The beginning of the Aviation sport.

Until 1929, the Spitzerberg is nothing more than a scenic mountain elevation without special significance. Since that time, however, the mountain and, subsequently, the Hundsheimer Kogel gained a sporting interest. This was a very unusual sport at that time, namely the Soaring flying.

The first group that took the Spitzerberg site in use was the amateur pilots association in the Austrian Aero-Club. In the spring of 1929, the first gliding flights were carried out from the slopes of Spitzerberg and from the neighboring mountain, “the Hundsheimer Kogel”. The beginning of the soaring flight is today keept in memory by a memorial plaque at the Hundsheimer Kogel, which is symbolically guarded by a stone eagle.

Development into a Flight- and Education Centre

Already in 1931 the first sustained flight took place on the slopes of Hundsheimer Kogel. It lasted 2 hours and 23 minutes (starting elevation 250-300 m) in a disguised “Zögling”. This was the beginning of an active glider operation in the 30’s which attracted countless associations. Benefiting from the optimum conditions, many national and international records were accomplished with Spitzerberg as starting point (e.g. 1937: Austrian track record 157km, duration flight record single seat 27h 50 min, 1938: duration flight record double seat: 40h, 38 min)

In 1936 the Spitzerberg Gliders Hostel and a spacious hangar was build and opened. It was in operation until the end of 1939. Then, after careful planning (design by architect Christl) the expansion of the airfield into a flight training centre began. Finally, on 19 October 1940 the “Reichssegelflugschule Spitzerberg” opened and its provision handed over. The complex of buildings and the airfield still form the core of today's aviation centre.

The postwar period

The buildings were severely damaged by war and postwar events. The main building was in ruins, barely habitable, the side wings were considered ready for demolition. To rescue from decay long negotiations took place and the remains of the Spitzerberg buildings were handed over to the Federal Ministry of Education in 1946. In 1950 the "Austrian Aero-Club" was founded and in 1951, the National Association of Lower Austria. By the end of 1953 the restoration and expansion of the school began. Following the State Treaty the “Bundessportschule Spitzerberg” was formally opened on 2 October 1955.

The full operating aviation sport centre abruptly resulted in a stream of especially Viennese glider associations which had been forced to remain on the ground during the Russian occupation

Since 1958 the training of new glider pilots are carried out in a 3-weeks intensive course. This type of training has proven itself as a worthwhile course and is still offered exclusively by the flight school Spitzerberg.

The flight school Spitzerberg today

The flight school is currently headed by the multiple Austrian National Champion in Rally Flying and Gliding, Mr. Wolfgang Oppelmayer.