Herr Heinrich ('Heini') Dittmar was indeed a designer but is probably better-known as a glider pilot and for his time with the DFS (where he apprenticed, then worked in 1936-1939) or as wartime test pilot for Messerschmitt AG. Most Heini Dittmar designs were intended for both amateur and professional builds.
Condor initial production was through the Bley-Segelflugzeugbau GmbH of Naumburg an der Saale (which soon went bankrupt). Production was then taken up by Alexander Schleicher Segelflugzeugbau of Poppenhausen. In 1936, Dittmar became a partner in the Schleicher firm (which, of course, still produces sailplanes today). Other
Condor production was by the Ferdinand-Schmetz Werken at Herzogenrath; Costruzioni Aeronautiche Taliedo in Italy; and, in Argentina, built by various Clubs de Planeadores (eg: Córdoba, Junín, etc.).
Postwar, Heini Dittmar started his own assembly shop at Augsburg ... and that is where things get confusing (for me, at least). I've seen listed a generic Flugzeugbau Heini Dittmar; a
Condor Segelflugzeug Versuchsbau, and a Möwe Flugzeugbau. Are these all references to one planned workshop? Or multiples? Does any know for sure?
Anyway, to follow is my Dittmar list (with
hesham HD 160 project added):
Dittmar (Schleicher)
Condor - 1932 high-performance sailplane
-
Condor : High gull-winged sailplane of wooden construction
-
Condor I : 1932; single-seat braced-wing; span 17.26 m; x 5
-- Bley Flugzeugbau builds;* RLM designation Dittmar 108-48
-- * Excepting those self-built by Heini Dittmar & Peter Riedel
--
Condor I D-Prof.Dependorf; D-Günther Groenhoff 3; D-Käpt'n;
-- plus D-Ingenieurschule Weimar; and D-Hans-Hackmack
-- 1st prize Rhön Glider Comp.; world distance record 504.2 km
-
Condor II : 1935; single-seat; braced-wing; span 17.24 m; x ?
-
Condor II : Akin to the
Condor I but with thinner wing profile
-- Built by Alexander Schleicher Segelflugzeugbau; RLM 108-56
-- La Falda: 1935 motor glider conv.; 1 x 18 hp Kroeber pusher
-- La Falda: Peter Reidel conv. aka Dittmar-Reidel Motor-
Condor
- CAT 28 :
Condor II adapted by Ettore Cattaneo for Italian use
- CAT 28 : By Costruzioni Aeronautiche Taliedo; span 17.50 m; x 6
-
Condor IIa: 1937; single-seat; cantilever wing; span 17.24 m
-
Condor IIa: Interim form prior to longer-fuselaged
Condor III
-
Condor IIa: Devel. for Schleicher as a successor to
Rhönadler
-
Condor III: 1938; single-seat; cantilever wing; span 17.24 m
-
Condor III: 'IIa-based; DFS airbrakes & improved stabilisers
-- Built by Alexander Schleicher Segelflugzeugbau; RLM 108-65
-- Dittmar became a Schleicher partner in 1936 to devel. 'IIa
-
Condor IV : 1952 tandem 2-seat prod'n model; span 18.0 m
-
Condor IV : Effectively 2-seat 'III but also with raised stab's
-
Condor IV (1): Init. 1951 variant; perspex cockpit canopy; x 4
-
Condor IV (1): By Dittmar's Möwe Flugzeugbau; Augsburg **
-- ** Other sources list a
Condor Segelflugzeug Versuchsbau
-
Condor IV/2 : Built by Ferdinand Schmetz; DFS airbrakes; x 5
-
Condor IV/3 : Schleicher-built; Schempp-Hirth airbrakes; x 7
-
Condor IV/4 : 1960s Argentinian production; aka
Cóndor IV
HD 53 - 1953
Möwe high-wing 2-seat side-by-side training glider
- HD 53 : Occupants sat in enclosed cabin beneath cant. wings
- HD 53 : One-piece tapered cantilever wings;* span 10.50 m
- HD 53 : Built by Dittmar's Möwe Flugzeugbau at Augsburg**
-- * Removable for easier transport/storage was was tailplane)
-- ** Or Flugzeugbau Heini Dittmar (per j2mcl-planeurs.net)
--
https://www.j2mcl-planeurs.net/dbj2mcl/planeurs-machines/planeur-fiche_0int.php?code=3054
HD 153 - 1953
Motor Möwe side-by-side 2-seat motoglider; x 9
- HD 153: High-winged cabin monoplane akin to HD-53 layout
- HD 153: 1 x HO4 tractor engine (var. types); span 12.00 m
- HD 153: 1st prototype; Nov 1953; Continental A65 HO4
- HD 153: 2nd prototype; substituting 60 hp Hirth HM 60 HO4
- HD 153A-1: 1960 prod. 2-seater; 90 hp Continental C90-12F
- HD 156B-1: (Project) no details (??); poss. engine change?
- HD 156B-1: msn 551; D-EMYP reg. to Dittmar but not built*
-- * Dittmar killed test flying D-EHYT (WB 20) on 28 April 1960
HD 156 - 1954
Motor Möwe side-by-side 3-seat motoglider; x 7
- HD 156 : 3-seat HD 153 adaptation; additional side glazings
- HD 156A-1: 1961 prod. variant; 1 x 90 hp Continental C90-12F
HD 160 - (Project) High-winged motor-glider;
no details (??)
- HD 160 : 1 x 65 hp Continental A65-12F HO4; span 12.00 m
- HD 160 : As with HD 156B-1, prob. canc. w/ Dittmar's death
___________________________________________
One more question: Can anyone explain the HD 153/HD 156 construction number system?
I note that "WB5 to WB9 [were] issued for amateur construction" but other WB serials were assigned (eg: WB 3 (D-EBIK). Amongst HD.156 serials, I see that WB 38 (D-EDYD) appears to be another intended home build which was never completed.
From there, I presume that production HD 153A-1s received AB 20x numbers - eg: AB 201 (D-ELEX) and AB 202 (D-ELIW) - while HD 156A-1s jumped to AB 30x numbers - eg: AB 301 (D-ECYN) and AB 304 (D-EGYT). Does anyone have any msns or other info that would disprove that assumed pattern? Thanks in advance.
en.wikipedia.org
