Fritz Wendel

Friedrich ( Fritz) Wendel ( born February 21, 1915 in Monzernheim; † February 9, 1975 in Augsburg ) was a German captain, Test Pilot and world record holder.

Life

Wendel was interested in his school days for flying and got a position as a flight instructor in the Air Force. In 1936, he joined as a test pilot to the aircraft works Messerschmitt and was promoted there to the chief pilot.

With a Messerschmitt Me 209 with Daimler- Benz DB 601 engine he put on 26 April 1939 on a measuring distance between Augsburg and Buchloe a world speed record for aircraft piston engine of 755.138 km / h at which lasted until 1969. On 18 July 1942 launched by the spiral airbase Leipheim at Ulm was the first with a standard -built jet-powered aircraft, the Messerschmitt Me 262 to a successful test flight.

After the Second World War, he married into a medium-sized brewery Augsburg. On October 30, 1950 Fritz Wendel founded by Helmut Kaden and Ernst Frank Augsburg association for air sports (AVL). Fritz Wendel was, as the balloon pioneer Ernst Frank, chairman of the associated Augsburg Association for gliding (AVS ). At times, Wendel was also president of the Augsburg Ice Skating Association. In 1975, the former holder of a world record flight committed suicide.

Honors

  • Golden Sports Medal of the City of Augsburg in 1939
  • In Augsburg, the Fritz Wendel Street was named after him.

Records and Data

  • April 26, 1939: As a captain, he presented a Me 209 V1 on a world speed record for piston aircraft ( 755 km / h ), which was to hold for 30 years.
  • July 18, 1942: First Flight ( with engines rays alone ) of the first production aircraft with jet propulsion (Me 262 A). A total of almost 1600 pieces were manufactured.
  • November 5, 1943: First flight of the prototype Bf109H -0 V54 ( Wrk. No. 15708 ). The "H " should be a high altitude reconnaissance, but the project was canceled due to flutter problems in the wing and the broad progress of the Ta 152.
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