Albrecht Berblinger
Encyclopedia
Albrecht Ludwig Berblinger (June 24, 1770, Ulm
– January 28, 1829, Ulm), also known as the Tailor of Ulm, is famous for having constructed a working flying machine
, presumably a hang glider.
He became a master craftsman
at 21, but he still was interested in mechanics. In his spare time in 1808 he invented the first artificial limb with a joint.
. He was ordered to pay a large fine for his working outside of the guild. Nevertheless he invested his whole income in his project. King Frederick I of Württemberg
became interested in his work and sponsored him with 20 Louis.
He tried to demonstrate that the glider could really fly on the evening of May 30, 1811 in the presence of the king, his three sons and the crown prince of Bavaria. The king and a large number of citizens waited for the flight but Berblinger cancelled it, claiming that his glider was damaged. The next day May 31 he made a second attempt from a higher location - the Adlerbastei (Eagles Bastion). This structure no longer exists but a plaque commemorates it on the banks of the river in Neue Strasse just past the Dreifaltigkeitskirche (Holy Trinity Church). The king had left by this time, but his brother Duke Heinrich and the princes stayed to watch. Berblinger waited so long for a good wind, that a policemen finally gave him a push and Berblinger fell into the Donau (Danube). Other versions of this account have no mention of the policeman and claim that the difference in temperature over the cold Donau (Danube) limited thermal updrafts and therefore the glider failed to lift.
He survived and was rescued by fishermen.
His reputation was effectively ruined as a result and his work suffered. He was 58 years old when he died in a hospital.
The story of the tailor, who tried to fly, subsequently resulted in some fleer and allusions in publications of the 19th century. When, for instance, Wilhelm Busch
drew in his picture story Max and Moritz
a tailor falling into a stream, he could count on some awareness of his readers. It took time until the end of the century, when Otto Lilienthal
actually could undoubtfully prove the feasibility of a heavier-than-air flight.
Ulm
Ulm is a city in the federal German state of Baden-Württemberg, situated on the River Danube. The city, whose population is estimated at 120,000 , forms an urban district of its own and is the administrative seat of the Alb-Donau district. Ulm, founded around 850, is rich in history and...
– January 28, 1829, Ulm), also known as the Tailor of Ulm, is famous for having constructed a working flying machine
Flying Machine
"Flying Machine" is a two-track, US-only, promotional CD single release by British rock band The Stairs. Both tracks on the single also appear on the album Mexican R'n'B....
, presumably a hang glider.
Early life
Berblinger was the seventh child of a poor family. When he was 13 his father died and he was sent to an orphanage. There he was forced to become a tailor although he wanted to become a watchmaker.He became a master craftsman
Master craftsman
A master craftsman or master tradesman was a member of a guild. In the European guild system, only masters were allowed to be members of the guild....
at 21, but he still was interested in mechanics. In his spare time in 1808 he invented the first artificial limb with a joint.
Flight attempts
His most important invention was a hang glider, which was supposed to let him fly. He worked on it for years, improving it and watching the flight of owls. People made fun of him and he was threatened with exclusion from the guildGuild
A guild is an association of craftsmen in a particular trade. The earliest types of guild were formed as confraternities of workers. They were organized in a manner something between a trade union, a cartel, and a secret society...
. He was ordered to pay a large fine for his working outside of the guild. Nevertheless he invested his whole income in his project. King Frederick I of Württemberg
Frederick I of Württemberg
Frederick I William Charles of Württemberg was the first King of Württemberg. He was known for his size: at and about , he was in contrast to Napoleon, who recognized him as King of Württemberg.-Biography:...
became interested in his work and sponsored him with 20 Louis.
He tried to demonstrate that the glider could really fly on the evening of May 30, 1811 in the presence of the king, his three sons and the crown prince of Bavaria. The king and a large number of citizens waited for the flight but Berblinger cancelled it, claiming that his glider was damaged. The next day May 31 he made a second attempt from a higher location - the Adlerbastei (Eagles Bastion). This structure no longer exists but a plaque commemorates it on the banks of the river in Neue Strasse just past the Dreifaltigkeitskirche (Holy Trinity Church). The king had left by this time, but his brother Duke Heinrich and the princes stayed to watch. Berblinger waited so long for a good wind, that a policemen finally gave him a push and Berblinger fell into the Donau (Danube). Other versions of this account have no mention of the policeman and claim that the difference in temperature over the cold Donau (Danube) limited thermal updrafts and therefore the glider failed to lift.
He survived and was rescued by fishermen.
His reputation was effectively ruined as a result and his work suffered. He was 58 years old when he died in a hospital.
The story of the tailor, who tried to fly, subsequently resulted in some fleer and allusions in publications of the 19th century. When, for instance, Wilhelm Busch
Wilhelm Busch
Wilhelm Busch was an influential German caricaturist, painter, and poet who is famed for his satirical picture stories with rhymed texts....
drew in his picture story Max and Moritz
Max and Moritz
Max and Moritz is a German language illustrated story in verse. This highly inventive, blackly humorous tale, told entirely in rhymed couplets, was written and illustrated by Wilhelm Busch and published in 1865...
a tailor falling into a stream, he could count on some awareness of his readers. It took time until the end of the century, when Otto Lilienthal
Otto Lilienthal
Otto Lilienthal was a German pioneer of human aviation who became known as the Glider King. He was the first person to make well-documented, repeated, successful gliding flights. He followed an experimental approach established earlier by Sir George Cayley...
actually could undoubtfully prove the feasibility of a heavier-than-air flight.
Reception
- A reconstruction of Berblinger's flying device (in the form of a pair of wings) can be seen in the Ulm Rathaus (City Hall) suspended above the stairwell near the Standesamt (Registrary) where civil weddings are held. There is also another reconstruction of the glider in the ground level of building B in the Fachhochschule (University of Applied Science) Ulm.
- In 1986 it was proven that Berblinger's glider was capable of sustained flight, but it was almost impossible to cross the Danube even with most modern gliders.
- Bertolt BrechtBertolt BrechtBertolt Brecht was a German poet, playwright, and theatre director.An influential theatre practitioner of the 20th century, Brecht made equally significant contributions to dramaturgy and theatrical production, the latter particularly through the seismic impact of the tours undertaken by the...
wrote a ballad about Berblinger in 1934.