Lippisch-Luftfahrtprojekt — Aircraft Registry
Alexander Martin Lippisch (1894–1976) was one of the most consequential aeronautical designers of the twentieth century. His lifelong pursuit of the tailless delta-wing configuration produced a lineage of aircraft that stretches from fragile pre-war gliders to supersonic research vehicles and post-war hydrofoil concepts. This registry documents the principal aircraft associated with the Lippisch-Luftfahrtprojekt — a body of work spanning German research institutions, wartime programmes, and American post-war laboratories.
Registry of Aircraft
Collins X-112
A post-war ram-wing ground-effect research craft developed under Lippisch's influence at Collins Radio Company in the United States. The X-112 explored the aerodynamic benefits of the Aerofoil Boat concept — a vehicle that flies in close proximity to the water surface, exploiting ground effect for lift. It was a direct precursor to the X-113 and X-114 programmes.
DFS 194
Designed by Lippisch at the Deutsche Forschungsanstalt für Segelflug (DFS) and later transferred to Messerschmitt for development, the DFS 194 was a tailless delta research aircraft intended to test rocket propulsion. First flown under rocket power in 1940, it served as the direct aerodynamic predecessor to the Messerschmitt Me 163 Komet. Its successful trials validated the delta-wing layout for high-speed powered flight.
DFS 228
A high-altitude reconnaissance glider developed at DFS, the DFS 228 was designed to operate at extreme altitudes — above 23,000 metres — beyond the reach of Allied interceptors. The pilot was accommodated in a pressurised prone-position cockpit. The aircraft was to be towed to altitude by a carrier aircraft and released for its reconnaissance mission, gliding back to base unpowered. The war ended before operational deployment.
DFS 332
A projected high-altitude research and reconnaissance aircraft developed as a successor concept to the DFS 228. The DFS 332 incorporated refinements to the pressurised cockpit and glide performance. It remained at the design and prototype stage and did not reach operational status before the end of the Second World War.
DFS 39 (Lippisch-designed Delta IV)
The DFS 39 — also identified as the Lippisch Delta IV — was a tailless delta-wing research glider developed during Lippisch's tenure at DFS. It continued the systematic exploration of delta-wing aerodynamics that characterised the entire Delta series, contributing empirical data on stability, control, and glide performance that informed subsequent powered designs.
DFS 40
A further tailless research glider in the DFS series, the DFS 40 extended the aerodynamic investigations of its predecessors. Like the DFS 39, it was used to gather flight data on low-aspect-ratio delta configurations, contributing to the growing body of knowledge that underpinned Lippisch's later high-performance designs.
Lippisch / Dornier Aerodyne
A radical post-war concept developed in collaboration with Dornier, the Aerodyne was a ducted-fan VTOL (Vertical Take-Off and Landing) vehicle with no conventional wings or tail surfaces. Lift and thrust were generated entirely by internal ducted propulsion. The design represented Lippisch's exploration of unconventional propulsion and control concepts beyond the delta-wing paradigm.
Lippisch Delta I
The first of Lippisch's systematic delta-wing glider series, the Delta I was a pioneering tailless aircraft that demonstrated the viability of the delta configuration for manned flight. Flown in the late 1920s, it established the foundational aerodynamic principles — swept leading edges, elevon control surfaces, and absence of a conventional tail — that would define Lippisch's entire subsequent career.
Lippisch Delta II–IV
A progressive series of tailless delta gliders and light powered aircraft, the Delta II through Delta IV refined the configuration established by the Delta I. Each iteration introduced improvements in aerodynamic efficiency, structural design, and handling qualities. The series provided Lippisch and his team with an unmatched empirical database on delta-wing behaviour across a range of speeds and loading conditions.
Lippisch DM-1
The DM-1 (Darmstadt-München 1) was a low-speed research glider built to investigate the aerodynamic characteristics of a 60-degree delta wing at low velocities. Constructed largely of wood and fabric, it was captured by American forces in 1945 and shipped to the United States, where it was tested at the NACA Langley facility. The data gathered from the DM-1 directly influenced early American delta-wing research, including the Convair XF-92A.
Lippisch Ente
The Ente (German: Duck) was a canard-configuration glider first flown in 1927 and subsequently modified to carry solid-fuel rockets — making it one of the earliest rocket-powered aircraft in history. Piloted by Fritz Stamer, the rocket-powered Ente completed a brief but historically significant flight in June 1928, demonstrating the feasibility of rocket propulsion for manned aircraft.
Lippisch Hols der Teufel
Translated as Fetch the Devil, the Hols der Teufel was an early tailless glider design from Lippisch's formative period. It contributed to his developing understanding of tailless aerodynamics and control, forming part of the experimental foundation upon which the Delta series was built.
Lippisch Li P.04
One of a series of advanced project studies (Projektstudien) developed by Lippisch and his team, the Li P.04 explored high-performance tailless configurations for potential military application. These project studies — designated with the P. prefix — represent Lippisch's forward design thinking during the wartime period, many of which remained on the drawing board.
Lippisch Li P.10
The Li P.10 was a project study for a tailless fighter or interceptor design, continuing the P-series exploration of high-speed delta configurations. It reflected Lippisch's ongoing effort to translate the aerodynamic lessons of the Me 163 programme into next-generation combat aircraft concepts.
Lippisch P.01-111
An early project designation within Lippisch's systematic design studies, the P.01-111 represents one of the foundational concept documents in the evolution of his tailless high-speed aircraft programme. It is associated with the preliminary design work that eventually led to the DFS 194 and Me 163 lineage.
Lippisch P.11
The P.11 was a project study for a tailless jet-powered fighter, developed as Lippisch explored the application of turbojet propulsion to his delta-wing configurations. It represented a conceptual bridge between the rocket-powered Me 163 and the jet-powered delta fighters that would emerge in the post-war era.
Lippisch P.13a
One of the most radical of Lippisch's wartime project studies, the P.13a was designed around a ramjet powerplant and featured a pronounced delta-wing configuration with an internal combustion chamber. It was intended to exploit coal dust or other low-grade fuels as propellant — a reflection of Germany's acute fuel shortages in the final years of the war. A subscale glider testbed (the DM-1) was constructed to validate the aerodynamic form.
Lippisch P.13b
A development of the P.13a concept, the P.13b refined the ramjet-powered delta configuration with modifications to the intake geometry and overall proportions. Like its predecessor, it remained a project study, though the aerodynamic research conducted in support of the P.13 series had lasting influence on post-war delta-wing and ramjet research in the United States.
Lippisch P.15
The P.15 was a project study for a tailless jet fighter, continuing Lippisch's exploration of delta-wing configurations adapted for turbojet propulsion. It formed part of the broader P-series design effort that sought to define the next generation of German high-performance combat aircraft beyond the Me 163.
Lippisch P.20
A later project study in the P-series, the P.20 explored advanced tailless configurations for high-speed flight. It reflected Lippisch's continued refinement of delta-wing geometry and his investigation of novel propulsion and structural arrangements in the closing stages of the war.
Lippisch SG-38 Zögling
The SG-38 Zögling (German: Pupil or Fledgling) was a primary training glider widely used in Germany during the 1930s and 1940s. Designed under Lippisch's direction, it became the standard introductory glider for the German gliding movement and the Luftwaffe's pilot training pipeline. Its open, skeletal structure gave student pilots an immediate and unmediated experience of flight dynamics. Tens of thousands of pilots received their first airborne instruction in the Zögling.
Lippisch Wien
The Wien was a tailless flying-wing glider developed by Lippisch, named after the Austrian capital. It represented a further exploration of the pure flying-wing concept — an aircraft with no fuselage or tail, generating all lift and control from the wing alone — and contributed to Lippisch's evolving understanding of longitudinal stability in tailless configurations.
Lippisch-Espenlaub E-2
A collaborative design between Alexander Lippisch and Gottlob Espenlaub, the E-2 was an early tailless glider that combined the aerodynamic thinking of both designers. It represented one of the earliest practical expressions of the tailless concept in German aviation and contributed to the empirical foundation of Lippisch's subsequent delta-wing work.
Messerschmitt Me 163 Komet
The Me 163 Komet is the most operationally significant aircraft in the Lippisch lineage and one of the most remarkable combat aircraft of the Second World War. Developed from the DFS 194 and earlier delta-wing research, the Komet was the world's first — and only — rocket-powered fighter to enter operational service. Powered by the Walter HWK 509 bi-propellant rocket motor, it achieved speeds in excess of 960 km/h, making it the fastest aircraft of the war. Despite its extraordinary performance, operational limitations — including a very short powered endurance of approximately eight minutes and dangerous propellant handling — restricted its tactical effectiveness. The Me 163 remains a landmark in aviation history and a direct product of Lippisch's delta-wing research programme.
RRG Storch Series
The Storch (Stork) series was developed under the auspices of the Rhön-Rossitten-Gesellschaft (RRG), the German gliding research organisation with which Lippisch was closely associated in the 1920s. These high-performance sailplanes were designed for soaring flight and competition, and they established Lippisch's reputation as a gifted aerodynamic designer before his focus shifted to tailless and delta-wing configurations.
X-113 & X-114
The X-113 and X-114 were ram-wing ground-effect research craft developed as successors to the Collins X-112, continuing Lippisch's post-war investigation of the Aerofoil Boat concept. The X-113 was an open-cockpit single-seat vehicle tested on water, while the X-114 was a refined enclosed-cockpit development. Both demonstrated the practical viability of controlled flight in ground effect over water, with potential applications in high-speed maritime transport. They represent the final chapter of Lippisch's long experimental career.
About This Registry
This registry is maintained as part of the Online Aviation Library living archive. Entries are updated as new primary source documentation is catalogued and digitised. For technical manuals, parts catalogues, maintenance instructions, and original manufacturer documents relating to aircraft in this registry, please browse the OAL collection.
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