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Among the machines entered by Gottlob Espenlaub for the 7th Rhön Competition in 1926 was also a glider with a huge wingspan of 24 m, wing capacity 33 m2, total length 5 m, height 1.2 m.
First flight on 6.8.1926
Instead of the rudder at the end of the fuselage, Espenlaub arranged 2 control surfaces at the ends of the wings, whereby he was able to which are located 11 m from the center of the fuselage, achieved a large torque and at the same time was able to reduce the harmful resistance caused by the control deflection to a minimum.
During further test flights on the hilltop, it seemed that with this arrangement the machine could be kept in straight flight.
"It will be interesting to see how the machine behaves in the corners during further tests. It will be equally interesting to make further experiments with the extraordinarily large cantilevered wings with a very low vibration rate in gusty winds. This will show what effect the gust has on the increase in vibrations or their damping" from Flugsport 1926.
But Espenlaub did not adhere to the requirement to fly only in calm weather, but took off on 11.8.1926 in the afternoon in gusty winds. Caught by a gust shortly after take-off, the giant bird crashed headlong!
In 1929, at an aircraft exhibition in Salzburg's Hotel Mirabell/Austria, a replica of the E9 was presented with other aircraft: Sigmund Schett built it, but with heavy wood. In 1931, the aircraft was sold to the Bad Ischl glider group and allegedly flew there with a built-in engine.