Wings Over the Rockies
Air & Space Museum
7711 East Academy Boulevard
Denver, CO 80230-6929

Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum, Denver, COPhone: 303.360.5360
Fax: 303.360.5328
Museum Store: 303.360.8535
Tour Booking:
303.360.5360 x 116

Online Exhibit of Aircraft

Primary Glider
Homebuilt

At the end of WWI, the Treaty of Versailles prohibited the Germans from producing powered aircraft. Their passion for flying, however, turned their efforts to building and flying gliders. These were launched from hillsides with cables and bungees and civilian flying clubs became popular, especially in the Rhon Mountains. German military leaders soon recognized the potential and began subsidizing these clubs to insure that German youths were encouraged in aviation. Thus evolved the training of future Luftwaffe pilots.

Our Primary Glider

In September 1977, Lt. Col. Frank McDonald, USAF (Ret) of Fort Collins flew this glider for the first time. Designed and built as part of his master's thesis in Industrial Arts Ed. at CSU, it was patterned after those German gliders of the 1920's.

More Photos:
(click for a larger version)