Porsche Aviation

When you think of Porsche, what products do you have in mind? Probably sports cars first and foremost. Based on the current model range, some sporty sedans as well as SUVs complete the picture. On further reflection, the diesel tractors produced between 1950 and 1963 may also come to mind. And yes, there are also various clothing and lifestyle items from Porsche Design. But all that has little to do with Jürgen Gassebner’s new book. He sheds light on a chapter of the brand’s history that only a few fans are familiar with. In fact, as early as 1908, Ferdinand Porsche was involved not only with automobiles but also with aircraft and their engines. After World War 2, his son Ferry had aircraft engines developed on the basis of the 356 and 911 engines. He was helped in this by the legendary engine developer Hans Mezger, to whom a short chapter is devoted in the book.

Jürgen Gassebner is an expert on Porsche as a whole and on Porsche Aviation in particular. In his spare time, the journalist and author has been flying a Pützner Elster B with a Porsche engine since the late 1990s. Since 2010, this small aircraft has been the “flying ambassador” of the Porsche Museum in Stuttgart Zuffenhausen. Gassebner supplemented his own archive for this book with material from the Porsche Archive, contributions from Porsche designer Robert Powell and Hans Mezger, who died in June 2020. In addition, Uwe Sauter, a former member of the PFM development team and now the caretaker of the 22 aircraft with Porsche engines around the world, helped out. The book “Porsche Aviation” is available directly from Premium Media and costs € 49.90. If you order quickly, you can still get hold of one of the last copies of the Limited Edition with original autographs by Jürgen Gassebner and Rob Powell for € 54.90.

Images: Premium Media, Matthias Kierse