| Vampyr | |
|---|---|
| The Vampyr on display in the Deutsches Museum, Munich | |
| Role | Glider |
| National origin | Germany[1] |
| Manufacturer | Hannoversche Waggonfabrik (HaWa)[1] |
| Designer | George Madelung[1] |
| First flight | 1921[1] |
| Number built | 1[1] |
The Hannover H1 Vampyr, a.k.a. HaWa Vampyr, was a glider designed by George Madelung for the 1921 Rhön gliding competition held at the Wasserkuppe, from 8 August to 25 August 1921.[2]
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The Vampyr was designed by George Madelung, with students at the Leibniz Universität Hannover - Hannover Technical University,working under the supervvision of Professor Arthur Proell. The aircraft, built at the Hannoverische Waggonfabrik (HaWa) workshops using wood as the primary material, was simple in appearance, but the Vampyr heralded the structural techniques that were to become commonplace as the sport of gliding progressed:Box framed fuselage covered with plywood as a stressed skin, three piece wings with detachable outer panels, a torsion box leading edge, and an enclosed cockpit (only the pilots head was exposed).[1]
The wings and tail surfaces were covered with fabric, but the leading edges of the wing formed a stressed skin torsion box structural member. Some support for the fuselage was provided by short bracing struts either side, which also served to relieve high bending moments at the centre-line. The use of stressed skin also allowed the wings to be built lightly and with increased span and aspect ratio, with consequent increases in performance.[1]
Flying controls were essentially conventional with fin, rudder, all-flying tailplane, and ailerons on the outer panels on the 1921 version. For the 1922 competition outer panels of increased area and wing-warping control were introduced.[1]
The Vampyr was built specifically to compete in the 1921 Rhön Gliding competition at the Wasserkuppe. Arriving late with only three flying days remaining the Vampyr, given the entry number of 45and flying marking I, flown by Arthur Martens soon demonstrated superior performance over the competition. Several long glides were carried out, unfortunately some long duration flights, which could have taken the first prize, were shortened due to Martens circling. No soaring was witnessed on competition flights, with the exception of the short tragic flight of Leusch in the Weltensegler.[1]
Unfortunately the Vampyr suffered a launch accident on its last launch in the competition, which resulted in other gliders overtaking it on the leader board. Despite the set-back the Vampyr still managed to earn some plaudits:
After the competition ended, several gliders stayed behind to hone their skills including the Vampyr, which was swiftly repaired after its launching accident. In early September the Vampyr made a 7.5 kilometre flight but still without soaring.[1]
The Vampyr continued flying after the 1921 competition and appeared at the 1922 Rhön competition with redesigned outer wing panels of greater area featuring wing warping instead of ailerons for roll control.[1] At the 1922 competition steadily improving flights resulted in a flight time of of 3hrs 10 min was recorded at an altitude of 350m o 19 August 1922, flown by Frederick Hentzen.
Refined developments named Strolch and Moritz were developed byKarl Bremer for Arthur Martens and flown in subsequent Rhön Gliding competitions.
Today the sole Vampyr resides, on display, in the Deutsches Museum München – German Museum, Munich. A replica is also on Display at the German Glider Museum at the Wasserkuppe.
General characteristics
Performance
3-00-011649-4.
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