1. Squadron Leader Robert Kronfeld, AFC was an Austrian-born gliding champion and sailplane designer of the 1920s and 30s.
21 Facts About Robert Kronfeld
1. 2.
Robert Kronfeld became a British subject and an RAF test pilot.
3.
Kronfeld was born in Vienna, the son of dentist called Robert Kronfeld, who was nephew of Adolf Kronfeld, Ernst Moriz Kronfeld, both Galician Jews.
4.
Robert Kronfeld befriended Walter Georgii, who was a meteorologist working at the nearby Darmstadt University of Technology and who had recently discovered thermals.
5.
Robert Kronfeld became something of a test-pilot for Georgii, investigating this still-new phenomenon with the assistance of a variometer disguised as a vacuum flask.
6.
Robert Kronfeld took up the challenge in 1929 and selected a long chain of hills, the Teutoburger Wald, as a promising site for the record attempt.
7.
Robert Kronfeld took off in a glider of his own design, named Wien, launched by bungee, near Ibbenburen.
8.
Robert Kronfeld used the prize money to build a gigantic sailplane, named Austria, which had a wingspan of 30 metres - a record not to be matched until the end of the twentieth century.
9.
On 20 June 1931 Robert Kronfeld was the first pilot to fly a glider across the English Channel, making a return flight the same day.
10.
Robert Kronfeld was an Air Scout within the Osterreichischer Pfadfinderbund and took part in the 4th World Scout Jamboree in Hungary as a member of the Austrian contingent.
11.
Robert Kronfeld participated in the Air Scout camp and contributed to the Airshow.
12.
Robert Kronfeld served as Commissioner for Air Scouts of the Osterreichischer Pfadfinderbund.
13.
Nevertheless, Robert Kronfeld was determined to make the attempt and they managed to fix their position at 2,000 feet above St Bees Head and re-planned a crossing to Maughold Head.
14.
On Tuesday 7 June, Robert Kronfeld gave an exhibition of aerobatics over Ronaldsway as a feature of the 1938 Manx Air Derby.
15.
In 1933, the new Nazi government prohibited Jews from flying, and as a Jew, Robert Kronfeld fled Germany first for Austria, later for the United Kingdom.
16.
Robert Kronfeld settled in England in January 1938 and his father followed him to England in 1939.
17.
Robert Kronfeld was a member of the Osterreichischer Aero Club and brought the records of this association to the United Kingdom.
18.
Robert Kronfeld was posted to the Airborne Forces Experimental Establishment on military glider development.
19.
Robert Kronfeld's observer was able to leave the aircraft and survived despite a low level parachute opening.
20.
Robert Kronfeld was commemorated in an exhibition in the National Scout Center of the Osterreichischer Pfadfinderbund in Vienna in September 2010 and stamp and special cachet were issued.
21.
Robert Kronfeld been the first permanent Chief Flying Instructor in 1938.