Gustav Lachmann facts for kids

Gustav Victor Lachmann (born February 3, 1896 – died May 30, 1966) was a talented German aeronautical engineer. He spent most of his career working for a British aircraft company called Handley Page. He is famous for co-inventing the leading edge slot with Frederick Handley Page. This invention greatly improved how airplanes fly.

Early Life and a Big Idea

Gustav Lachmann was born in Dresden, Germany, in 1896. His father was an industrialist from Austria. During World War I, Gustav served as a lieutenant in the German Army cavalry. Later, in 1917, he joined the flying corps and began training to be a pilot.

During his flight training, his plane lost lift and crashed. He broke his jaw in the accident. While recovering in the hospital, he thought a lot about why his plane crashed. He realized that if a wing had small, extra parts, it could fly better at slow speeds.

He even made a simple setup using a fan and cigarette smoke to test his idea! He tried to get a patent for his invention, but it was first rejected because there was no proof it would work. Lachmann then decided to study mechanical engineering and aerodynamics at Darmstadt Technical University. He graduated in 1921 and started working at the Opel factory.

The Slotted Wing Invention

By chance, Gustav Lachmann read about Frederick Handley Page's public demonstration of leading-edge slots in 1921. This encouraged him to try for his patent again. He borrowed money from his mother to pay for special wind-tunnel tests. These tests were done by a famous scientist named Ludwig Prandtl at Göttingen University.

His patent was then granted, and it was even given priority over Handley Page's similar invention. However, the two men met and decided to share the patent rights. This was a great solution for both of them! Lachmann was then hired as a consultant by Handley Page Ltd.

In 1923, Lachmann earned his doctoral degree from Aachen Technical University. His thesis was titled The Slotted Wing and its Importance for Aviation.

Designing Airplanes

After finishing his studies, Gustav Lachmann worked as a designer at the Schneider aircraft factory in Berlin. In 1925, he became the chief designer at the Albatros aircraft works. There, he designed two important planes: the Albatros L 72 and the larger, twin-engine Albatros L 73, which could carry eight passengers.

In 1926, Lachmann moved to Tokyo, Japan, to work as a technical adviser for the Ishikawajima Aircraft Works. He stayed there until 1929.

Return to Handley Page

In 1929, Gustav Lachmann returned to the United Kingdom to work for Handley Page again. He became the engineer in charge of developing the leading-edge slot. In 1932, he was promoted to chief designer. In this role, he designed well-known aircraft like the H.P 54 Harrow and the Hampden.

By 1936, he was asked to create a special research department. This team worked on a unique aircraft design that didn't have a tail, called the Handley Page H.P.75.

Later Life and Legacy

During World War II, Gustav Lachmann faced some challenges. Because he was German, the British counter-intelligence service MI5 was suspicious of him. He was sent to Quebec and also held on the Isle of Man. However, his employers at Handley Page pushed for his release. He was eventually allowed to continue his important work for the company.

In 1949, Gustav Lachmann became a British citizen. He continued to work for Handley Page for the rest of his career. He eventually became the head of research. He retired just five months before he passed away in Chorleywood, Hertfordshire, in 1966. His work on the leading-edge slot significantly improved aircraft safety and performance, making him a very important figure in aviation history.