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Karl Nickel's Falter 1 tailless aircraft

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danmoser

Well-Known Member
Joined
Feb 1, 2010
Messages
695
Location
Sandy, Utah, USA
I've always been intrigued by the late Dr. Karl Nickel's "Falter 1" ultralight aircraft design.
Only two pages of his book, "Tailless Aircraft in Theory and Practice", co-authored by Micheal Wohlfahrt, had mentioned it... scanned pages attached here:
p160.jpgp161.jpg

Karl, a protege of the Horten brothers, had apparently never quite bought into their bell-shaped lift distribution (BSLD) concept, as his book seems focused on the attainment of elliptical lift distribution as being the ultimate desired goal.

The Falter 1, a cooperative effort with a fellow named Ali Schmidt, reportedly attained full 3-axis control by manipulating induced drag, and without the use of any vertical control surfaces, or the Hortens' BSLD methods.
Even deliberate side slips were demonstrated under full control.

Why Karl's book did not go into more detail on this promising design concept is a mystery.

I've always wanted to know more about the Falter 1 design, but my research has come up empty thus far.

So I start this new thread as a plea for more information about the Falter 1.
I'm hoping our friends from Europe on this forum will know more about this unique aircraft design.
 
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