THE WORLD'S FIRST JET PILOT

[warsitz]

Dear Aviation & History Enthusiasts,

My father – Flight Captain Erich Warsitz – is remembered as the first person to fly an aircraft under turbojet power, the Heinkel He 178, on August 27, 1939 and also the first to fly an aircraft under liquid-fueled rocket power, the Heinkel He 176, on June 20 the same year, setting two milestones in aviation history.

Late in 1936 he was seconded by the RLM (Reich Air Ministry) to Wernher von Braun and Ernst Heinkel, because he had been recognized as one of the most experienced test-pilots of the time, and because he also had an extraordinary fund of technical knowledge. Little is known of this pioneer period because of the strict secrecy which shrouded the whole project!

You will find a lot of information about Erich Warsitz and his achievements under http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erich_Warsitz or either under http://www.firstjetpilot.com/history.html inclusive rare video footage and audio commentaries by von Braun and my father.

It’s a little unfortunate that the He 178 quite often doesn’t get the recognition it deserves. After all, every other turbine propelled aircraft that has graced or is now gracing our skies has, at best, come second place to it.

Fly save,
Lutz Warsitz

[Inverted2]

[iflyforpie]

It’s a little unfortunate that the He 178 quite often doesn’t get the recognition it deserves. After all, every other turbine propelled aircraft that has graced or is now gracing our skies has, at best, come second place to it.

I don't know. I remember reading about this when I was in elementary school. Nobody doubts that it was the first true jet to fly. But with only one flown and Stukas and 109s devastating Poland the next week, it's place in history will always be shadowed...

[MrWings]

I find it difficult, especially considering the timing of this story, to whole-heartedly celebrate Warsitz's accomplishment.

Yes, I recognize the aviation achievement and contribution, but it was done willingly to further the Third Reich's power at the cost of our soldiers.

Lest we forget.

[Hot Fuel]

With all due respect, the evolution of aviation on this side of the pond was undoubtedly advanced by war as well. Good people died at the hands of Western technology as well, lest we forget works on both sides of the ocean…I think you missed the point of the original post, the pilot and the machine were a milestone worth acknowledging.

[scm]

Independent of the political climate at the time, as an aviation and history fan I appreciate you posting this.
I have spent countless hours watching the aviation history channel. Too bad I don't have cable anymore.

[MrWings]

I think you missed the point of the original post, the pilot and the machine were a milestone worth acknowledging.

I think you missed the point of my post. I did acknowledge the aviation contribution.

After spending yesterday at a Rememberance Day ceremony, watching 90-something men with tears in their eyes, unwilling to recount the atrocities they witnessed, I was reminded of how horrible a situation our soldiers were put into because of a truly evil leader and a nation so enamoured and willing to blindly follow him.

Yes, I know we have moved on since then. And the soldiers have too.

I was just saying I was finding it difficult to celebrate Mr. Warsitz acheivement considering how he helped train aircrews that went on to kill our troops. I think our vets would have trouble celebrating this achievement the day after Rememberance Day too. That is my point.

[AMM]

The turbo part really has to be emphasized. The first turbojet pilot/flight.

Several years earlier there was the Coandă-1910:


It was a motorjet. The compressor was powered by a 4-cylinder piston engine, hence the name.
Nevertheless, the jet part was still there, and it did fly (unintentionally and resulting in a crash), some 29 years before the above mentioned He 178.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coand%C4%83-1910

So technically the first jet pilot was Henri Coanda. An engineer! Which explains the crash.

[FL050]

What possible good can come from posting this on November 12? At least you waited 1 day....

No one will deny the advances the Germans made during that time, but....is this the time to discuss it? Very mature.


iflyforpie said it best.

[stuckmike]

Mr Wings.

I was reminded of how horrible a situation our soldiers were put into because of a truly evil leader and a nation so enamoured and willing to blindly follow him.

WW2 is a terrible black mark in our worlds history. Blaming the average German citizen of the time as blindly following a madman is a broad and unfair statement. I would like you to sit down with my 90 year old Oma, get her to tell you of neighbors disappearing in the middle of the night. Forced "victory" parades. Conscription, Hitler youth..all that. The general populace were in a terrible situation. You follow, or you die. But before that, you got to witness your mother, father, brothers, sisters, children suffer the same fate. Unfortunately people did what they needed to to survive.

She was beyond joy when she was liberated by the allied forces. Thankfully she and her children survived so I can live in this wonderful country I love dearly.

Signed,

A Proud Canadian

[Brewguy]

...I was just saying I was finding it difficult to celebrate Mr. Warsitz acheivement considering how he helped train aircrews that went on to kill our troops. I think our vets would have trouble celebrating this achievement the day after Rememberance Day too...

Strange. I was watching some of the remembrance day ceremony that was held at the CWH museum - and couldn't help but think about our vets, who trained aircrews to kill their troops.

Ultimately, its a date to remember all those who lost their lives, on all sides of each conflict. Lutz doesn't give their location, but its entirely possible he currently lives in North America, and Remembrance day may have given an opportunity to remember his father, a Veteran.

Not all Germans were Nazis.

Most of the great advancements in aviation have come from war (on all sides). The story mentioned is just that, a story about a major advancement in aviation history. I don't see what the date has to do with it (and by the way, I'm a long time member of the CF reserves, and come from a military family).

Thanks for posting Lutz!

[FL050]

No one said all Germans were Nazis.

And you'll have to forgive us for being a little emotional about the "German War Machine" subject around Remembrance day Brewguy, but a few of our family members (couple million) may have been killed defending the world against Germany for the second time in 50 years.

Give it a few days... is the point I'm getting from the responses. Nothing more.

[warsitz]

Dear all,

I'm very sorry for my yesterday's post, which for I apologize - I did not wanted to hurt anyone!

All the best from Switzerland,

Lutz Warsitz

[Meecka]

War is a horrible thing, no matter what side you are on. But this ambivalence toward the original poster saddens me. There were huge unecessary losses on both sides.

[FL050]

warsitz, people, like myself can get a little emotional around this time of year.

Very informative post. And you Father's contribution to aviation history is amazing.

Your timing was off a little......that's all. IMHO

[CarbHeat]

Lutz, I can say that I'm one of the few who never knew this fact. Thanks for sharing it -- I have no clue how it must feel to have such an accomplished aviator as a parent; it must be good.

All the best.

[goldeneagle]

Unfucking believable.

An aviation forum, supposedly folks with an interest in aviation.

Along comes a guy to join the discussion, who's dad has a place in aviation history right up there above (yes, not beside, above) . yeager. first man to fly a jet. First man to fly a rocket. Those are amazing accomplishments, that'll never happen again, and, it's going to be a LONG time before anybody (and almost certainly nobody from this group) ever sees a chance to make such a significant historic milestone flight.

And you folks start shitting on him ???

Been gone for a few weeks, thought maybe things had cleaned up a bit here on avcan after the 'apparent' attempt by the mods to clean things up, and actually turn it back into an aviation forum.

Why dont you folks stick to bitching about duty days, 'the rotten companies', and transport canada. Leave the history to those who have a clue.

[rotorhead350]

Unfucking believable.

An aviation forum, supposedly folks with an interest in aviation.

Along comes a guy to join the discussion, who's dad has a place in aviation history right up there above (yes, not beside, above) . yeager. first man to fly a jet. First man to fly a rocket. Those are amazing accomplishments, that'll never happen again, and, it's going to be a LONG time before anybody (and almost certainly nobody from this group) ever sees a chance to make such a significant historic milestone flight.

And you folks start shitting on him ???

Been gone for a few weeks, thought maybe things had cleaned up a bit here on avcan after the 'apparent' attempt by the mods to clean things up, and actually turn it back into an aviation forum.

Why dont you folks stick to bitching about duty days, 'the rotten companies', and transport canada. Leave the history to those who have a clue.

Yep, I second that!!

[crazy_aviator]

GET OVER IT !

[Old Dog Flying]

I served in the RCAF/CAF and one of the best postings in my long military career was 5 years in Germany living with a German family and I remember Karl , over a CC or 2, saying that he had served on the Western Front, probably shot at my father and was probably shot at by my father who served in the Essex Scottish. In spite of this we were friends!

And I too know a lot of the "other Side" that I would help in a minute. And who could ever forget that great aviator, Franz Stigler, a member of the Luftwaffe who could very easily lost his life for aiding and abetting the crew of the B-17.

I flew the cenotaph circuit yesterday as part of the Rememberance day , not just of our troops that gave their all but in Rememberance of all no matter which uniform they served.

War is hell brought on by politicians...Aviation is a fraternity of great people

Per Ardua Ad Astra
Barney

[Bones]

Yeah, this guy made a similar post on another aviation forum a couple days ago and people appreciated it...

Doesn't surprise me one bit that things turned negative here. Not sure why I read this website because all it does is make me wish I wasn't in the industry.

Seriously, why does everything have to turn into an argument on this site?

[Inverted2]

I find it difficult, especially considering the timing of this story, to whole-heartedly celebrate Warsitz's accomplishment.

Yes, I recognize the aviation achievement and contribution, but it was done willingly to further the Third Reich's power at the cost of our soldiers.

Lest we forget.

Not a nice comment Mr Wings. This guys comment had no political tone to it. I thought its nice to teach people a little aviation history now and then. I bet 99% of the people on this forum did not know that the He-178 was the first true jet to fly.

[MrWings]

Not a nice comment Mr Wings. This guys comment had no political tone to it. I thought its nice to teach people a little aviation history now and then. I bet 99% of the people on this forum did not know that the He-178 was the first true jet to fly.

Not a nice comment?

My comment was about the timing of the story. Same as FL050's. It was bad timing. WWII and the rest of our soldiers that died in conflict were front in my mind because of the recounting of history the day before.

Do people not realize why there is a Rememberance Day holiday? I'm guessing that most of those that objected to my comment never attended a Rememberance Day ceremony on Wednesday, or watched it on TV or know someone that's been to war.

But all some people want to do is think about the technological advances that war brought. They don't want to think about the consequences of people's actions during time of war.

Show me where I was wrong in my statement. Show me where I was disrespectful. Show me where I bashed the poster and called for an argument.

I stand by my statement. Lest we forget.

[iflyforpie]

warsitz, I want to thank you for posting that information. It brings a human element to a great technological achievement.

My comment was that in general, the first flight of the jet often gets forgotten or tied to the devastation of WWII.

It doesn't help that Ernst Heinkel was a strong nationalist, eager to develop weapons of war (in direct contrast to fellow aircraft designers like Hugo Eckener of Luftschiffbau Zeppelin, Hugo Junkers of Junkers Flugzeug-und Motorenwerke, and Henrich Focke of Focke-Wulf Flugzeugbau).

But I try to see past the political and militaristic ambitions and see the coming together of great minds to produce a technological triumph. That is why I like the Me-262 as well, and many of the great pilots in the Luftwaffe like Adolph Galland, Hans-Joachim Marseille, and Erich Hartman.

[AEROBAT]

I wonder how many here who want to criticize Warsitz's post actually were ever in the armed forces, or better yet, would willingly volunteer to join if there was even a remote chance of becoming a casualty. A bit of "history" for those who want to jump all over Warsitz, Churchill, Montgomerey and Patton wanted to leave the German armed forces intact after they surrendered and carry on through to wipe out Russia.