Segelflugsport

Gliding: Due to its favourable wind conditions Austria has played an important role in the history of gliding. The most famous gliding pioneer was R. Kronfeld. The Austrian Aero-Club and the Austrian Aeronautical Association promoted the systematic development of gliding; the first Austrian gliding week was held in 1923, the well-known gliding schools on Gaisberg near Salzburg and on Spitzerberg Hill (Lower Austria) were opened in 1933, followed by the Alpine gliding school in Zell am See (Salzburg) in 1934 and the Union-Alpen-Segelflugschule school in Aigen im Ennstal (Styria) in 1951. The first crossing of the Alpine Mountain Range without engine power started from Salzburg in 1937, and after World War II Austria became one of the leading nations in gliding. The Open Class world champion, H. Wödl, was the most successful Austrian pilot after 1945. The Austrian Aero-Club is the head organisation of all aeronautical sports in Austria.