Photograph of Otto Lilienthal during a flight experiment

• photographer: engineer P. Schauer
• Berlin 1895
• width: 12.8 cm

The photographs taken during Lilienthal's flight exercises between 1891 and 1896 are among the most significant testimonies to his aeronautic developments. They document the history of aviation and photography. Lilienthal frequently allows photographers to accompany him to record progress in his aircraft. 145 photographs are known to exist. Lilienthal frequently allows photographers to accompany him to record progress in his aircraft. They include household names in the history of photography. The quality of some is excellent.

One of the typical shots shows Lilienthal flying a small biplane. The contraptions are built using fabric stretched between wicker poles. They are steered by the pilot shifting his bodyweight and moving his outstretched legs.