Hans Grade (1879 - 1946)
Hans Grade was an engineer and a german aviation-pioneer. On the 28th of October 1908 he successfully conducted the first motor-flight over german soil in a motorised aircraft of his own construction at Magdeburg. A year later, on 30th October 1909 he won the 40.000 Reichsmark "Lanz-Preis der Lufte", as he was the first german to fly a flat "8" in a german aircraft with german engine around two pylons, standing at a distance of 1000 meters (no match for pilots from other nations at that time).
 Hans Grade Monoplane, c.1909
Hans Grade On 30 October, 1909 : Hans Grade received a prize of 40,000 Marks for the first flight by a German aeroplane powered by a German aero-engine. A three kilometre long figure of eight was flown from Johannisthal.
 Hans Grade Monoplane, c.1909
Hans Grade Monoplane, c.1909 Hans Grade was a young German engineer who began experiments with a triplane at Magdeburg Athletic Field. On 8 October, 1908, he succeeded in making a short hop, attaining an altitude of 24 feet. Continuing his work he eventually evolved a monoplane similar to the "Demoiselle", but of somewhat larger dimensions.
 Hans Grade Monoplane, c.1909 Charles Hubbell
In September 1909, he made the first recognized flight of a German designed and built airplane from the Johannisthal Aerodrome at Berlin. The first flights were scarcely more than hops, but by November, 1909, he had logged one journey of 55 minutes duration.
 Hans Grade Monoplane, c.1909
A Grade monoplane carried Germany's first air mail, when pilot Pentz made a flight from Bork to Bruck in February 1912 with a small sack of mail in his lap. Although successful, Grade monoplanes did not become as famous as many contemporary European designs, and for this reason comparatively few were built. (Charles H. Hubbell)  Hans Grade Monoplane, c.1909
Hans Grade : Timeline 1879 : Hans Grade is born in Köslin, May 17 1895 : Constructs of his first model plane 1900 : Trains in mechanical engineering in Gevenbroich/Cologne 1900 : attends the Polytechnic in Berlin. Till 1904 1903 : Constructs his first motorcycle in Köslin 1905 : Establishes the Grade Motor Factory in Magdeburg 1907 : Constructs his first triplane 1908 : Makes his first flight in his triplane, Magdeburg, August 28 1909 : Moved his factory and his monoplane to Bork (now Borkheide), August 14 1909 : Makes his first flight in his monoplane "Libelle"(dragon fly), Bork, August 17 1909 : Winner of the "Lanz-Price of aviation" in Johannisthal then air displays in Hamburg, Bremen, Breslau and Magdeburg, October 30 1909 : Construction begins in December of the first aircraft factory in Bork 1910 : In February he inaugurates the first pilot school at Bork. 1910 : Begins aeroplane construction, May 1 1911 : Makes cross country flight Magdeburg-Biederitz in 16 min., April 9 1911 : Sets an altitude record in Magdeburg of 1450 meters, April 10 1912 : Awarded The Crown Medal 4th class by the Emperor 1912 : Hermann Pentz flying Hans Grade´s plane flies makes the first postal deliveries from Bork to Brück, February 18 1912 : Conducts the first trials with his aquaplane, Blankensee/b.Trebbin August 21 1912 : Makes a cross-country flight plane from Johannisthal to Magdeburg in a three seater, December 12 1914 : Repairs aircraft as part of the German war effort. Till 1917 1917 : Sells his factory to AVIATIK and begins construction of his second factory 1918 : He develops a tractor and designs the first German small car 1919 : Begins automobile production. Between 1919 - 1924, some 1000 cars are built. 1925 : The Grade Automobile Company closes 1934 : Grade recieves research contracts from industry 1937 : The film "Ziel in den Wolken" is shot in Borkheide with Grade playing himself. Once again he flies his original aircraft. 1946 Hans Grade dies on October 22
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