Lohner Pfeilflieger

The Lohner Pfeilflieger got its name from the backward-pointing wings. The first plane was completed in 1912. Soon it was also produced for military use. The series of the machine were classified according to the engines with increasing power. About 270 of the various versions were built. Most of the machines were manufactured in Fischamend, and a smaller part in Budapest. In Budapest, Első Magyar Léghajó és Repülőgép Rt produced the Lohner B II and B VII types from 1913 on Hungária körút.

The B III version was a two-seated reconnaissance aircraft. At first, it was equipped with weak Mercedes engines with 100 HP. It was vulnerable due to its low speed and altitude. In the article of aviation historian György Punka, we can read that the first Lohner crashed already on August 14, 1914. On the Russian battlefield, he could not get above an altitude of 500 meters and was shot down with infantry weapons. Another piece suffered an accident in flight two days later and also crashed. The type, unsuitable for military use, was replaced by the B VII series. It already had a more powerful 160 HP engine. But this plane was not able to fly above 3000 meters either. Its speed was also low, 137 km/h. This machine has already been equipped with a protective machine gun.

The variety of aircraft types inspired badge makers. The Lohner Pfeil was produced in much smaller numbers than the Monarchy’s other reconnaissance base type, the Hansa Brandenburg. Still, this machine also appears on one of the Kappenabzeichen. I am attaching the most common plate badge with the years 1914-1918 to the post. The same badge was also made without the year, emphasizing the fine details of the machine: parts of the background were cut out from behind the complicated outline of the machine. The full version was made of grey metal, the other version was silver-plated or silver.

The manufacturers of badges and other propaganda materials were not interested in the performance and features of the machines. More liked the sight of the airplane. The small, nimble, fast fighters were not spectacular enough. That is why reconnaissance and even some pre-war machines with extravagant dragons appear on the insignia. I am also attaching a letter seal, on which we also see a picture of the Lohner Pfeil aircraft