WASSERKUPPE – “Water Hilltop”
Germany Reposted from Rick Briggs ISSA website.
The Wasserkuppe is located between the little towns of Gersfeld and Poppenhausen, in the Hessen Rohn area of central Germany. From Frankfurt it’s about an hours drive north east. The first flights from this 950 meter hill, took place in 1910. The period from 1910 to1920 was mostly gliding, thermal flying developed in the early twenty’s. Famous names such as Wolf Hirth, Robert Kronfeld, Alexander Lippisch and Hans Jacobs, were men deeply in trenched in the competition of building and flying bigger and better flying machines.
Since 1920, competitions took place on the “Water Hilltop” regularly. There were indicators of the onward development that enabled direct comparisons. Above all, the international competition of 1937 was remarkable, as sailplanes met at the water hilltop from 6 nations for best plane comradeship, proof of it, was how sail flight became an international sport in peaceful side by side competition. The outbreak of the World War II prevented it from becoming an Olympic discipline as it was intended to be for the 1940 Olympic games.
Only the successful became well known over the years of this air sport. The first truly spectacular performance accomplished by Arthur Martens in1922 as he sailed with the “Vampyr” for over a hour at the west slope were the monument now sits. In the following years, the permanent flight records virtually somersaulted. With the “broomstick” (reproduction in the museum), Ferdinand Schulz 1924 flew in Rossitten’s for 8 h 42 min.
Better flight performances appeared at the hillside after the first hours of slope flight. Thermal flight was explored by pilots like Robert Kronfeld or Wolf Hirth and was refined. The pilot usually flew on the west hillside until suitable clouds formed against the slope and the wind direction, to gain higher and longer flights. The water hilltop was very well suitable for this technology, and is still done today.
The Wasserkuppe is located in the Hessen Rohn, which is the second most toured area in Germany. The town of Fulda which is close by, is a beautiful brogue town, and is the origin of Christianity in Germany. The Wasserkuppe hosts the “Fulda Quelle” or Fulda Well, which is the beginning of the river Fulda. During the winter months the snow fall can get as high as 3 meters ( about 10 feet), the locals have a fun time skiing and sledding.
Because of its height and 2 km location to the former East German border the Wasserkuppe, In 1958 till the end of the cold war, was used as a radio interception post or SIGINT ( signals intelligence) site. 3 large domes protected the radio antenna from the harsh winters, today there is only one left.
Today this famous site is host to may venues, paragliding, hang gliding, model and full size gliders. You could say, if it floats, slopes or thermals, it’s at the Wasserkuppe.
For all of you that enjoy flight and scale glider building, the Wasserkuppe is a must for any trip to Germany. The best time to go is June to August, the weather fantastic. There are full size and model glider events all during the summer months.
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GERSFELD
The road from Gersfeld to the Wasserkuppe.
The road Gersfeld to the Wasserkuppe.
Hotel Gersfeld Hof.
Hotel Berghof.
POPPENHAUSEN
Landhaushotel Hof Wasserkuppe...Romantic country house hotel with tasty atmosphere.
Landhaushotel Hof Wasserkuppe – Pf
erdskopfstraße 3 – D-36163 Poppenhausen
Tel. 49 (0) 6658 / 9810 Fax 49 (0)6658 / 1635 – E-Mail: hotelhofwasserkuppe@t-online.de
Your tradition-interconnected country house hotel lies at the foot of the water hilltop, in the heart of the Rhön.
Your tradition-interconnected country house hotel lies at the foot of the water hilltop, in the heart of the Rhön. Outlandish architecture and carefully arranged details make the hotel to a romantic place of the silence and harmony.
Enjoy the clear Rhöner air on our terraces as well as on the numerous footpaths of the air health resort Poppenhausen. Enliven spirit and bodies in our reorganized thermal installation.
- Here is a shot of a typical full size meet.
The famous Wasserkuppe Monument!
This monument is dedicated to all fallen pilots!
The following shots are of the full size fields and 1 of 4 model flying slopes.
MODELLBAU BERES
THE WASSERKUPPE MUSEUM
The museum is located at the top of the hill along with shops, hotels, and reataurants. The museum continues to update displays and add more full size gliders. It has something new each time you return. This is a special place, the history of gliding is everywhere you look, starting with Otto Lilienthal’s hang glider to the first modern fiberglass ship.
Additional photos of the Wasserkuppe Glider Museum and at the German Museum in Munich.
THE OLDTIMERS SEGELFLUG CLUB
Below are some shots of the new “REIHER III” built by the OSC club.
THE WASSERKUPPE 1934
The following photos were sent in by Peter Mason from Petersfield, Hampshire UK. Peter is a former glider pilot and a senior instructor with the Air Training Corps.
Some photos were taken by his father-in-law in 1934. Others are from old magazines and photo collections of the Wasserkuppe and other early flying sites in Germany.
If any of our German friends recognize any of the photos, lets hear from you. Enjoy this amazing look into “Glider History”!
