Dear Су-27, allow me to make some remarks.
All sources agree that the 1908 triplane was Grade’s first aircraft, but you mentions a 1906 “Type A” as his first (but unable to fly). As in early German aviation history all things are possible, what are your sources for this 1906 precursor?
From my usual German sources:
“Grade genealogy”
1908: Hans Grade begins building aircraft (triplane and Libelle) in Magdeburg.
1909: Hans Grade Flieger-Werke in Bork i.d. Mark.
1910: series construction of aircraft and engines, and Grade-Flugschule flying school.
1912/13: the flying school became more important than the aircraft production.
1914: with the beginning of WWI all aircraft production stopped; only reparations.
1 Jan 1917: Grade Flieger-Werke taken over by Aviatik.
Afterwards, Grade went into the automobile construction as stated by Су-27.
In all, Grade built ca. 80 aircraft.
List of Grade aircraft (unless otherwise stated all engines were own type built by Grade)
The different aircraft built by Grade are are a little confusing, but for most of them there are three basic types (A, B and C).
Dreidecker (1908). Triplane built in Magdeburg with 36 hp engine and 25 m² wings. Modified in Winter 1908/09: 50 m² wings.
Libelle (1909). Monoplane with 16/24 hp engine and a sort of hammock as seat. Wings 29 m². Grade was inspirered by the Santos-Dumont Libellule and took into account the lessons from his triplane.
Standard Libelle (1910). Libelle with small modifications (wings 25 m²). Built in series (by June 1910 already 7 built). One or two seater (passenger on the axe of the undercarriage).
Type A (1911). “Renntype” monoplane with 20 m² wings and 16/24 hp engine. Single seater.
Variant with 45 hp engine (Type A-2).
Type B (1911). Monoplane evolved from the Libelle (wings 30 m²). Two-seater with 16/24 hp engine.
Variants with 45 hp and 70 hp engines (variously called Type B neu and Type B-2).
Unsuccesfull floatplane variant of the Type B (1911).
Type C (1911). “Passagiertype”. Two or three seater monoplane with 30/45 hp engine and 45 m² wings.
Variant with 100 hp engine (Type C-2).
The Types A, B and C were constantly developed. From 1913 the three types were also delivered with a nacelle (“Carosserie”). In 1914 a typical “new” Type A had a 20/30 hp engine, Type B 30/45 hp and Type C 45/70 hp.
Militärtype (1912). Type B with nacelle and 24/36 hp engine offered to the military, but not accepted.
Type D (1912). Rumpfeindecker or Torpedorumpfmaschine. Two seater monoplane with seat in light metal fuselage and 40 hp engine. One built.
Type E (1912). Bigger Rumpfeindecker or Torpedorumpfmaschine. Two seater monoplane with seat in light metal fuselage and 100-110 hp engine. One built.
Schwalbe (1912). A Type B with wings in Taube style.
Sturzflugzeug (1913). Aerobatics monoplane for Oskar Tweer, derived from the Type D, with 45/70 hp engine. Second undercarriage above the wings.
Sturzflugzeug (1913). Smaller aerobatics monoplane for Fritz Jahn with 30/45 hp engine. Second undercarriage above the wings.
Langsamflugzeug (1914). Experimental monoplane (“Slow aircraft”), based on the Type B with 16/24 hp.
Renneindecker (1914). Monoplane evolved from the Militäreindecker 1912, with 60/100 hp engine. A 90/140 hp engine was planned but probably not realized.
Militäreindecker (1914). The Renneindecker 1914 with a 70-80 hp Gnome. Not accepted by the military.
As usual all remarks and additions are welcome!
