The beginnings: Leipzig
On 21 February 1784, a hot-air balloon was launched for the first time in Leipzig. This was the beginning of the age of aviation, although it would take more than a century for these sensational beginnings to develop into real aviation. As everywhere else, Leipzig’s aviation was dominated by the airship in the early 20th century: in 1909 the zeppelins ZII and ZIII and a Parseval airship came to Leipzig.
At the same time, Saxony’s first civilian airport was built in Leipzig/Lindenthal. It was put into service in 1911 and included an aviation school and three hangars of the »German Aircraft Works« (»Deutsche Flugzeugwerke GmbH«, DFG). Until its liquidation after World War I, DFG manufactured aircraft for the military.
The town of Leipzig took action shortly after. A municipally supported company built a fine new airport on a former manor in Leipzig/Mockau. It featured large facilities: the 160m airship hangar accommodated up to three airships, an airplane hangar and Germany’s first airport hotel.
Until the beginning of World War I, Mockau was host to several hundred launches of zeppelins and aircraft every year. Special attractions such as big events and aviation contests lured numerous spectators to the airport. With the beginning of World War I, the airport was used solely for military purposes; pilots were trained and military aircraft built there.
Timeline
- September 1787: Ballon ride by Francois Blanchard, who had crossed the English Channel in a balloon two years before.
- Early 1909: Erich Thiele undertakes flight attempts on a sports field in Leipzig.
- 5 July 1912: DFW staff pilot Heinrich Oelerich sets a new world record in Lindenthal: he stays airborne for two hours and 41 minutes.
- 22 June 1913: King Frederick Augustus III of Saxony inaugurates Mockau Airport.
- 10/11 May 1914: First Saxon postal flight on the route Dresden-Leipzig-Dresden.
- December 1914: Facilites of »Germania Flugzeugwerke« take up aircraft production at Mockau.
