THE WORLD'S FIRST JET PILOT

[warsitz]

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 Braun and 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 . There is also a video of the He 178 with audio commentary by my father, inclusive written translation in English, under http://www.youtube.com/user/TheFirstJetPilot#p/u/3/nneZgRkpskU .

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

[Jean Loup]

     Thanks for all this info, of an era that is mostly misunderstood, confusing politicians with other brave people. We had to hide in France after the war was lost and Germany destroyed. I remember when later, as refugees in Spain, I would get Schuco tin toys saying "made in US Zone Germany" until the sixties...then it changed to "made in West Germany"...my father lived to see the Wall destroyed: he was born in Berlin...he died in 2001, 92 years old. He was in charge of French railroads (SNCF) during the german Ocupation.

I am an ocasional ultralight flyer, rookie skydiver and aviation enthusiast. I have german nationality, but we never spoke german in the family, maily because we were posing as a french family when in Spain, until my fathers railroad file was OKeyed by US military. My mother was from Belgium, so the oficial family language was french, and the optional language became spanish. After he was cleared, we moved to México.

I now am a Mexican resident. Un abrazo para Lutz! 

[warsitz]

    Thanks for all this info, of an era that is mostly misunderstood, confusing politicians with other brave people. We had to hide in France after the war was lost and Germany destroyed. I remember when later, as refugees in Spain, I would get Schuco tin toys saying "made in US Zone Germany" until the sixties...then it changed to "made in West Germany"...my father lived to see the Wall destroyed: he was born in Berlin...he died in 2001, 92 years old. He was in charge of French railroads (SNCF) during the german Ocupation.

I am an ocasional ultralight flyer, rookie skydiver and aviation enthusiast. I have german nationality, but we never spoke german in the family, maily because we were posing as a french family when in Spain, until my fathers railroad file was OKeyed by US military. My mother was from Belgium, so the oficial family language was french, and the optional language became spanish. After he was cleared, we moved to México.

I now am a Mexican resident. Un abrazo para Lutz! 

Many thanks for your interest and your interesting story after WWII. We moved to the italian part of Switzerland in 1965. I'm not a pilot, but my brother is, and I fly with him every time I can: http://www.youtube.com/user/TheFirstJetPilot#p/a/u/0/6WF73ATu2q4 and http://www.youtube.com/user/TheFirstJetPilot#p/a/u/2/zCMmUhi9gfw

I wish you a Merry Christmas and a happy New 2010.

Tanti cari saluti dal Ticino,

Lutz

[gibbo_335]

WOW LUTZ!!!!!! 

Thats absolutely awesome! I see you have also written a book about your dad, I'm going to see if any one in Australia stocks it!!  Thanks for posting this info