Years ago I saw a small picture of a gyro-glider, supposedly built in what was then still East Germany. Years later I found the man and his website and his "contraption". Since the first picture when Stephan Nitsch was still living behind the iron curtain, is East Germany, things have changed. Stephan has beautifully recreated gliders of Otto Lillenthal and with an English friend of Chanute.
I got in contact with him, but alas he was already ill and he is no more...
This page is a tribute and hopefully inspirational in thinking beyond the obvious.
Look at the movie of him standing in the wind, with an obviously not well balanced rotor. But what a sight!!
Stephan Nitsch made a pdf of his gyro glider which also explains the east german background
The question still remaining : "Is it possible to make a gyro-glider with which one can really fly ?"
Stephan Nitsch answered this question by sendig me some pictures of a guy flying a gyrocopter. The name of the images sugests the gyrocopter was towed to height and a glide followed. There is a youtube movie with this gyroglider. MP4 Video 5.6Mb
Stephan Nitsch †
