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The "Victoria" glider amphibian was designed by Kurt Heppner as a single-seat, motor-assisted glider and developed in 1925 for the coastal gliding competition in Rossitten.
Development and Concept
The East Prussian aeronautical engineer Kurt Heppner designed the "Victoria" as an unusual high-wing glider with an amphibious character, designed for water landings and takeoffs – an innovative idea for the 1920s. The aircraft's distinctive feature was its boat-shaped fuselage with stabilizing fins under the fuselage that provided stability during water travel. The wing consisted of a narrow center section with a built-in engine and two relatively wide-span outer wings, supported laterally on fin stubs on the fuselage.
Propulsion
The name "Victoria" probably originates from the 500 cc two-cylinder boxer engine used by the German motorcycle brand Victoria, which drove a pusher propeller on the center section of the wing with 12 to 15 hp. This propulsion concept was new at the time, as the engine was mounted on top of the wing and the propeller was designed as a pusher propeller – a remarkable innovation.
The aircraft was built specifically for the 3rd Coastal Gliding Competition in Rossitten (May 2–17, 1925), which included a separate class for gliders with auxiliary engines. The "Victoria" was one of the few that, thanks to its amphibious capability, also intended to use the nearby sea as a takeoff or landing site. Despite its good external appearance, the engine proved to be too weak, which severely limited its overall flight performance. The aircraft was presumably not fully completed and did not actively participate in the competition.A photo of the "Victoria" is known after a landing accident on a meadow near Rossitten, presumably in the summer of 1925. Apparently, a structural component in the area of the engine mount broke, damaging the aircraft. There is no further evidence of its whereabouts after that.