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Aviation History
1928
1928 - 0003.PDF
JANUARY 5, 1928 "AEROBATICS" By GERHARD FIESELER [IN using the expression "stunt" in this article, we do so merely for the sake of convenience and brevity. Of "stunts," in the usual sense of the word, we have always disapproved, but the work carried out by Herr Fieseler has a very real practical value, and the fact that most of his evolutions are at the same time spectacular is to us of secondary interest. The author of the following article, Herr Gerhard Fieseler, has become famous on the Continent as a " stunt" pilot. We have not personally had the privilege to see his " a'erobatics," but several British pilots who have seen him fly in Germany hold the view that he is the world's finest exponent of stunting. As pilots are conservative folk, and not given to unduly praising one another's performances, this is praise indeed. We would suggest to the attention of the Royal Aero Club the advisability of persuading Herr Fieseler to come to this country during the coming summer in order to give a demonstration at one or more of the meetings to be held in 1928. He is already busy booking engagements, and it would be wise to get into touch with him at once so as to make sure of arranging the demonstration. The Editor will be pleased to furnish Herr Fieseler's address to iny club desiring to communicate with him. Herr Fieseler was a " Jagdstaffel " pilot during the war, and as he says in the concluding paragraph of his article, he would like personally to meet some of the British pilots about whose skill he was able to gain first-hand knowledge during the war ! Perhaps it might be possible to arrange for a match against some of our " stunt " pilots. In the following article Herr Fieseler relates some of his experiences while training for and experimenting with some of the new " stunts " that he has evolved. His constant warning is : " Keep high," and he gives examples from his own experience of cases where a lower altitude would have meant disaster. At the same time, it should not be thought that Herr Fieseler carries out his demonstrations at a great height. He does not, and some of his " stunts " are done very close to the ground indeed. The secret, according to him, lies in knowing what can safely be done at a low height and what cannot.—ED.] THE first demonstration of " aerobatics," or " stunt flying"," were, as is well known, given in 1912 by the Frenchman Pegoud. Shortly afterwards his " stunts " were imitated by other pilots, German among them. As, however, flying did not receive its full and unfettered development until the world war, so here also was " stunt flying " fostered and taught at the fighter schools. As the war went on, the performance of man and machine increased, and so it came about that FIG.I I9r \\ \ \ FIG.2 FI0.5 • '*» 1 \\ \\ • \ \ V 1 ">^-- a. t FI0.3 4 \ / A i \\ FIG.6 iI / — • "x V i // 4- 4 1 \ FIC.4 FI0.7 Mr* ^ I V 1 \\ \ \ \ 1 v \ V >kx t— f^B^U \ \ A y — — *" " AEROBATICS " : Some of the " Stunts " carried out by Herr Gerhard Fieseler and described in the accom- panying article. 1, Shows the roll, with the fuselage horizontal. 2, First half of inverted loop. 3, Downward loop from inverted position. 4, Inverted loop downward from normal position. 5, Inverted loop upwards. 6, Vertical figure-of-eight, finishing with inverted loop. 7, Vertical figure-of-eight, commencing with inverted loop from inverted position.
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