, Dresden, Hanover, Köthen, Munich and Stuttgart. In the middle of 1926, the association's activities ebbed away after the first members had completed their studies.
Akaflieg 1927-1934
On the initiative of Wilhelm Hoff, the club was revived in early 1927; this time with a conscious focus on powered flight. A Heinkel HD 32 was made available by the Ministry of Transport. Later Albatros L 68a, Messerschmitt M23b, Junkers A 50, Arado L IIa, Udet U 12 and a Klemm L 26 with Argus engine were added. It was flown at the Johannisthal airfield.
In 1931, the A.B.4 light aircraft was created as an Akaflieg contribution and later winning design for a design competition of the German Aviation Association (DLV).
Aeronautical Technical Group 1935–1945
During the time of National Socialism, the Akaflieg existed as an "Aeronautical Technical Group (FFG) at the TH Berlin at the German Research Institute for Aviation e.V." away. After all aircraft had to be handed over to the DLV at the end of 1933, the club received a Rhönbussard and a Klemm L 25. Due to the high utilization of Johannisthal during the week up to 1937, flight operations had to be switched to Bork airfield.
In 1939 the forced entry into the NSDStB followed.
During this period, the B5, B6 and two versions of the B8 were successful glider designs and the B9 was a twin-engine experimental aircraft commissioned by the RLM. The project for a forward-swept glider two-seater (B7) did not get beyond the drawing board stage because of the priority given to the B8. From 1944 only a few assemblies were in production for the twin-engine Amphibium B10.
