Gerd Achgelis 1908-1991

Gerd Achgelis Chief Focke-Wulf Test Pilot from 1933-38

Gerd Achgelis was born in 1908 at Golzwarden. He started flying at the age of 20, and 2 years later flew inverted for 1 hour over London. In 1931 he became German Aerobatic Champion.

He joined the Focke/Wulf company in Bremen and became the Chief Test Pilot in 1933. He was World Aerobatic Champion betweem 1934-1936. Heinrich Focke and Gerd Achgelis developed the Focke-Achgelis Fa-61, the first totally successfully helicopter in 1936, which was demonstrated by Hanna Reitsch in 1936 in Berlin, Germany.

Focke-Achgelis was a German helicopter company founded in 1937 by Henrich Focke, and Gerd Achgelis. They started building helicopters in Hoykenkamp, where Achgelis flew all the prototypes.