Felix Kracht
Encyclopedia
Felix Kracht was a German
engineer.
After graduating from the Technical University of Aachen
, he put his theoretical knowledge into practice at the aeronautical association Flugwissenschaftliche Vereinigung Aachen
(FVA) by building the performance glider FVA-10 “Rheinland". Kracht made a name for himself when in 1937 he crossed the Alps
in this aircraft. He was sent to Deutsche Forschungsanstalt für Segelflug
where he developed the DFS 228
glider and the experimental DFS 346
rocket-powered airplane.
After the World War II
, he went on to work in France with Nord Aviation
before moving back to Germany to head Deutsche Airbus GmbH. Before joining Airbus he was especially known for co-ordinating French and German work on the Transall C-160
military transport aircraft. Felix Kracht joined the Airbus organisation in 1968 and was Airbus
' first production director on the A300
programme. He focused on harnessing a broad selection of skills, eliminating redundancies, promoting trans-national collaboration and optimising a unique industrial organisation. Later he became the Senior Vice President and was responsible for production at the Toulouse site until his retirement in 1981. After his retirement, he often acted as an advisor to Airbus.
He died on Friday 3 October 2002, at the age of 90 at Kirchweyhe
near Bremen
.
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
engineer.
After graduating from the Technical University of Aachen
RWTH Aachen
RWTH Aachen University is a research university located in Aachen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany with roughly 33,000 students enrolled in 101 study programs....
, he put his theoretical knowledge into practice at the aeronautical association Flugwissenschaftliche Vereinigung Aachen
Flugwissenschaftliche Vereinigung Aachen
Flugwissenschaftliche Vereinigung Aachen is a non-profit organization, founded in 1920, which is closely associated to RWTH Aachen University , with members consisting of RWTH Aachen students, which have included Felix Kracht...
(FVA) by building the performance glider FVA-10 “Rheinland". Kracht made a name for himself when in 1937 he crossed the Alps
Alps
The Alps is one of the great mountain range systems of Europe, stretching from Austria and Slovenia in the east through Italy, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Germany to France in the west....
in this aircraft. He was sent to Deutsche Forschungsanstalt für Segelflug
Deutsche Forschungsanstalt für Segelflug
The Deutsche Forschungsanstalt für Segelflug, or DFS was formed in 1933 to centralise all gliding activity in Germany...
where he developed the DFS 228
DFS 228
-See also:-Bibliography:* Green, William. Warplanes of the Third Reich. London: Macdonald and Jane's Publishers Ltd., 1970 . ISBN 0-356-02382-6.* Myhra, David. DFS 228. Atglen, PA: Schiffer Publishing, 2000. ISBN 0-76431-203-0....
glider and the experimental DFS 346
DFS 346
The DFS 346 was a German rocket-powered swept-wing vehicle subsequently completed and flown in the Soviet Union after the World War II. It was designed by Felix Kracht at the Deutsche Forschungsanstalt für Segelflug , the "German Institute for Sailplane Flight"...
rocket-powered airplane.
After the World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, he went on to work in France with Nord Aviation
Nord Aviation
Nord-Aviation was a state-owned French aircraft manufacturer. It was created on October 1, 1954 upon the acquisition of SFECMAS by SNCAN...
before moving back to Germany to head Deutsche Airbus GmbH. Before joining Airbus he was especially known for co-ordinating French and German work on the Transall C-160
Transall C-160
|-See also:-References:* Taylor, John W. R. Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1982-83. London:Jane's Yearbooks, 1982. ISBN 0-7106-0748-2.-External links:*...
military transport aircraft. Felix Kracht joined the Airbus organisation in 1968 and was Airbus
Airbus
Airbus SAS is an aircraft manufacturing subsidiary of EADS, a European aerospace company. Based in Blagnac, France, surburb of Toulouse, and with significant activity across Europe, the company produces around half of the world's jet airliners....
' first production director on the A300
Airbus A300
The Airbus A300 is a short- to medium-range widebody jet airliner. Launched in 1972 as the world's first twin-engined widebody, it was the first product of Airbus Industrie, a consortium of European aerospace companies, wholly owned today by EADS...
programme. He focused on harnessing a broad selection of skills, eliminating redundancies, promoting trans-national collaboration and optimising a unique industrial organisation. Later he became the Senior Vice President and was responsible for production at the Toulouse site until his retirement in 1981. After his retirement, he often acted as an advisor to Airbus.
He died on Friday 3 October 2002, at the age of 90 at Kirchweyhe
Weyhe
Weyhe is a municipality in the district of Diepholz, Lower Saxony, Germany. It is situated approximately 12 km south of Bremen.-History:First mentioned in 860, when a sick girl from "Wege" travelled to the grave of Saint Willehad in Bremen...
near Bremen
Bremen
The City Municipality of Bremen is a Hanseatic city in northwestern Germany. A commercial and industrial city with a major port on the river Weser, Bremen is part of the Bremen-Oldenburg metropolitan area . Bremen is the second most populous city in North Germany and tenth in Germany.Bremen is...
.
External links
- "http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Felix_Kracht"