Gerd Achgelis (16 July 1908 – 18 May 1991) was a German aviator,

test pilot A test pilot is an aircraft pilot with additional training to fly and evaluate experimental, newly produced and modified aircraft with specific maneuvers, known as flight test techniques.Stinton, Darrol. ''Flying Qualities and Flight Testing ...

, and pioneer in the development of helicopters.

Biography

Achgelis was born in Golzwarden in Oldenburg, and after an apprenticeship as an electrician, began working as a stunt pilot in 1928. In 1930 he flew inverted for an hour over London, and in 1931 he was the German aerobatic champion. Flying a Fw 44 ''Stieglitz'', Achgelis was placed third in the 1934 World Aerobatic Championships in Paris, and was 5th at the 1936 event in Berlin. From April 1932, he also worked as a flying instructor at the Technikum Weimar, and in 1933 became chief test pilot for the

Focke-Wulf Focke-Wulf Flugzeugbau AG () was a German manufacturer of civil and military aircraft before and during World War II. Many of the company's successful fighter aircraft designs were slight modifications of the Focke-Wulf Fw 190. It is one of the ...

company in Bremen. On 26 June 1936 he flew the

Focke-Wulf Fw 61 The Focke-Wulf Fw 61 is often considered the first practical, functional helicopter, first flown in 1936. It was also known as the Fa 61, as Focke began a new company—Focke-Achgelis—in 1937. Design and development Professor Henrich Fock ...

, considered the first practical helicopter, on its maiden flight. On 27 April 1937, together with

Henrich Focke Henrich Focke (8 October 1890 – 25 February 1979) was a German aviation pioneer from Bremen and also a co-founder of the Focke-Wulf company. He is best known as the inventor of the Fw 61, the first successful German helicopter. Biography ...

, he founded the company

Focke-Achgelis Focke-Achgelis & Co. G.m.b.H. was a German helicopter company founded in 1937 by Henrich Focke and Gerd Achgelis. History Henrich Focke was ousted in 1936 from the Focke-Wulf company, which he had cofounded in 1924, due to shareholder pressure. ...

to develop and manufacture helicopters at

Hoykenkamp Hoykenkamp is a small village in Lower Saxony, Germany, north west of Delmenhorst. Hoykenkamp is part of the municipality of Ganderkesee and belongs to the district of Oldenburg. History Hoykenkamp's main claim to fame is to be the place whe ...

. In 1933

Hermann Göring Hermann Wilhelm Göring (or Goering; ; 12 January 1893 – 15 October 1946) was a German politician, military leader and convicted war criminal. He was one of the most powerful figures in the Nazi Party, which ruled Germany from 1933 to 1 ...

proposed that Achgelis take a post as an instructor at the ''

Deutsche Verkehrsfliegerschule The Deutsche Verkehrsfliegerschule (DVS), German Air Transport School, was a covert military-training organization operating as a flying school in Germany. It began during the Weimar Republic in Staaken, Berlin in 1925 and its head office was tran ...

'' ("German Air Transport School"), to establish and train an aerobatic team. Achgelis turned down the offer, and he also refused Göring's request to take the position of ''Generalluftzeugmeister'' ("Luftwaffe Director-General of Equipment") after the death of

Ernst Udet Ernst Udet (26 April 1896 – 17 November 1941) was a German pilot during World War I and a ''Luftwaffe'' Colonel-General (''Generaloberst'') during World War II. Udet joined the Imperial German Air Service at the age of 19, and eventually ...

in November 1941. He worked as a test pilot at an aircraft factory in Graudenz until the end of

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

. After the war, Achgelis retired to his family farm, and from 1952 had commercial interests in Hude. However he remained connected to flying. In 1961, he was one of the founders of the airfield ''Flugplatz Oldenburg-Hatten'' at

Hatten Hatten is a municipality in Oldenburg, in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is situated southeast of Oldenburg, on the North-West edge of the Wildeshausen Geest Nature Park. Activities Tourism endeavours emphasise the recreational and sporting opport ...

, and in 1975, he received the

légion d'honneur The National Order of the Legion of Honour (french: Ordre national de la Légion d'honneur), formerly the Royal Order of the Legion of Honour ('), is the highest French order of merit, both military and civil. Established in 1802 by Napoleon ...

from France for his achievements in aviation. He also donated the ''Kavalier der Lüfte'' trophy, which is presented annually every November. Achgelis died at his home in Hude in 1991.

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Achgelis, Gerd 1908 births 1991 deaths German aviators People from Oldenburg (city) Recipients of the Legion of Honour