100 years ILA
Overview >> The History of the German Aerospace Industries Association (BDLI)
The German Aerospace Industries Association, BDLI, has been championing the interests of its member companies and promoting the aerospace sector for almost 100 years now. The chequered history of the association and its predecessor organizations is intrinsically tied to ILA Berlin Air Show, the international aerospace exhibition.
Founding Years
1909
Six years after Karl Jatho and the Wright brothers had made their first “hops” in a powered plane, the first ILA took place in Frankfurt/Main: The Internationale Luftschifffahrt-Ausstellung (International Airship Exhibition - ILA) was not only the first comprehensive showcase for aviation in Germany, still in its infancy, but also the first major aviation exhibition anywhere in the world. Organized by the City of Frankfurt, the exhibition lasted a whole 100 days. About one and a half million visitors were counted. No fewer than 500 exhibitors presented airships from Zeppelin, Parseval, Clouth and Ruthenberg – as well as balloons and many other attractions. “Flying machines and models of them” were still in the minority. At ILA, August Euler, the German aviation pioneer and airplane manufacturer, already expressed need for joint action within an association to be formed.
1911
March, 17, 1911 saw the beginning of what we know now as the BDLI: The first of its predecessor organizations, the Verein Deutscher Flugzeugindustrieller (Association of German Aircraft Industrialists), was founded that day on the initiative of Prince Heinrich of Prussia. August Euler chaired the association which had its headquarters in Berlin. The eight founding member companies were Albatros-Flugzeugwerke GmbH (Berlin-Johannisthal), Aviatik GmbH (Muelhausen, Alsace), Dorner Flugzeuge GmbH (Berlin-Johannisthal); Flugmaschine Wright-Gesellschaft mbH (Berlin), Euler Flugmaschinen-Werke (Frankfurt am Main), Grade Fliegerwerke (Bork in der Mark), Harlan-Flugzeugwerke (Berlin-Johannisthal) and Rumpler Flugzeug-Werke AG (Berlin-Johannisthal). The association operated under the name of Verband Deutscher Flugzeug-Industrieller GmbH later on.
1912
In 1912, Berlin was the venue of the Allgemeine Luftfahrt-Ausstellung (General Aviation Exhibition - ALA), an impressive aeronautics show at which all major aircraft manufacturers of the time were represented. For the first time, aircraft were in the majority: there were only seven airships, but over 25 flying machines. Organizers of the ALA were the Kaiserlicher Automobil-Club, the Kaiserlicher Aero-Club and the Verein Deutscher Motorfahrzeug-Industrieller, which the Verband Deutscher Flugzeug-Industrieller was partnering with.
1917
Three years after the outbreak of the First World War, the Kriegsverband der Flugzeugindustrie e.V. was formed on February 7, 1917 on the initiative of the Inspektion der Fliegertruppen (IdFlieg). The association was intended to administer materials for some 120 companies whose 125,000 employees were involved in the production of up to 2,000 aircraft a month. The Verband Deutscher Flugzeug-Industrieller became a member of the Kriegsverband and played a part in its dissolution after the end of the war in the years 1918 and 1919.
1921
On October 17, 1921, the Verband Deutscher Flugzeug-Industrieller GmbH and the Verein Deutscher Luftschiff-Industrieller merged to form the Verband Deutscher Luftfahrzeug-Industrieller GmbH.
1923
The Verband Deutscher Luftfahrzeug-Industrieller GmbH was liquidated on September 17, 1923 and reestablished as the Verband Deutscher Luftfahrzeug-Industrieller e.V. on October 30, 1923. In its function as “Reichsverband des deutschen Luftfahrtwesens”, the association was intended to represent the interests of Germany’s aircraft, engine and airline companies.
1925
Renamed again: The Verband Deutscher Luftfahrzeug-Industrieller e.V. became the Verband Deutscher Luftfahrzeughersteller e.V.
1927
The association was dissolved on March 28, 1927 and reestablished as the Reichsverband der Deutschen Luftfahrt-Industrie e.V. (RDLI) on April 1 of the same year. The association had three departments: aircraft construction, engine construction and transport. Albatros Flugzeugwerke GmbH (Berlin-Johannisthal), Arado GmbH (Berlin), B.F.W. AG (Augsburg), B.M.W AG (München), Caspar-Werke AG (Travemünde), Deutsche Luft-Hansa (Berlin), Dornier-Metallbauten GmbH (Friedrichshafen), Gothaer Waggonfabrik (Gotha), Ernst Heinkel Flugzeugwerke GmbH (Warnemünde), L.F.G. GmbH (Stralsund), Rohrbach Metall-Flugzeugbau GmbH (Berlin) and Siemens & Halske AG (Berlin) joined the new association. Dr. Walter Huth of Albatros-Flugzeugwerke was appointed President of the RDLI.
1928
Nineteen years after the first ILA, another international aviation exhibition was held in Berlin. The show was jointly organized by the RDLI and the exhibition, trade fair and tourist board of the City of Berlin. Aviation industries from 19 countries presented their achievements. 451 exhibitors attended the show. About 150 aircraft were on display in the exhibition halls below the Berlin Radio Tower.
1929
An extremely turbulent year in association development: In January, an “Informelle Interessengemeinschaft der Luftfahrtindustriellen” was established to act as “Gemeinschaft der deutschen Flugzeuge und Flugmotoren herstellenden Industrie”. The RDLI’s extraordinary general meeting held on May 28, 1929 ended with Deutsche Luft-Hansa resigning from the association. On June 5, 1929 the “Interessengemeinschaft” took over the RDLI, which could no longer perform the functions it was set up for. So the “new” Reichsverband der Deutschen Luftfahrt-Industrie (RDLI) came into being, chaired by Rear Admiral (Ret.) Rudolf Lahs.
1932
The Deutscher Luftfahrt-Verband e.V. - Germany’s air sports association - and the exhibition, trade fair and tourist board of the City of Berlin jointly organized the Deutsche Luftsport-Ausstellung (German Air Sports Exhibition - DELA). Held in the exhibition halls below the Berlin Radio Tower, the DELA was devoted to the sports aspects of flying. The list of exhibitors read like a Who is Who of the German aircraft industry: Focke-Wulf, Heinkel, Klemm, Messerschmitt – all of them had come to Berlin.
1934
Soon after the Nazi seizure of power, the capacities of the German aviation industry were completely managed and controlled by the Reichsluftfahrtministerium (Reich Air Ministry). On June 28, 1934, the RDLI general meeting decided to integrate the association as the “Fachgruppe Luftfahrt” into the “Gruppe Fahrzeug-Industrie” of the German industry.
1935
On August 28, 1935, the RDLI was integrated into the “Hauptgruppe II der Deutschen Wirtschaft” as an autonomous business group. Keeping up tradition, the business group’s office continued to operate under the name of Reichsverband der Deutschen Luftfahrt-Industrie. Rear Admiral (Ret.) Rudolf Lahs remained president and head of the business group. With particular focus on export, the RDLI organized German pavilions and participation of German companies in aviation exhibitions abroad until the end of 1938. No ILA was held in Germany during the period of the Third Reich.
1943
On November, 1943, the RDLI office building in Berlin was completely destroyed by air raid.
1945
Preserved fragments of the annual report for the 1943/1944 fiscal year ending March 30, 1944 showed that the last general meeting of the RDLI was held on January 14, 1945. After the end of the Second World War, the Allies banned Germany from building up or continuing an autonomous aviation industry.
BDLI - a new beginning after Word War II
1951
On November 1951, representatives of the former RDLI member companies came to Stuttgart to attend the first postwar general meeting. They decided to set up a successor organization - the Verband der Deutschen Luftfahrt e.V (German Aviation Association).
1952
By direction of the authorities, the association had to change its name to Verband zur Förderung der Luftfahrt e.V. (VFL). The VFL had some 50 member companies and was intended to set the stage for the reconstruction of the German aviation industry. The association had its office in Düsseldorf.
1955
The BDLI appeared on the scene: On May 5,1955, the day, when the Federal Republic of Germany became a sovereign state and thus regained air sovereignty, the VFL was renamed to Bundesverband der Deutschen Luftfahrtindustrie e.V. (German Aviation Industries Association - BDLI), following a decision made by the VFL members in 1954. Dr. L. S. Rothe, former managing director of Junkers Flugzeug- und Motorenwerke Dessau, was appointed President. First departments such as the department for key technical issues or the department for planning and procurement were set up. As a member of the AICMA, the Association Internationale des Constructeurs de Matériel Aéronautique, the BDLI and its 60 members maintained good relations with aviation industries in almost all the European countries.
1956
A new generation of postwar companies formed up in the German aviation industry: Bölkow-Entwicklungen KG appeared on the BDLI member list for the first time. Company founder Ludwig Bölkow chaired the association from 1976 to 1981.
1957
The predecessor of the “new” ILA made its debut: At the beginning of May 1957, the “Internationale Reiseflugzeugschau” (International Light Aircraft Show) opened its doors at Hanover-Langenhagen Airport as part of the Hanover Industry Fair. Hary von Rautenkranz, an industrialist and aviation enthusiast, played a major part in the emergence of the exhibition. But the show got off to a slow start, with only 17 exhibitors, although 20,000 visitors came to the fair grounds. The BDLI moved from its temporary office in Dusseldorf to Bonn-Bad Godesberg, the seat of the Federal Government.
1958
At the end of the 1950s, the German aviation industry, which was slowly recovering, was in search of a forum to present its achievements to the public and the professional world. Thus, the BDLI launched the “Sonderschau Luftfahrtgerät, Luftfahrtausrüstungen und -zubehör” (Special Exhibition Aircraft, Equipment and Accessories) held simultaneously with the Deutsche Industrie-Messe (German Industry Fair) in Hanover. The foundation for postwar ILA had been laid. The aviation exhibition of the year 1958 marked the beginning of more than 30 years of ILA in Hanover.
1959
The exhibition jointly organized by the BDLI and Deutsche Messe AG in Hanover changed its name to Deutsche Luftfahrtschau (German Air Show).
1960
After the second Deutsche Luftfahrtschau was held in 1960, the BDLI decided to hold the show every two years, alternating with the Aérosalon in Paris-Le Bourget.
1961
Spaceflight increasingly gained in importance, thus expanding the activities of the BDLI. The association changed its name to Bundesverband der Deutschen Luft- und Raumfahrtindustrie e.V. (German Aerospace Industries Association).
1963/1964
The amalgamation of several large member companies also resulted in a BDLI boardroom change: Longtime President Dr. L. S. Rothe retired and was succeeded by Prof. Dr.-Ing. Karl Thalau (Ernst Heinkel Flugzeugbau).
1971/1972
Following other mergers of major BDLI member companies, the German aerospace industry, once again, underwent restructuring and so did the association. This led to changes in the membership of the executive committee and the advisory board.
1978
The ever more pronounced internationalization of the industry induced the BDLI to give the air show in Hanover back its historical name - Internationale Luftfahrtausstellung (International Aviation Exhibition - ILA). At the same time, the first steps were taken to loosen the tie between ILA and the Hanover Show, giving it more independence.
1982
Following restructuring of the German aerospace industry, the BDLI once again changed its name to become the Bundesverband der Deutschen Luftfahrt-, Raumfahrt- und Ausrüstungsindustrie e.V. (German Aviation, Space and Supply Industries Association). This was intended to underscore the increasing importance of the equipment and supply industries within the aerospace sector. However, the association changed name back to Bundesverband der Deutschen Luft- und Raumfahrtindustrie e.V. (German Aerospace Industries Association) at a later date.
1984/1985
Dr. Ernst Zimmermann, CEO of Motoren- und Turbinen-Union (MTU), was the first representative of the engine industry to be appointed President of the BDLI. On February 1, 1985, he was killed by terrorists of the so-called Red Army Fraction at his home in Gauting. He was succeeded by Vice-President Dr. Hanns Arnt Vogels (Messerschmitt-Bölkow-Blohm).
1990
After the fall of the Berlin Wall and German reunification, the BDLI decided to bring ILA back to Berlin, Germany’s new capital. In 1990, ILA was held for the last time in Hanover.
1992
After a 64-year absence, the International Aerospace Exhibition ILA returned to Berlin. Organized by the BDLI in cooperation with Messe Berlin, the trade show took place in the southern area of Berlin-Schoenefeld Airport and was positioned as a gateway between East and West. With main focus on topics such as “Aerospace Serving the Environment” or “New Materials”, ILA followed the industry trends of the time. The “new” ILA reinvented itself in terms of business platform and visitor magnet - and the new trade show concept worked. More than 281,000 visitors attended the show - more than three times as many as were counted at ILA 90 in Hanover.
1999
With the move of the BDLI from Bonn to Berlin at the end of August, a 50-year postwar phase came to an end. In order to keep in touch with the ministries that stayed in Bonn, the BDLI maintained a satellite office in Germany’s former capital.
2003
On July 25, 2003 Dr. Ludwig Bölkow, Honorary President of the BDLI, passed away at the age of 91. He is hailed as one of the founding fathers of postwar German aerospace and an architect of large pan-European concerns.
2006
The BDLI sharpened the ILA profile: reduced to six days, the trade show became more compact and, at the same time, more diversified. Further extension of the conference program strengthened ILA’s function as a major marketing and business platform for the aerospace industry.
2009
The BDLI celebrates the 100th anniversary of ILA with a ceremonial act in the Palais am Funkturm in Berlin on May 27, 2009.
