GOETZ: K-594 Otto Lilienthal Commemorative

cacheman

K-594 Otto Lilienthal Commemorative Medallion, 1941, Cast AE, 97.3mm, Wt. 249g, Edge Incuse Punch, UNC R Listed in Kienast as 60mm cast only.

Otto Lilienthal was a German engineer and one of the pioneers of aviation (1848-1896). He and his brother Gustav built full-scale gliders with linen covered wings. From a hill 100 feet high near Rhinow in Brandenburg he made his first successful flight of 50 feet in 1891. He died in the year 1896 from a broken back which resulted when a gust of wind caught his glider and he fell to the ground from fifty feet high.

Obverse: ¾ Bust left. Inscription: “Otto Lilienthal + 9 August 1896”

Reverse: Lilienthal on flying glider. Inscription: “The first flight by men of the greatest teacher.”

Aethelred

<< <i>He died in the year 1896 from a broken back which resulted when a gust of wind caught his glider and he fell to the ground from fifty feet high. >>



D'oh!

boz

Very nice,as usual.
What else can you say?
Really enjoy these photos

MacCrimmon

<< <i>when a gust of wind caught his glider >>

I thought that's what gliders were supposed to do . . . catch wind.

Maybe the control mechanisms weren't quite up to snuff, eh?

elverno

Nice piece that shows Goetz' range of work. Not just political (even though those are the real fun ones )

cosmicdebris

Maybe they should have first inevted parachutes.

Askari

That's a good rendition of Lilienthal and his most interesting-looking glider! The Wright Brothers were greatly influenced by his work. He was a brilliant pioneer in aviation.

That is rather an odd size for Goetz; how many "non-standard" sizes have you found so far?

cacheman

I have a dozen or two unrecorded varieties I think.

PuddlePirate

That is a very interesting peice. It is hard to believe how far aviation has come since those very first days.

Aethelred

Otto Lilienthal was sort of "wild-eyed!"