Klemm
Encyclopedia
The Klemm Leichtflugzeugbau GmbH
("Klemm Light Aircraft Company") was a German
aircraft manufacturer noteworthy for sports and touring planes of the 1930s.
The company was founded in Böblingen
in 1926 by Dr. Hanns Klemm, who had previously worked for both Zeppelin
and the Daimler Aircraft Company
.
While working at Daimler Klemm had developed his ideas for a light aircraft, to be made of wood for strength and lightness. It should be easy to manufacture, aerodynamically efficient with low mass and wing loading
, for which a low-powered engine would be sufficient. Klemm's first design, the Daimler L.15, was a light aircraft with a single 7.5 hp (5.5 kW) Indian motorcycle
engine. This aircraft flew in early 1919, although a 12 hp (8.8 kW) Harley-Davidson
engine was used instead of the originally-envisioned engine.
Klemm then designed a squared-off version of the cylindrical fuselage
of the L.15, which could be more easily built, which he designated the L.20, and he founded his own company to produce it. This aircraft, of which more than 100 were built, was powered by a 20 hp (15 kW) Daimler engine designed by Ferdinand Porsche
.
In 1928 Freiherr Friedrich-Karl von Koenig-Warthausen made a solo flight to Moscow
in a Klemm L.20, then decided to keep on going, circumnavigating the world
and earning himself the Hindenburg Cup
, the highest German honour for aeronautical achievement.
From the L.20 was developed the Klemm L.25, later redesignated the Kl 25. Capable of being fitted with fourteen different engine types, over 600 were sold, and licenses to manufacture them were issued in Great Britain
and the USA.
In January 1930 Mohamed Sidki flew from Berlin
to Cairo, Egypt in a Klemm L25a. He landed in Cairo on 26 January, becoming a political hero by defying the British authorities who had denied him permission to land (he became known as The First Egyptian Eagle). Sidki wrote a letter to Klemm, who had helped outfit the plane for the long journey, stating "your beautiful little machine, the L25a has carried me through wind, snow and torrential rain without any damage to myself, the plane and the engine."
In 1931 Elly Beinhorn
became the second woman to fly from Europe to Australia flying a Klemm Kl 26 equipped with an Argus
engine, and winning the Hindenburg Cup.
Klemm suffered a setback in 1935 when the prototype Kl 35
crashed during testing at Rechlin
. This was explained as a material defect, but was more likely due to overstressing of the wings. Klemm revised and brought the Kl 35 up to the required specifications and manufacturing began. Around 2,000 of the aircraft were built, both at Klemm's plant, and by Fieseler
, and later by the Czech company Moravan Otrokovice
, for the Luftwaffe
as a trainer. During World War II
Klemm produced and designed a range of aircraft, such as the Klemm Kl 105, Kl 106 and Kl 107, as well as the Klemm Kl 151
and Kl 152.
The Klemm Aircraft Company was refounded in 1952 after the post-war ban on aircraft construction was lifted. Klemm himself by this time was semi-retired, and the company was run by his son Hanns-Jürgen Klemm. This company's first model, Kl 107-A, made its maiden flight in mid-1956. In April 1959, Bölkow
took over Klemm, and with the successor of the Kl 107-C named the Bölkow 207, the name of Klemm disappeared from the list of aircraft manufacturers.
Klemm aircraft included:
Gesellschaft mit beschränkter Haftung
Gesellschaft mit beschränkter Haftung is a type of legal entityvery common in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and other Central European countries...
("Klemm Light Aircraft Company") was a German
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 manufacturer noteworthy for sports and touring planes of the 1930s.
The company was founded in Böblingen
Böblingen
Böblingen is a town in Baden-Württemberg, Germany, seat of Böblingen District. Physically Sindelfingen and Böblingen are continuous.-History:Böblingen was founded by Count Wilhelm von Tübingen-Böblingen in 1253. Württemberg acquired the town in 1357, and on 12 May 1525 one of the bloodiest battles...
in 1926 by Dr. Hanns Klemm, who had previously worked for both Zeppelin
Zeppelin
A Zeppelin is a type of rigid airship pioneered by the German Count Ferdinand von Zeppelin in the early 20th century. It was based on designs he had outlined in 1874 and detailed in 1893. His plans were reviewed by committee in 1894 and patented in the United States on 14 March 1899...
and the Daimler Aircraft Company
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...
.
While working at Daimler Klemm had developed his ideas for a light aircraft, to be made of wood for strength and lightness. It should be easy to manufacture, aerodynamically efficient with low mass and wing loading
Wing loading
In aerodynamics, wing loading is the loaded weight of the aircraft divided by the area of the wing. The faster an aircraft flies, the more lift is produced by each unit area of wing, so a smaller wing can carry the same weight in level flight, operating at a higher wing loading. Correspondingly,...
, for which a low-powered engine would be sufficient. Klemm's first design, the Daimler L.15, was a light aircraft with a single 7.5 hp (5.5 kW) Indian motorcycle
Indian (motorcycle)
Indian is an American brand of motorcycles. Indian motorcycles were manufactured from 1901 to 1953 by a company in Springfield, Massachusetts, USA, initially known as the Hendee Manufacturing Company but which was renamed the Indian Manufacturing Company in 1928. The Indian factory team took the...
engine. This aircraft flew in early 1919, although a 12 hp (8.8 kW) Harley-Davidson
Harley-Davidson
Harley-Davidson , often abbreviated H-D or Harley, is an American motorcycle manufacturer. Founded in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, during the first decade of the 20th century, it was one of two major American motorcycle manufacturers to survive the Great Depression...
engine was used instead of the originally-envisioned engine.
Klemm then designed a squared-off version of the cylindrical fuselage
Fuselage
The fuselage is an aircraft's main body section that holds crew and passengers or cargo. In single-engine aircraft it will usually contain an engine, although in some amphibious aircraft the single engine is mounted on a pylon attached to the fuselage which in turn is used as a floating hull...
of the L.15, which could be more easily built, which he designated the L.20, and he founded his own company to produce it. This aircraft, of which more than 100 were built, was powered by a 20 hp (15 kW) Daimler engine designed by Ferdinand Porsche
Ferdinand Porsche
Ferdinand Porsche was an Austrian automotive engineer and honorary Doctor of Engineering. He is best known for creating the first hybrid vehicle , the Volkswagen Beetle, and the Mercedes-Benz SS/SSK, as well as the first of many Porsche automobiles...
.
In 1928 Freiherr Friedrich-Karl von Koenig-Warthausen made a solo flight to Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
in a Klemm L.20, then decided to keep on going, circumnavigating the world
Circumnavigation
Circumnavigation – literally, "navigation of a circumference" – refers to travelling all the way around an island, a continent, or the entire planet Earth.- Global circumnavigation :...
and earning himself the Hindenburg Cup
Hindenburg Cup
The Hindenburg Cup was a German aviation prize, founded in 1928 and awarded annually by President and Field Marshal Paul von Hindenburg to recognize achievements in powered flight...
, the highest German honour for aeronautical achievement.
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
and the USA.
In January 1930 Mohamed Sidki flew from 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...
to Cairo, Egypt in a Klemm L25a. He landed in Cairo on 26 January, becoming a political hero by defying the British authorities who had denied him permission to land (he became known as The First Egyptian Eagle). Sidki wrote a letter to Klemm, who had helped outfit the plane for the long journey, stating "your beautiful little machine, the L25a has carried me through wind, snow and torrential rain without any damage to myself, the plane and the engine."
In 1931 Elly Beinhorn
Elly Beinhorn
Elly Beinhorn-Rosemeyer was a German pilot.-Early life:She was born in Hannover, Germany on 30 May 1907....
became the second woman to fly from Europe to Australia flying a Klemm Kl 26 equipped with an Argus
Argus Motoren
Argus Motoren was a German manufacturing firm known for their series of small inverted-V engines and the V-1 pulse jet engine.-History:...
engine, and winning the Hindenburg Cup.
Klemm suffered a setback in 1935 when the prototype Kl 35
Klemm Kl 35
|-See also:-Bibliography:* Mondey, David. The Concise Guide to Axis Aircraft of World War II. London: Chancellor, 1996. ISBN 1 85152 966 7.* Translated from de.wikipedia.org...
crashed during testing at Rechlin
Rechlin-Lärz Airfield
Rechlin-Lärz Airfield is an airfield in the village of Rechlin, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Germany, which is certified for aviation equipment up to 14 tons weight...
. This was explained as a material defect, but was more likely due to overstressing of the wings. Klemm revised and brought the Kl 35 up to the required specifications and manufacturing began. Around 2,000 of the aircraft were built, both at Klemm's plant, and by Fieseler
Fieseler
The Gerhard Fieseler Werke was a German aircraft manufacturer of the 1930s and 40s. The company is remembered mostly for its military aircraft built for the Luftwaffe during the Second World War.-History:...
, and later by the Czech company Moravan Otrokovice
Moravan Otrokovice
Moravan Otrokovice is a Czech aircraft company located at Otrokovice Airfield, on the outskirst of Otrokovice.The company was founded in 1934 and since then has built over 5,600 aircraft...
, for the Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe is a generic German term for an air force. It is also the official name for two of the four historic German air forces, the Wehrmacht air arm founded in 1935 and disbanded in 1946; and the current Bundeswehr air arm founded in 1956....
as a trainer. During 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...
Klemm produced and designed a range of aircraft, such as the Klemm Kl 105, Kl 106 and Kl 107, as well as the Klemm Kl 151
Klemm Kl 151
-See also:...
and Kl 152.
The Klemm Aircraft Company was refounded in 1952 after the post-war ban on aircraft construction was lifted. Klemm himself by this time was semi-retired, and the company was run by his son Hanns-Jürgen Klemm. This company's first model, Kl 107-A, made its maiden flight in mid-1956. In April 1959, Bölkow
Bölkow
Bölkow was a German aircraft manufacturer based in Stuttgart, Germany, and later Ottobrunn.-History:The company was founded in 1948 by Ludwig Bölkow, who since 1955 with Emil Weiland had developed helicopters for Bölkow Entwicklungen KG....
took over Klemm, and with the successor of the Kl 107-C named the Bölkow 207, the name of Klemm disappeared from the list of aircraft manufacturers.
Klemm aircraft included:
- Klemm (Daimler) L.20, light leisure and training aircraft, 1924
- Klemm Kl 25Klemm Kl 25-See also:...
, light leisure and training aircraft, 1928 - Klemm Kl 26, light leisure and training aircraft, 1929
- Klemm Kl 31, single-engine transport, 1931
- Klemm Kl 32, single-engine transport, 1931
- Klemm Kl 33, (Klemm L33), single-seat ultra-light sportplane (prototype), 1933
- Klemm Kl 35Klemm Kl 35|-See also:-Bibliography:* Mondey, David. The Concise Guide to Axis Aircraft of World War II. London: Chancellor, 1996. ISBN 1 85152 966 7.* Translated from de.wikipedia.org...
, sportplane and trainer, 1935 - Klemm Kl 36Klemm Kl 36|-See also:-References:* Marian Krzyżan: "Międzynarodowe turnieje lotnicze 1929-1934", WKiŁ, Warsaw 1988, ISBN 83-206-0637-3 *...
, single-engine transport, 1934 - Klemm Kl 105, touring plane, development of Kl 35 (prototypes)
- Klemm Kl 106, sportsplane, development of Kl 35 (prototypes)
- Klemm Kl 107, light leisure and training aircraft
- Klemm Kl 151Klemm Kl 151-See also:...
, touring plane (project), 1942 - Klemm Kl 152, fighter (project)