Sacrifices must be made. These words are etched on Otto Lilienthal’s tombstone. We stand before the Otto-Lilienthal-Pavillion. It is a tribute to a man who dared to dream of flight.
Otto Lilienthal was born in Anklam in 1848. He became known as the “flying man”. He was a pioneer of aviation. He made the idea of heavier-than-air aircraft a reality. Newspapers published photos of Lilienthal gliding. This influenced public and scientific opinion.
Lilienthal’s work led to the modern wing concept. His 1891 flight attempts are seen as the beginning of human flight. The “Lilienthal Normalsegelapparat” is considered the first airplane in series production. His company in Berlin was the first airplane production company. Many call him the “father of aviation”.
Lilienthal and his brother Gustav studied bird flight. They made strap-on wings. Their early attempts to fly failed. He later trained as a design engineer. Lilienthal began experiments on air force in 1867.
He served in the Franco-Prussian War. He then founded a company for boilers and steam engines. In 1878, he married Agnes Fischer. They had four children. He published his famous book Birdflight as the Basis of Aviation in 1889.
Lilienthal made his flights from an artificial hill near Berlin. He also used natural hills. He filed a U.S. Patent in 1894. It directed pilots to grip the “bar” for flying hang gliders. With his brother Gustav, Lilienthal made over 2,000 flights. These flights used his glider designs. This started in 1891 with the Derwitzer Glider. His total flying time was five hours.
Lilienthal managed his first jumps in 1891. This occurred on a sand pit slope near Derwitz and Krielow. This is considered the site of man’s first flight. He achieved flight distances of about 25 meters. By 1893, he flew as far as 250 meters in the Rhinow Hills. This record stood at his death.
Lilienthal researched bird flight. He accurately described storks. He used polar diagrams for wing aerodynamics. He gathered reliable aeronautical data through many experiments. During his career, Lilienthal developed a dozen monoplane models. These included wing flapping aircraft and two biplanes. His gliders were designed for even weight distribution. This ensured stable flight. Lilienthal controlled them by shifting his body.
In 1894, Lilienthal built an artificial hill near his home. This hill allowed him to launch his gliders from any wind direction. The hill was 15 meters high. Crowds gathered to watch his experiments.
Reports of Lilienthal’s flights spread. Photos appeared in publications. He became known as the “father of flight.” People from around the world visited him.
On August 9, 1896, Lilienthal went to the Rhinow Hills. During his fourth flight, his glider pitched upward. It then headed down quickly. He fell from about 15 meters. He broke his neck.
Lilienthal died the next day in a Berlin hospital. His last words are debated. “Sacrifices must be made” is a popular account. He was buried in Berlin. Guinness World Records recognizes him as the first glider pilot fatality.
The Wright brothers credited Lilienthal as a major inspiration. Berlin’s Tegel Airport was named after him.
Here at the Otto-Lilienthal-Pavillion, we remember a pioneer. He inspires us to reach for the skies. He reminds us that sometimes, sacrifices must be made to achieve our dreams.