In the early years of the 20th century Europe was throbbing with excitement as the dream of manned flight came within reach. In Germany the airships of Ferdinand Graf von Zeppelin were a source of fascination, as were the incredible reports of the attempts of the Wright brothers in America. Just as some American pioneers like Gustav Whitehead of Connecticut are not well remembered, some of Europe's early aviation pioneers are nearly forgotten. During the years 1900-1908, while Europe still dreamed of flight, Wilhelm Meiswinkel, born on December 19, 1890, in Germany, was consumed by his interest in the possibilities of manned flight. After completing school in Attendorn and before beginning his studies at the Ingenieurschule in Elber-feld, young Meiswinkel began constructing and testing a series of flying machines in his hometown of Maumke, called Lennestadt today, in the hilly Sauerland of Germany.
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