Gerhard Eggers Wiki

A grand seigneur of German aviation and spaceflight

Gallery

Images from the family archive, the biography by Karsten Eggers and historical sources. Most photographs come from the private estate.

The Coléoptère C 450 in free flight, escorted by two observation helicopters over Melun-Villaroche airfield
The Coléoptère C 450 in free flight, escorted by two observation helicopters over Melun-Villaroche airfield
The pilot and ground crew after a successful free flight of the Coléoptère C 450 on the airfield
The pilot and ground crew after a successful free flight of the Coléoptère C 450 on the airfield
Smoke cloud after the crash of the Coléoptère C 450 at Melun-Villaroche airfield, 25 July 1959
Smoke cloud after the crash of the Coléoptère C 450 at Melun-Villaroche airfield, 25 July 1959
The Coléoptère C 450 on its transport and launch cart, SNECMA prototype, spring 1958
The Coléoptère C 450 on its transport and launch cart, SNECMA prototype, spring 1958
The Coléoptère C 450 being transported on a special vehicle to the launch site
The Coléoptère C 450 being transported on a special vehicle to the launch site
Launch preparations for a Coléoptère C 450 test flight: final checks by the technicians
Launch preparations for a Coléoptère C 450 test flight: final checks by the technicians
SNCF ground trials of the ATAR engine on the Pithiviers–Étampes line: diesel locomotive with a freight train during the two-week test series
SNCF ground trials of the ATAR engine on the Pithiviers–Étampes line: diesel locomotive with a freight train during the two-week test series
German delegation with Gerhard and Hildegard Eggers at a dinner in Le Bourget, 1957 (2nd from left: Hildegard Eggers; centre: A. Rothe with his wife)
German delegation with Gerhard and Hildegard Eggers at a dinner in Le Bourget, 1957 (2nd from left: Hildegard Eggers; centre: A. Rothe with his wife)
Farewell party in the garden on the occasion of the Eggers family’s return to Germany, 1959
Farewell party in the garden on the occasion of the Eggers family’s return to Germany, 1959
Guests gathered at the farewell party in the garden, 1959
Guests gathered at the farewell party in the garden, 1959
View across the garden during the farewell party, 1959
View across the garden during the farewell party, 1959
Pierre Lhoste, French engineer and long-time colleague of Gerhard Eggers in SNECMA’s Coléoptère group
Pierre Lhoste, French engineer and long-time colleague of Gerhard Eggers in SNECMA’s Coléoptère group
The Eggers family’s Citroën ID 19 in front of the house at Schwachhauser Ring 41, Bremen
The Eggers family’s Citroën ID 19 in front of the house at Schwachhauser Ring 41, Bremen
Aerial view of the Focke-Wulf works on Neuenlander Straße in Bremen, 1950s – only the halls to the left of Hall 20 were back in use, the rest still empty war ruins
Aerial view of the Focke-Wulf works on Neuenlander Straße in Bremen, 1950s – only the halls to the left of Hall 20 were back in use, the rest still empty war ruins
Signing of the Spacelab contract in Paris, 30 September 1975; Prof. Gerhard Eggers on the left
Signing of the Spacelab contract in Paris, 30 September 1975; Prof. Gerhard Eggers on the left
Wernher von Braun visits ERNO/VFW-Fokker, Bremen, 3 September 1971
Wernher von Braun visits ERNO/VFW-Fokker, Bremen, 3 September 1971
Gerhard Eggers with Wernher von Braun in the cockpit of the VFW 614, 1972
Gerhard Eggers with Wernher von Braun in the cockpit of the VFW 614, 1972
Roll-out of the VAK 191B vertical take-off aircraft, Bremen, 24 April 1970
Roll-out of the VAK 191B vertical take-off aircraft, Bremen, 24 April 1970
Hand-over of the ESRO declaration of contract at the Spacelab mock-up, 7 June 1974
Hand-over of the ESRO declaration of contract at the Spacelab mock-up, 7 June 1974
Europa launcher at the Woomera range (Australia), 1968
Europa launcher at the Woomera range (Australia), 1968
Cutaway drawing of the Coléoptère C-450 with its annular wing
Cutaway drawing of the Coléoptère C-450 with its annular wing
First free flight of the ATAR Volant, 30 March 1957
First free flight of the ATAR Volant, 30 March 1957
ELDO visit to Bremen, 23 March 1972 (incl. Prof. Eggers and General Aubinière)
ELDO visit to Bremen, 23 March 1972 (incl. Prof. Eggers and General Aubinière)
High-level visit to ERNO and VFW-Fokker in Bremen, 1971
High-level visit to ERNO and VFW-Fokker in Bremen, 1971
Prof. Gerhard Eggers with General Bernard A. Schriever, Bremen
Prof. Gerhard Eggers with General Bernard A. Schriever, Bremen
General Kammhuber taking an interest in vertical take-off (SNECMA)
General Kammhuber taking an interest in vertical take-off (SNECMA)
First flight of the VFW 614 over the Weser near Bremen, 1971
First flight of the VFW 614 over the Weser near Bremen, 1971
The VFW 614 “D-BABA” taxiing for its first flight, 5 April 1971
The VFW 614 “D-BABA” taxiing for its first flight, 5 April 1971
Roll-out of the VFW 614 “D-BABA”, Bremen, 5 April 1971
Roll-out of the VFW 614 “D-BABA”, Bremen, 5 April 1971
VAK 191B in free hovering flight
VAK 191B in free hovering flight
Prof. Gerhard Eggers speaking at the VAK 191B roll-out
Prof. Gerhard Eggers speaking at the VAK 191B roll-out
Size comparison of Europa II, Europa III and ARIANE
Size comparison of Europa II, Europa III and ARIANE
Preparing a test flight for launch, SNECMA
Preparing a test flight for launch, SNECMA
The Coléoptère transported to the launch site on a special vehicle
The Coléoptère transported to the launch site on a special vehicle
Coléoptère fuselage without the annular wing on a railway wagon
Coléoptère fuselage without the annular wing on a railway wagon
SNECMA ATAR jet engine
SNECMA ATAR jet engine
Franco-German team at the ATAR Volant rig, G. Eggers on the right
Franco-German team at the ATAR Volant rig, G. Eggers on the right
Junkers Ju 288 – one of the Dessau projects
Junkers Ju 288 – one of the Dessau projects
FW P.149D (Piaggio) – civil touring aircraft
FW P.149D (Piaggio) – civil touring aircraft
Series production of the FW P.149D, Focke-Wulf Bremen
Series production of the FW P.149D, Focke-Wulf Bremen
Lockheed F-104G Starfighter – co-produced by VFW
Lockheed F-104G Starfighter – co-produced by VFW
Transall C-160 transport aircraft, whose pre-series the works helped build
Transall C-160 transport aircraft, whose pre-series the works helped build
SG 1262 hover rig in free flight, Bremen airport
SG 1262 hover rig in free flight, Bremen airport
“Mein Ziel heißt Europa …” – Bunte Illustrierte, 13 July 1972
“Mein Ziel heißt Europa …” – Bunte Illustrierte, 13 July 1972
Prof. Gerhard Eggers, portrait from “ERNO aktuell”
Prof. Gerhard Eggers, portrait from “ERNO aktuell”
Prof. Gerhard Eggers as co-pilot in the cockpit of the VFW 614
Prof. Gerhard Eggers as co-pilot in the cockpit of the VFW 614
Certificate of the Médaille de l’Aéronautique, 1957
Certificate of the Médaille de l’Aéronautique, 1957
Presentation of the Médaille du Travail, SNECMA
Presentation of the Médaille du Travail, SNECMA
Trilingual “Lettre de protection” from the French High Command, valid until 31 December 1946
Trilingual “Lettre de protection” from the French High Command, valid until 31 December 1946
French work and residence permit, Decize (1946–1953)
French work and residence permit, Decize (1946–1953)
Gerhard Eggers’ parents, c. 1910
Gerhard Eggers’ parents, c. 1910
Margarethe Eggers with Kurt (left) and Gerhard (right), 1913
Margarethe Eggers with Kurt (left) and Gerhard (right), 1913
Gerhard Eggers as a grammar-school pupil, Rostock
Gerhard Eggers as a grammar-school pupil, Rostock
Gerhard Eggers (left) sailing
Gerhard Eggers (left) sailing
Visiting the Marxen family in Vaduz, 1966
Visiting the Marxen family in Vaduz, 1966
Family gathering in Blankenese
Family gathering in Blankenese
Silver wedding of Gerhard and Hildegard Eggers, 1 July 1964
Silver wedding of Gerhard and Hildegard Eggers, 1 July 1964
Golden wedding of the Eggers grandparents in the Munte am Stadtwald, 1960
Golden wedding of the Eggers grandparents in the Munte am Stadtwald, 1960
Family holiday at the Grömitz campsite
Family holiday at the Grömitz campsite
The Eggers family at the beach (Heidrun, Hildegard and Gerhard)
The Eggers family at the beach (Heidrun, Hildegard and Gerhard)
Travelling by car in France, early 1950s
Travelling by car in France, early 1950s
Holiday in France: overnight at the Motel Km 500 on the N7
Holiday in France: overnight at the Motel Km 500 on the N7
“Atarier” reunion of SNECMA veterans, Munich 1982
“Atarier” reunion of SNECMA veterans, Munich 1982
Mayor H. Koschnick and Prof. G. Eggers during President W. Scheel’s visit to the Bremen works
Mayor H. Koschnick and Prof. G. Eggers during President W. Scheel’s visit to the Bremen works
Gerhard Eggers’ grandchildren, 1997
Gerhard Eggers’ grandchildren, 1997
On his 85th birthday in Bad Zwischenahn, 6 July 1997
On his 85th birthday in Bad Zwischenahn, 6 July 1997
The family’s former flat in Gernrode, 1991
The family’s former flat in Gernrode, 1991
Gerhard Eggers in front of his parental home in Rostock, 1992
Gerhard Eggers in front of his parental home in Rostock, 1992
Last edited on July 5, 2026.
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