The German Gliding Museum, Aviation museum at Wasserkuppe, Germany.
The German Gliding Museum is an aviation museum at Wasserkuppe with a broad collection of aircraft from different eras. The exhibition contains about 60 aircraft, ranging from Otto Lilienthal's hang gliders of the early 1900s to modern fiberglass sailplanes from the 1960s.
The museum was founded in 1987 and emerged from the 50th anniversary celebration of the first Rhön gliding contest. That competition began in 1920 at Wasserkuppe and remains a turning point in the history of soaring flight.
The name honors the gliding pioneers who conducted their first experiments here on Wasserkuppe. Visitors today see the memorial hall with a bronze statue of Otto Lilienthal, which commemorates those aviation pioneers who risked their lives pushing the boundaries of flight.
The museum is best visited during the warmer months from April to October, when it opens daily. In winter, opening hours are limited to weekends, so visitors should plan their visit accordingly.
A restoration workshop on the grounds continuously works on about 25 additional aircraft not on display in the permanent exhibition. This careful conservation effort allows more pieces of German gliding heritage to be preserved for future generations.
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