Linke-Hofmann
Encyclopedia
Linke-Hofmann was a German
manufacturing company established in Breslau to produce locomotive
s and rolling stock
. Its origins lay in the wheelwright
business of Gottfried Linke, begun in 1834. It is now part of Alstom
, the name Linke-Hofmann-Busch became defunct in 2009 when it became ALSTOM Transport Germany GmbH.
During World War I
, it became one of many companies in Germany
drawn into the aircraft industry
even though they had no prior experience in aircraft design.
Linke-Hofmann first entered the aircraft industry by repairing and constructing aircraft under licence, such as the Roland C.IIa, Albatros C.III
, C.X and B.IIa
. It should be remembered that, in 1916, aircraft design must have seemed very simple, little more than a kite with an engine attached, unlike steam locomotive designs which were mature and complicated.
In 1916 Linke-Hofmann was awarded a contract to design and build a four-engined R-Plane
. The R classification is short for Riesenflugzeug ("giant aircraft"). Two designs were built in prototype form, the R.I
and the R.II. The R.I was a failure, but the Linke-Hofmann R.II flew well. However, the war ended before it could be put into production. Post-war attempts to built R.II's as passenger and transport aircraft came to nothing.
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...
manufacturing company established in Breslau to produce locomotive
Locomotive
A locomotive is a railway vehicle that provides the motive power for a train. The word originates from the Latin loco – "from a place", ablative of locus, "place" + Medieval Latin motivus, "causing motion", and is a shortened form of the term locomotive engine, first used in the early 19th...
s and rolling stock
Rolling stock
Rolling stock comprises all the vehicles that move on a railway. It usually includes both powered and unpowered vehicles, for example locomotives, railroad cars, coaches and wagons...
. Its origins lay in the wheelwright
Wheelwright
A wheelwright is a person who builds or repairs wheels. The word is the combination of "wheel" and the archaic word "wright", which comes from the Old English word "wryhta", meaning a worker or maker...
business of Gottfried Linke, begun in 1834. It is now part of Alstom
Alstom
Alstom is a large multinational conglomerate which holds interests in the power generation and transport markets. According to the company website, in the years 2010-2011 Alstom had annual sales of over €20.9 billion, and employed more than 85,000 people in 70 countries. Alstom's headquarters are...
, the name Linke-Hofmann-Busch became defunct in 2009 when it became ALSTOM Transport Germany GmbH.
During World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, it became one of many companies in Germany
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...
drawn into the aircraft industry
Aircraft industry
The aircraft industry is the industry supporting aviation by building aircraft and manufacturing aircraft parts for their maintenance. This includes aircraft and parts used for civil aviation and military aviation. Most production is done pursuant to type certificates and Defense Standards issued...
even though they had no prior experience in aircraft design.
Linke-Hofmann first entered the aircraft industry by repairing and constructing aircraft under licence, such as the Roland C.IIa, Albatros C.III
Albatros C.III
-See also:-References:[1] Y. MIlanov: The aviation in Bulgaria in the wars from 1912 to 1945, Vol.I. Sveti Gueorgui Pobedonosetz, Sofia, 1995 -External links:...
, C.X and B.IIa
Albatros B.II
|-See also:-References:...
. It should be remembered that, in 1916, aircraft design must have seemed very simple, little more than a kite with an engine attached, unlike steam locomotive designs which were mature and complicated.
In 1916 Linke-Hofmann was awarded a contract to design and build a four-engined R-Plane
R-planes
R-planes were large German Army bombers in World War I. The R classification was short for Riesenflugzeug . In designations, the manufacturer's name preceded the letter R followed by a Roman numeral, e.g. Dornier Rs.III or Staaken R.XIV.The R-planes were the largest aircraft of World War I...
. The R classification is short for Riesenflugzeug ("giant aircraft"). Two designs were built in prototype form, the R.I
Linke-Hofmann R.I
|-See also:-Further Reading:* Haddow, G.W.; Peter M. Grosz . The German Giants - The German R-Planes 1914-1918 . London: Putnam. ISBN 0 85177 812 7* Gray, Peter & Thetford, Owen. “German Aircraft of the First World War”. London, Putnam...
and the R.II. The R.I was a failure, but the Linke-Hofmann R.II flew well. However, the war ended before it could be put into production. Post-war attempts to built R.II's as passenger and transport aircraft came to nothing.
Sources
- The German Giants, The Story of the R-planes 1914-1919, G.W Haddow & Peter M. Grosz, 1963. Published by Putnam & Company 42 Great Russell Street London