The Lippisch Wien belongs to Alexander Lippisch's long-running research into tailless gliders, work he pursued for decades in pursuit of efficient, stable flight without a conventional tail surface. Lippisch's tailless designs were built to explore how far an aircraft could glide using minimal drag and careful aerodynamic balance rather than engine power.
This kind of research airframe was typically flown as an unpowered glider, launched by winch or tow, with pilots using rising air currents to extend flight time and distance. The broader goal behind these designs was to refine tailless and flying-wing aerodynamics that Lippisch later carried into his more famous work, including the Messerschmitt Me 163 rocket interceptor.
The video below gives a visual introduction to the Wien and the idea of sustained, engine-free flight that these designs were built around.
This article is provided for historical and research purposes as part of the Online Aviation Library's documentation of early tailless glider development. It does not constitute current airworthiness or engineering guidance.