Gustav Otto
Encyclopedia
Gustav Otto was a German
aircraft and aircraft-engine designer and manufacturer.
Otto was born in Cologne
to Nikolaus August Otto, the founder of N. A. Otto & Cie. and inventor of the four-stroke internal combustion engine. It is therefore regarded that his interest in engines, specifically aircraft and the manufacture thereof, was something he inherited from his father at an early age.
, Karlsruhe
and Munich
for further engineering study. He is believed to have remained in Munich after completing his studies to co-found the Bayrische Autogarage Company. Having a famous father, Gustav was driven to prove himself. However, like many sons of famous fathers, Gustav had a difficult time getting out from under his father's long shadow. Therefore he was prone to bouts of depression, which affected his work.
Gustav competed successfully in cars and on motorcycles in various sports events. He was also very active in the earliest days of aviation. On 10 April 1910 he obtained his pilot's license on an Aviatik
biplane (also he took over an agency for this aircraft). He founded the "Aeroplanbau Otto-Alberti" workshop (renamed "Gustav Otto Flugmaschinenfabrik" in 1911) at the Puchheim
airfield. In 1910, Gustov built a biplane he designed; it created a sensation throughout Germany. Gustav, along with a few others, flew machines made of wood, wire, canvas and powered by Daimler
aeroengines. Gustav sold over 30 aircraft through his company, which also included a flight school. Through their passion for these flying machines, they helped transform aviation from a do-it-yourself hobby to a genuine industry vital to the military, especially after the breakout of World War I. Interestingly, Ernst Udet
, the second-highest scoring German flying ace of World War I (second only to the Red Baron), earned his pilots license from private training with Gustav at this time.
Gustav founded numerous companies for the purpose of building aircraft. For his first company, the following entry was recorded in the Munich Company Register under the number 14/364 on 15 March 1911: "Gustav Otto in Munich, Flugmaschinenfabrik (aircraft factory), Office Karlstrasse 72". Shortly afterwards, Otto moved the workshop from its original location at 37, Gabelsberger Strasse to its new premises at 135, Schleissheimer Strasse, and in 1913 started to construct a new factory at 76, Neulerchenfeldstrasse (later Lerchenauer Strasse)at the Oberwiesenfeld (the business was renamed "Otto-Werke" in 1915).
In 1913, after selling 47 aircraft to the Bavarian Army, Gustav opens his factory Otto-Flugzeugwerke
on Lerchenauer Strasse just east of the Oberwiesenfeld troop maneuver area in the Milbertshofen district of Munich(this area later became Munich's first airport). He wanted to be closer to the German government's procurement process for military sale. However, Gustav was not skilled at the politics and payoffs associated necessary when dealing with the Bavarian war ministry
and Prussian Army. Unable to navigate these politics without leaving his pride and integrity intact deeply troubled Gustav.
Shortly after 1914, Otto established another company named AGO Flugzeugwerke
at Berlin
's Johannisthal Air Field
. The initials AGO stood for either Actien-Gesellschaft Otto or Aerowerke Gustav Otto– there seems to be some ambiguity– but the company mostly license-built Otto Flugmaschinenfabrik designs,(as did Pfalz Flugzeugwerke
) during the early years of World War I
. The designs by Gustav Otto were initially successful, but Otto was continually experiencing problems related to cost-effective production, as well as generating profits. At the start of the war, Otto-Flugzeugwerke was supplying the German Air Force, but the production problems ended up being so great that the government agencies urged the company to solve the issues. The stress of wartime seemed to prove too great a burden for Gustov who suffered health issues which led to financial problems with the company. In 1915 he was admitted to a Munich mental hospital for treatment of clinical depression (as it is called today). As he was being treated, the company languished to the edge of bankruptcy. Eventually, Otto was forced to resign from the business and was offered a buyout that would compensate him for the business as well as his medical bills. The assets were finally taken over by a consortium which incorporated them into Bayerische Flugzeugwerke on 19 February 1916. Gustav Otto no longer had a stake in this company. He turned his attention instead to Otto-Werke Flugzeug- und Maschinenfabrik GmbH, which was founded on 1 February 1916, just before Otto-Flugzeugwerke was taken over by the consortium. This new company was not in any way connected with the newly established company.
After the First World War, Otto started a new attempt with in the automobile manufacturing area with the Starnberger Automobilwerke. The luxury "Otto-Mercedes" car built there is alleged to have been well received abroad. During this time, he was divorced from his wife Ada in 1924, an event under which Otto suffered badly. Ada remarried, but in August 1925 died in mysterious circumstances that gave rise to much speculation. Despite the fact he was no longer married to her, Otto took her death most harshly and apparently fell into a deep depression.
In 1926, amid failed attempts at business (caused by various reasons), the death of his wife, and health issues, Otto committed suicide at the age of 43.
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...
aircraft and aircraft-engine designer and manufacturer.
Otto was born in Cologne
Cologne
Cologne is Germany's fourth-largest city , and is the largest city both in the Germany Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia and within the Rhine-Ruhr Metropolitan Area, one of the major European metropolitan areas with more than ten million inhabitants.Cologne is located on both sides of the...
to Nikolaus August Otto, the founder of N. A. Otto & Cie. and inventor of the four-stroke internal combustion engine. It is therefore regarded that his interest in engines, specifically aircraft and the manufacture thereof, was something he inherited from his father at an early age.
Early life
Otto was regarded as successful and career-minded, and moved in elevated social circles. He attended a higher secondary school in Cologne, and had internships at machine tool manufacturers. Later, he attended the Technical Colleges in HanoverHanover
Hanover or Hannover, on the river Leine, is the capital of the federal state of Lower Saxony , Germany and was once by personal union the family seat of the Hanoverian Kings of Great Britain, under their title as the dukes of Brunswick-Lüneburg...
, Karlsruhe
Karlsruhe
The City of Karlsruhe is a city in the southwest of Germany, in the state of Baden-Württemberg, located near the French-German border.Karlsruhe was founded in 1715 as Karlsruhe Palace, when Germany was a series of principalities and city states...
and Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
for further engineering study. He is believed to have remained in Munich after completing his studies to co-found the Bayrische Autogarage Company. Having a famous father, Gustav was driven to prove himself. However, like many sons of famous fathers, Gustav had a difficult time getting out from under his father's long shadow. Therefore he was prone to bouts of depression, which affected his work.
Passion for Flight
Aviatik
Automobil und Aviatik AG was a German aircraft manufacturer during World War I. The company was established at Mülhausen in 1910 and soon became one of the country's leading producers of aircraft, relocating to Freiburg in 1914 and establishing a subsidiary in Vienna as Österreichisch-Ungarische...
biplane (also he took over an agency for this aircraft). He founded the "Aeroplanbau Otto-Alberti" workshop (renamed "Gustav Otto Flugmaschinenfabrik" in 1911) at the Puchheim
Puchheim
Puchheim is a city near Munich in the district of Fürstenfeldbruck, in Bavaria, Germany. It has about 20,000 inhabitants, and is located at .Puchheim is divided into two parts: the old and rural part called Puchheim-Ort and the new part of Puchheim that was founded when the S-Bahn was built....
airfield. In 1910, Gustov built a biplane he designed; it created a sensation throughout Germany. Gustav, along with a few others, flew machines made of wood, wire, canvas and powered by Daimler
Daimler Motoren Gesellschaft
Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft was a German engine and later automobile manufacturer, in operation from 1890 until 1926. Founded by Gottlieb Daimler and Wilhelm Maybach, it was based first in Cannstatt...
aeroengines. Gustav sold over 30 aircraft through his company, which also included a flight school. Through their passion for these flying machines, they helped transform aviation from a do-it-yourself hobby to a genuine industry vital to the military, especially after the breakout of World War I. Interestingly, Ernst Udet
Ernst Udet
Colonel General Ernst Udet was the second-highest scoring German flying ace of World War I. He was one of the youngest aces and was the highest scoring German ace to survive the war . His 62 victories were second only to Manfred von Richthofen, his commander in the Flying Circus...
, the second-highest scoring German flying ace of World War I (second only to the Red Baron), earned his pilots license from private training with Gustav at this time.
Gustav founded numerous companies for the purpose of building aircraft. For his first company, the following entry was recorded in the Munich Company Register under the number 14/364 on 15 March 1911: "Gustav Otto in Munich, Flugmaschinenfabrik (aircraft factory), Office Karlstrasse 72". Shortly afterwards, Otto moved the workshop from its original location at 37, Gabelsberger Strasse to its new premises at 135, Schleissheimer Strasse, and in 1913 started to construct a new factory at 76, Neulerchenfeldstrasse (later Lerchenauer Strasse)at the Oberwiesenfeld (the business was renamed "Otto-Werke" in 1915).
The Foundation of BFW
Otto-Flugzeugwerke
Gustav Otto Flugzeugwerke, founded in 1910 by Gustav Otto, was one of the pioneering aircraft producers at the turn of the 20th Century. It was merged into BFW, the company that eventually became BMW AG....
on Lerchenauer Strasse just east of the Oberwiesenfeld troop maneuver area in the Milbertshofen district of Munich(this area later became Munich's first airport). He wanted to be closer to the German government's procurement process for military sale. However, Gustav was not skilled at the politics and payoffs associated necessary when dealing with the Bavarian war ministry
Ministry of War (Kingdom of Bavaria)
The Ministry of War was a ministry for military affairs of the Kingdom of Bavaria, founded as Ministerium des Kriegswesens on October 1, 1808 by King Maximilian I Joseph of Bavaria. It was located at Ludwigstraße in Munich...
and Prussian Army. Unable to navigate these politics without leaving his pride and integrity intact deeply troubled Gustav.
AGO Flugzeugwerke
AGO Flugzeugwerke was a German aircraft manufacturing company from 1941 until 1945. The initials AGO had a variety of meanings during the company's lifetime, but in the its final version stood for Apparatebau GmbH Oschersleben...
at Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
's Johannisthal Air Field
Johannisthal Air Field
The Johannisthal Air Field, located 15 km southeast of Berlin, between Johannisthal and Adlershof, was Germany's first airfield. It opened on 26 September 1909, a few weeks after the world's first airfield at Rheims, France .-Overview:...
. The initials AGO stood for either Actien-Gesellschaft Otto or Aerowerke Gustav Otto– there seems to be some ambiguity– but the company mostly license-built Otto Flugmaschinenfabrik designs,(as did Pfalz Flugzeugwerke
Pfalz Flugzeugwerke
Pfalz Flugzeugwerke was a World War I German aircraft manufacturer, located at the Speyer airfield in the Palatinate . They are best known for their series of fighters, notably the Pfalz D.III and Pfalz D.XII...
) during the early years of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. The designs by Gustav Otto were initially successful, but Otto was continually experiencing problems related to cost-effective production, as well as generating profits. At the start of the war, Otto-Flugzeugwerke was supplying the German Air Force, but the production problems ended up being so great that the government agencies urged the company to solve the issues. The stress of wartime seemed to prove too great a burden for Gustov who suffered health issues which led to financial problems with the company. In 1915 he was admitted to a Munich mental hospital for treatment of clinical depression (as it is called today). As he was being treated, the company languished to the edge of bankruptcy. Eventually, Otto was forced to resign from the business and was offered a buyout that would compensate him for the business as well as his medical bills. The assets were finally taken over by a consortium which incorporated them into Bayerische Flugzeugwerke on 19 February 1916. Gustav Otto no longer had a stake in this company. He turned his attention instead to Otto-Werke Flugzeug- und Maschinenfabrik GmbH, which was founded on 1 February 1916, just before Otto-Flugzeugwerke was taken over by the consortium. This new company was not in any way connected with the newly established company.
After the First World War, Otto started a new attempt with in the automobile manufacturing area with the Starnberger Automobilwerke. The luxury "Otto-Mercedes" car built there is alleged to have been well received abroad. During this time, he was divorced from his wife Ada in 1924, an event under which Otto suffered badly. Ada remarried, but in August 1925 died in mysterious circumstances that gave rise to much speculation. Despite the fact he was no longer married to her, Otto took her death most harshly and apparently fell into a deep depression.
In 1926, amid failed attempts at business (caused by various reasons), the death of his wife, and health issues, Otto committed suicide at the age of 43.