Kurt Tank

Tank moved to the firm [[Albatros Flugzeugwerke]], where he worked as a test pilot. The Albatros company went [[bankruptcy|bankrupt]] in 1929 and in 1931, under government pressure, was merged with [[Focke-Wulf]].{{cn|date=January 2023}} In November 1931, Tank joined Focke-Wulf in [[Bremen]] as the head of design and flight testing. Tank initially focused on test flying aircraft, mostly those brought over from Albatros. He worked on incorporating his signature features into these aircraft.{{Sfn|Wagner|1998|p=36}} The first aircraft he test flew were the [[Albatros Al 101]] and the [[Albatros L102]]. Tank almost died when the L102 he was flying crashed after he put into a dive at {{Convert|4,000|ft|m}}. He managed to get out of the plane before it exploded and hadn’t suffered any significant injuries.{{Sfn|Wagner|1998|p=38}} Tank also found ways to improve the [[Focke-Wulf Fw 43 Falke]], but he couldn't implement his ideas because only a few models of the plane were built.{{Sfn|Wagner|1998|pp=41, 43}}

Tank moved to the firm [[Albatros Flugzeugwerke]], where he worked as a test pilot. The Albatros company went [[bankruptcy|bankrupt]] in 1929 and in 1931, under government pressure, was merged with [[Focke-Wulf]].{{cn|date=January 2023}} In November 1931, Tank joined Focke-Wulf in [[Bremen]] as the head of design and flight testing. Tank initially focused on test flying aircraft, mostly those brought over from Albatros. He worked on incorporating his signature features into these aircraft.{{Sfn|Wagner|1998|p=36}} The first aircraft he test flew were the [[Albatros Al 101]] and the [[Albatros L102]]. Tank almost died when the L102 he was flying crashed after he put into a dive at {{Convert|4,000|ft|m}}. He managed to get out of the plane before it exploded and hadn’t suffered any significant injuries.{{Sfn|Wagner|1998|p=38}} Tank also found ways to improve the [[Focke-Wulf Fw 43 Falke]], but he couldn't implement his ideas because only a few models of the plane were built.{{Sfn|Wagner|1998|pp=41, 43}}

Tank then test flew the [[Focke-Wulf Fw 47 Höhengeier]] developed by [[Henrich Focke]]. Focke believed the aircraft could not fly spin maneuvers because of its unique wing shape. Tank broadened the tail and used the [[rudder]] to show the aircraft could be spun.{{Sfn|Wagner|1998|pp=43–44}} Tank then started work on the design of the [[Focke-Wulf Fw 44 Stieglitz]], a biplane trainer.{{Sfn|Wagner|1998|p=44}} While flying the aircraft at Bremen, Tank found it would shake uncontrollably. The two separate elevators were revealed to be the problem, so they were merged into one unit.{{Sfn|Wagner|1998|pp=45–47}} After the Fw 44 was moved to production in 1934, Tank worked on test piloting the [[Albatros L103]].{{Sfn|Wagner|1998|p=47}} During this period, Tank also began building a team which could make complex aircraft like airliners because the new German government did not restrict aviation. Tank convinced Focke-Wulf director [[Werner Naumann]] to fund these new projects. Tank brought over [[Hans Schuberth]], [[Andreas Faehlmann]] and other engineers to Focke-Wulf. New divisions and teams were created to build these aircraft, with Tank managing and advising them.{{Sfn|Wagner|1998|p=48}}

Tank then started work on the design of the [[Focke-Wulf Fw 44|Fw 44]] ''Stieglitz'' (Goldfinch), a two-seat civilian biplane. It was Focke-Wulf's first commercially successful design,<ref name="WarThunder">{{cite web|title=Kurt Tank Anniversary|url=https://warthunder.com/en/news/465-Kurt-Tank-Anniversary-en|website=War Thunder|access-date=9 November 2015}}</ref> launched in 1932.<ref>Munson, K. ''Fighters Between the Wars 1919-39'' 1977 p. 129 {{ISBN|071370750X}}</ref> In 1934 Tank's [[Fw 56]] advanced trainer began production.<ref>Munson, K. ''Fighters Between the Wars 1919-39'' 1977 p. 144 {{ISBN|071370750X}}</ref> This led to burgeoning growth for the company as Hitler began to prepare the country for war.{{cn|date=January 2023}}

In 1934 Tank's [[Fw 56]] advanced trainer began production.<ref>Munson, K. ''Fighters Between the Wars 1919-39'' 1977 p. 144 {{ISBN|071370750X}}</ref> This led to burgeoning growth for the company as Hitler began to prepare the country for war.{{cn|date=January 2023}}

[[Ludwig Roselius]], chairman and 46% majority shareholder of Focke-Wulf via Kaffee HAG, and [[Barbara Goette]] - his closest confidante - met with Tank in the Marcus-Allee, Bremen on many occasions. Barbara declared Focke-Wulf to be a "war-determining" enterprise.<ref>Leidig, Ludwig. Bombshell. sbpra, 2013; pp. 21-22. {{ISBN|978-1-62516-346-2}}</ref>

[[Ludwig Roselius]], chairman and 46% majority shareholder of Focke-Wulf via Kaffee HAG, and [[Barbara Goette]] - his closest confidante - met with Tank in the Marcus-Allee, Bremen on many occasions. Barbara declared Focke-Wulf to be a "war-determining" enterprise.<ref>Leidig, Ludwig. Bombshell. sbpra, 2013; pp. 21-22. {{ISBN|978-1-62516-346-2}}</ref>

[[File:Bundesarchiv Bild 101I-676-7975A-28, Wunstorf, Major Günther Specht und Prof. Kurt Tank.jpg|thumb|Major [[Günther Specht]] (left) and Kurt Tank (right)]]

[[File:Bundesarchiv Bild 101I-676-7975A-28, Wunstorf, Major Günther Specht und Prof. Kurt Tank.jpg|thumb|Major [[Günther Specht]] (left) and Kurt Tank (right)]]

The [[Focke-Wulf Fw 190|Fw 190]] ''Würger'' ([[Shrike]]), first flying in 1939 and produced from 1941 to 1945, was a mainstay [[Luftwaffe]] single-seat fighter during World War II, and Tank's most-produced (over 20,000) and famous design. In January 1943, he was named honorary professor with a chair at the [[Technische Hochschule Braunschweig]], in recognition of his work developing aircraft.<ref name="WarThunder"/>

The [[Focke-Wulf Fw 190|Fw 190]] ''Würger'' ([[Shrike]]), first flying in 1939 and produced from 1941 to 1945, was a mainstay [[Luftwaffe]] single-seat fighter during World War II, and Tank's most-produced (over 20,000) and famous design. In January 1943, he was named honorary professor with a chair at the [[Technische Hochschule Braunschweig]], in recognition of his work developing aircraft.<ref name="WarThunder">{{cite web |title=Kurt Tank Anniversary |url=https://warthunder.com/en/news/465-Kurt-Tank-Anniversary-en |access-date=9 November 2015 |website=War Thunder}}</ref>

In 1944, the ''[[Reichsluftfahrtministerium]]'' (German Air Ministry) decided that new fighter aircraft designations must include the chief designer's name. Kurt Tank's new designs were therefore given the prefix Ta.<ref name="WarThunder"/> His most notable late-war design was the high-speed/high-altitude [[Focke-Wulf Ta 152|Ta 152]] single-engine fighter, a continuation of the Fw 190 design.{{cn|date=January 2023}}

In 1944, the ''[[Reichsluftfahrtministerium]]'' (German Air Ministry) decided that new fighter aircraft designations must include the chief designer's name. Kurt Tank's new designs were therefore given the prefix Ta.<ref name="WarThunder"/> His most notable late-war design was the high-speed/high-altitude [[Focke-Wulf Ta 152|Ta 152]] single-engine fighter, a continuation of the Fw 190 design.{{cn|date=January 2023}}