The world's first jet pilot

warsitz · **Posted:** Tue Nov 10, 2009 7:09 am

Dear Aviation & History Enthusiasts,

My father – Flight Captain Erich Warsitz – is remembered as the first person to fly an aircraft under turbojet power, the Heinkel He 178, on August 27, 1939 and also the first to fly an aircraft under liquid-fueled rocket power, the Heinkel He 176, on June 20 the same year, setting two milestones in aviation history.

Late in 1936 he was seconded by the RLM (Reich Air Ministry) to Wernher von Braunand Ernst Heinkel, because he had been recognized as one of the most experienced test-pilots of the time, and because he also had an extraordinary fund of technical knowledge. Little is known of this pioneer period because of the strict secrecy which shrouded the whole project!

You will find a lot of information about Erich Warsitz and his achievements under http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erich_Warsitz or either under http://www.firstjetpilot.com/history.html inclusive rare video footage and audio commentaries by von Braun and my father.

It’s a little unfortunate that the He 178 quite often doesn’t get the recognition it deserves. After all, every other turbine propelled aircraft that has graced or is now gracing our skies has, at best, come second place to it.

Fly save,

Lutz Warsitz

Dan K · **Posted:** Tue Nov 10, 2009 7:22 am

Willkommen Lutz!

I am certain there are many here (myself included) that will anxiously await any and all information about your father you choose to post. Thanks for taking the time to do so.

Dan

262crew · **Joined:** Thu Nov 15, 2007 7:24 pm **Posts:** 877

Wecome to WIX! I agree not enough is said about the HE 178, I would love to see one fly as a "replica."

Holedigger · **Posted:** Tue Nov 10, 2009 8:15 am

Welcome Lutz
I am aware of the Heinkel projects and it annoys me when "Historical" programs or books either gloss over or omit the contributions of Heinkel and your father, the test pilot. Really cutting edge stuff at the time. I think the technical achievements have been overshadowed by the regime under which it was developed and the secrecy surrounding the program. After the war, so much data and history was spirited away by the Russians, English and Americans and kept secret for a long time. Your insights and memories are quite welcome here. Anything you can share will be a wonderful contribution to filling in some of the voids of aviation history.

Chris Sheppard

aka Holedigger

tom d. friedman · **Posted:** Tue Nov 10, 2009 8:18 am

welcome!! i read your recent article & it was fabulous!! it gave perspective beyond the bounds of experimental jet aviation history!!

Mgawa · **Posted:** Tue Nov 10, 2009 10:41 am

Willkommen kamarad

I have just few images of this machine but it is definitely impressive machine! Thank you for coming here

Enemy Ace · **Posted:** Tue Nov 10, 2009 10:51 am

welcome to the wix!
Are there any of those aircraft preserved anywhere?

lmritger · **Posted:** Tue Nov 10, 2009 1:07 pm

Herzlich Willkommen, Herr Warsitz!

As a long-time student of Luftwaffe history, I am very well aware of your father's magnificent record. I believe it can be fairly argued that the results of the political infighting which caused so many problems for the German aviation industry in the 1930s and 40s are still being felt today- Heinkel was a tremendous pioneer in the aviation field, yet today is scarcely remembered outside of the He 111 and the innovative but flawed He 177 and He 162. Only the most dedicated aviation enthusiasts are even aware of the He 176 and He 178 despite their undeniable place in history, which is a shame for they marked a significant technological advance... and they were flown by a gifted test pilot, whose record deserves greater appreciation.

Thank you for joining our merry band of enthusiasts here, and I also look forward to any details or photos about your father's service which you may wish to share with us.

Cheers,

Lynn

RyanShort1 · **Posted:** Tue Nov 10, 2009 1:45 pm

Do you have any information on the He-280? I always thought that was a pretty looking fighter.

Ryan

262crew · **Joined:** Thu Nov 15, 2007 7:24 pm **Posts:** 877

Enemy Ace wrote:

welcome to the wix!
Are there any of those aircraft preserved anywhere?

I'm fairly certain there is a static replica of the HE 178 in a muesum? Germant I think.

airnutz · **Posted:** Tue Nov 10, 2009 2:51 pm

262crew wrote:

Enemy Ace wrote:

welcome to the wix!
Are there any of those aircraft preserved anywhere?

I'm fairly certain there is a static replica of the HE 178 in a muesum? Germant I think.

A replica 178 at Rostock-Laage Airport, Germany. The originals were destroyed in WW2 bombing raids in Berlin.

Nice website! Welcome!

jreichle · **Posted:** Tue Nov 10, 2009 3:27 pm

A milestone in aviation!

A picture of the replica can be found here

http://www.flugzeugbilder.de/show.php?id=886091

and the latest issue of German Magazine "Klassiker der Luftfahrt" has an article about the He 178 and the He 3a jet-engine

http://www.klassiker-der-luftfahrt.de/de/heft/klassiker-der-luftfahrt-06-2009.14528.htm

Joerg

DaveM2 · **Posted:** Tue Nov 10, 2009 3:35 pm

I recently read the book written by Lutz on his father's exploits, for review in Classic Wings, an excellent insight into an exciting, and dangerous time and well worth a look.

Dave

Greg_in_Ohio · **Posted:** Tue Nov 10, 2009 6:06 pm

I have perhaps four different photos of the HE-178 which I will dig out, scan and post here in the next few days as time permits. Once upon a time, it was permissible to copy photographs at the National Museum of the United States Air Force's research division. I used my 35mm camera with macro lens to make copy negatives of 4 original photos of the HE-178 in their collection. As soon as I locate them and scan them, I'll post for everyone to enjoy. I used the exact same copy method for the B-36 photo you see in my avatar, so I think the scans of the HE-178 will work nicely when I get around to it.

warsitz · **Posted:** Wed Nov 11, 2009 5:44 am

Dear all,

I'm thanking you for your kind and warm welcome and for your interest in my father's aviation career!

I would love to post some pictures about my father's test-pilot period, but this is a little bit complicated due to the strict copyright regulations of them, but I will go through my archive and for sure I will find some more private pictures about him, which I'm allowed to post shortly.

It is sometimes forgotten, or not correctly reported, that the He 178 was a purely experimental aircraft. After the successful flights and experience gained there was nothing left to do but begin planning for a new kind of operational warplane, and so the He 280 was conceived. The nose wheel was indispensable, for at take-off the machine was then easy to keep on its heading without danger of it straying laterally. This could only be cured with the He 176 and 178 by braking on the opposite side to the veer and that despite the necessary fine touch, especially with the He 176, it led to countless dangerous ground spins.

It would be great to see fly a replica of the He 178! Bruce Grey - aircraft technician of the Royal New Zealand Air Force - would love to build one some day. For the moment he built a RC-aircraft replica of it. The video can be seen under http://www.youtube.com/user/TheFirstJet ... oCJUGS3I2M

I'm also looking forward to see Greg's 4 original photos of the He 178!

Best wishes from Switzerland,

Lutz Warsitz

Warbird Information Exchange

The world's first jet pilot

Who is online