[JoeF]

Willi Pelzner and hang gliders _____ Hängegleitpionier
May we one day see a close replica of his first or thereabouts double-decker hang glider at Dockweiler or other sites!
This topic aims to know Willy and the hang glider space radiating from his energies.
A slope at the Wasserkuppe Rh%C3%B6n (Wasserkuppen Rhön or Wasserkuppenrhön) was named after him.
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From a PDF document:

ClipFromMagazineShowingPelznerRespect.jpg (12.39 KiB) Viewed 236 times

Pelzner
For most of that first Rhon meeting, it seemed that the only way forward was through hang gliding. Willy Pelzner built himself a very light biplane hang glider of 5.4 metres span, weighing only 10 or 15 kilogrammes but well braced, the wings and tail unit covered with oiled paper. Almost tirelessly, he repeatedly carried his glider to the top of the hill facing the wind, ran forward, took off, controlled the flight by swinging the weight of his body and legs this way or that as needed, and glided to land somewhere down the slope. Pelzner's best flight covered 452 metres distance and lasted 52 seconds. Altogether he achieved 16 recorded flights for a total of 2728 metres, an average of 170 m. This, it seemed, was the best anyone could do.

I note that the writer wrote "10 or 15" which is a wide spread; we wonder what the actual weight was. And a modern near replica of his first-or-so hang glider in CFRP could be what???? [ ] And one day will we see a politely busable pack of a near-replica of Pelzner's first or second hang glider? Anyone up to the project?

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Starter studies:
We have had a couple of mentions earlier in our US Hawks forum about this topic; we bring those forward and then go from there. All are welcome to advance this topic.
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https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Cate ... ly_Pelzner
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pelzner_Hang_Glider
Remembering in metal on rock, photo large.
https://histaviation.com/pelzner.html
https://www.deutsches-museum.de/flugwer ... rt/pelzner
https://histaviation.com/pelzner_hang_glider.html
http://www.retroplane.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=5247

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Maybe his first, not sure: ... a doppeldecker ... Doppeldecker Hangegleiter ...

PelznerHangGlider001pixels500.jpg (62.09 KiB) Viewed 237 times

Here he is flying in 1920 or 1921 (not sure) at the a meeting at Wasserkuppe Rh%C3%B6n

1921 most probably. Filename should probably read 1921.

PelznerInFlightFirstWasserkuppeRhonMeet1920pixels500.jpg (22.54 KiB) Viewed 236 times

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Michael A. Markowski decided to caption on page 64 of The Hang Glider's Bible a drawing regarding Pelzner's hang glider:

The last of the old hang gliders.

Derigged, they were small enough to be loaded onto a passenger train as traveller's lugggage at no extra charge; the parcel measured about 2.7 meters long and 1.3 meters high, but only 50 centimeters thick.

That pack as was will not fit the contemporary 2022 movement's target of under 5 ft; but someone may get to the tiny pack target with some mods of the Pelzner doppeldecker HG.
Michael comments in his book that Pelzner never "seems to have taken to the Sitzgleiter." His book has more Pelzner details.
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[JoeF]

One source seemingly referring to 1920 or 1921: (ca. 6 kg Gesamtgewicht) for the weight of some hang glider, perhaps the first Pelzner; later he built larger refined versions of biplane hang gliders. But, if "6 kg" (approx 14 lb) was the deal, then that is inviting; what would careful CFRP do to the weight?
Pelzner had been an avid model builder prior to his building his man-carrying hang glider.
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In issue of Flugsport in 1923: Note: That issue wrote about the 6 kg weight of the hang glider.

PelznerHANGEGLEITERinFlugsport.jpg (101.54 KiB) Viewed 230 times

PelznerHANGEGLEITERinFlugsport2.jpg (113.87 KiB) Viewed 230 times

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One primary resource might have misspelled his name; the paper has " W. Pelztier" on same record sheet that also had his name correctly spelled: Pelzner.
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Interesting graphic collage, note the top high aspect ratio deal, not sure whose wing:
https://www.pennula.de/luftfahrt-geschi ... eft-15.htm
I do not see a Pelzner in the collage:

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