Pelzner Hang Glider

For much of the 1920 meeting, Pelzner led the small field with a 52 s, 452 m (1,480 ft) flight and, over 16 flights, a total distance of 2,278 m (7,470 ft). However, towards the close of the contest Wolfgang Klemperer flew the FVA-1 Schwatze Düvel, designed and built by the students' club of the University of Aachen, the FVA (Flugwissenschaftliche Vereinigung Aachen, (English: Flight Research Association Aachen)) on a 142 s flight over 1,830 m (6,000 ft). With two more good flights Klemperer won first prize with Pelzner second.^[1]

In the 1921 contest Pelzner flew his new hang glider (57 flights) and another biplane glider from the North Bavarian Aviation Society (5 flights) to claim first prize in the category for the longest total flight time (36 m 40 s) by one pilot. He beat the Loessl Sb.1 Münchener flown by Karl Koller by making more than twice as many flights, even though his average individual flight time (35.5 s) was much less. The Münchener won the other two prizes awarded.^[3] Only after the contest did the Aachen FVA-2 Blaue Maus and particularly the Hannover Vampyr show their superiority, though the Vampyr did receive a special prize.^[1]

Data from Deutsches Museum^[2]

General characteristics

• Crew: One
• Upper wingspan: 5.40 m (17 ft 9 in)
• Wing area: 14 m² (150 sq ft)
• Empty weight: 10 kg (22 lb)
• Wing loading: 6.4 kg/m² (1.3 lb/sqft))

Performance

• Maximum glide ratio: 1:6