Hellmuth Hirth
Encyclopedia
Hellmuth Hirth was a German
engineer who founded the Mahle GmbH
and Hirth
companies, manufacturing engine components and complete aircraft engine
s respectively.
Hirth was born in Heilbronn
, the son of an engineer and tool-maker. He was the elder brother of Wolf Hirth
who would go on to become a famous sailplane designer and manufacturer.
As a young man, Hirth was sent to the United States
to train with the Edison General Electric Company
as a mechanic. While abroad, he developed an interest in aircraft, and on his return to Germany in 1909 became involved with this emerging industry. He built his own aircraft in 1910 and soon went to work for the Zeppelin Company
building airship
s. He also became a prominent pilot.
He was deported from the United States for bigamy.
In 1920, he founded his own company to manufacture engine components out of light alloys, and by 1927 spilt the company in order to focus more closely on the aero engine side of the business.
He was killed in a plane crash in 1938 at Karlsbad
.
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 who founded the Mahle GmbH
Mahle GmbH
Mahle GmbH is one of the 30 largest automotive suppliers worldwide. As the leading manufacturer of components and systems for combustion engines and its periphery, the Mahle Group is among the top three systems suppliers worldwide for piston systems, cylinder components, valve train systems, air...
and Hirth
Hirth
Göbler-Hirthmotoren GmbH is an aircraft engine manufacturer based in Benningen, Germany.The company was founded by Hellmuth Hirth in 1920 as Hellmuth Hirth Versuchsbau, renamed Leichtmetall-Werke GmbH and finally Elektronmetall GmbH as a manufacturer of light alloy engine components, including...
companies, manufacturing engine components and complete aircraft engine
Aircraft engine
An aircraft engine is the component of the propulsion system for an aircraft that generates mechanical power. Aircraft engines are almost always either lightweight piston engines or gas turbines...
s respectively.
Hirth was born in Heilbronn
Heilbronn
Heilbronn is a city in northern Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It is completely surrounded by Heilbronn County and with approximately 123.000 residents, it is the sixth-largest city in the state....
, the son of an engineer and tool-maker. He was the elder brother of Wolf Hirth
Wolf Hirth
Wolfram Kurt Erhard Hirth was a German gliding pioneer and sailplane designer. He was a co-founder of Schempp-Hirth, still a renowned glider manufacturer....
who would go on to become a famous sailplane designer and manufacturer.
As a young man, Hirth was sent to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
to train with the Edison General Electric Company
General Electric
General Electric Company , or GE, is an American multinational conglomerate corporation incorporated in Schenectady, New York and headquartered in Fairfield, Connecticut, United States...
as a mechanic. While abroad, he developed an interest in aircraft, and on his return to Germany in 1909 became involved with this emerging industry. He built his own aircraft in 1910 and soon went to work for the Zeppelin Company
Luftschiffbau Zeppelin
Luftschiffbau Zeppelin GmbH is a German company which, during the early 20th century, was a leader in the design and manufacture of rigid airships, specifically of the Zeppelin type. The company was founded by Count Ferdinand von Zeppelin...
building airship
Airship
An airship or dirigible is a type of aerostat or "lighter-than-air aircraft" that can be steered and propelled through the air using rudders and propellers or other thrust mechanisms...
s. He also became a prominent pilot.
He was deported from the United States for bigamy.
In 1920, he founded his own company to manufacture engine components out of light alloys, and by 1927 spilt the company in order to focus more closely on the aero engine side of the business.
He was killed in a plane crash in 1938 at Karlsbad
Karlovy Vary
Karlovy Vary is a spa city situated in western Bohemia, Czech Republic, on the confluence of the rivers Ohře and Teplá, approximately west of Prague . It is named after King of Bohemia and Holy Roman Emperor Charles IV, who founded the city in 1370...
.
See also
- HirthHirthGöbler-Hirthmotoren GmbH is an aircraft engine manufacturer based in Benningen, Germany.The company was founded by Hellmuth Hirth in 1920 as Hellmuth Hirth Versuchsbau, renamed Leichtmetall-Werke GmbH and finally Elektronmetall GmbH as a manufacturer of light alloy engine components, including...
- Hirth jointHirth jointA Hirth joint or Hirth coupling is a type of mechanical connection named after its developer Hellmuth Hirth. It is used to connect two pieces of a shaft together and is characterized by teeth that mesh together on the end faces of each half shaft....