100s on the Spitzerberg

When powered flights were still banned in Austria

From the Spitzerberg, it was an environmentally friendly flight from 302 meters above sea level into the "valley" - the first time in a century.

(Bild: Adam Makarenko)

However, the 100th anniversary of the Spitzerberg gliders on the Hundsheimer Berg was not just about display flights. Guests at the event also learned a lot of interesting facts about the history of what is probably the most environmentally friendly way of getting around in the air.

A taut rubber rope, stopwatch switched on - and off we went: In the autumn of 1924, the first gliders dared to fly from the 302-metre-high Spitzerberg. One hundred years later - the flight time now plays a subordinate role - a glider was already pulled up to an altitude of 23 kilometers and flew more than 3000 kilometers.

Of course, a wide variety of models were at the start for the anniversary - no comparison to the past.

(Bild: Huber Patrick/P. Huber)

After the war, "powered flight was banned"
A century ago, gliding experienced a boom in this country, because after the war and the peace treaties of Versailles and St. Germain, Austria was prohibited from building or operating powered aircraft. There was even more flying from the plateau than there is now. Since then, people in the region have been very attached to gliding - the small but fine commemoration ceremony honored this accordingly.