In 1929 a German car manufacturer, a brilliant aircraft designer and a rocket pioneer together created and flew the world’s first rocket-powered aircraft
German glider technology and rocket propulsion made great progress during the 1920s. Combining them, by putting rockets on gliders, promised to dispense with the need for catapults and tug aircraft or cars, and lead the way to more advanced rocket aircraft. More importantly to Fritz von Opel, it would look spectacular and generate ample publicity for his grandfather’s car factory.
