Word: messerschmitts
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There are specialists among them. Some, like Actor Cliff Robertson, are interested in refurbishing classic planes (he owns a Messerschmitt, is currently at work on a Spitfire). Others are hipped on "aerobatics," a term they prefer to "stunt flying," and are busy nostalgically building the nimble biplanes that only one commercial company makes any more. E.A.A. planes are "generally smaller, lighter and more sensitive than the factory-built jobs, and more responsive, which is part of the fun of flying," says St. Louis Chapter President Robert E. Gwinn, 41, an aeronautical engineer...
...supersonic speed. Its designers admit that the vertical engines will be dead cargo most of the time, but they think vertical engines will have less effect on performance than dual-purpose engines that are too powerful for efficient horizontal flight. A German V/STOL, the Bölkow, Heinkel and Messerschmitt VJ-101C, varies the French formula slightly by having two main engines that are tiltable and supplementing their thrust with two vertical-lift engines. The VJ-101C has made many vertical takeoffs with successful transition to horizontal flight...
...seven independent and fiercely competitive companies, none of which is strong enough alone to finance major developments. And the situation has not been helped by the refusal of the old-time individualistic planemakers to accept the modern concept of team design; the traditionalists believe, as does Pioneer Designer Willy Messerschmitt, now 65, that "the old hares can do the job better...
...Bremen outfits-Focke-Wulf and Weser-late last year merged to form the Vereinigte Flugtechnische Werke, now Germany's largest planemaking company (7,000 workers). Last week Claudius Dornier, 79, boss of his family-owned aircraft company, agreed to join the four leading planemakers in southern Germany-Messerschmitt, Siebelwerke, Heinkel and Bolkow-in establishing a joint company for research and development. The leading power in the new company is Ludwig Bolkow, 51, a wartime designer for Messerschmitt and a leading Eierköpfe, who in 1956 set up his aeronautical research outfit and began concentrating on electronics, advanced helicopter...
...After producing 40,000 fighters for the Luftwaffe during World War II, sharp-featured Willy Messerschmitt fell on hard times, turned unprofitably to making sewing machines and shell houses. Eventually the Bavarian state government moved in to protect $2,250,000 in loans it had made to Messerschmitt. It claimed 46.65% of the company's stock, left Willy an equal amount, and put the remaining 6.7% into trusteeship with the West German government. This week, with Messerschmitt now turning a tidy profit on the manufacture of F-104Gs and Fiat G91s for the West German air force, the government...