1922 Rhön Glider Meet – Wasserkuppe, Germany

This real photo postcard captures the 1922 Rhön Gliding Competition on the Wasserkuppe, the mountain that became the birthplace of German gliding. The foreground shows early gliders lined up along the hillside, including rudimentary wood-and-fabric designs with skids for landing gear. A large crowd of spectators and pilots can be seen gathered, highlighting the growing interest in soaring during the interwar years.

The reverse side has period German pencil notations identifying aircraft and participants, further anchoring its provenance to the early Rhön contests.

✈️ Historical Context:

• The 1920s Rhön contests at the Wasserkuppe were pivotal in advancing glider design after the Treaty of Versailles restricted powered aircraft development in Germany.

• By 1922, competitions drew wide attention from universities, aviation clubs, and pioneering designers like Alexander Lippisch and the Akafliegs.

• Events like these fostered rapid progress, leading to streamlined designs and the first serious cross-country soaring flights.

🏷️ Collectibility:

• Highly collectible due to early date (1922) and subject matter.

• Early Rhön meeting postcards are significantly rarer than 1930s examples.

• Authentic real photo cards from the 1920s Wasserkuppe competitions are in demand among aviation and glider history collectors.