Rainer Reiher resting on the ledge of the Church Tower while keeping an eye on Zachary Zugvogel
Part 1 – The Red
Reiher Quartet
I have been promising to feature the Tiny Visitors for quite
a while now, but somehow or other things always got in the way. Also, they are shy little creatures and I am
loathe to upset them inadvertently and so have been putting it off writing
about them. But yesterday I had an
e-mail from an outraged reader, to the effect of ‘Whenever are you going to
post some photos of the Dash Dash Dash Visitors?’, so I decided to knuckle
under and finally get the job started.
First in line for appreciation are the Red Reihers, but
before I start I need to say a few preliminary things about the Tiny Visitors in
general. They are all rather ancient,
harking back to the time just before or during the War. They are all models of proper life sized
aircraft, to the scale of 1 to 200. With
one exception, they are all German. And
equally with one exception, they are all gliders. One is a glider which had motors added to it,
and whether this makes it a non-glider isn’t something I would like to discuss
outside of a Philosophy class (when will I ever cease to invoke Platon?). Anyway, they are all old comrades who
survived the War and keep good company.
Rolf Reiher likes to be near the Glidermaster ....
..... but isn't above teasing Her Who Must Be Obeyed!
The Red Reihers hatched in the Wiking factory in the late
1930s. Most Reihers in those days were
olive green or wore camouflage, but the chief designer thought it was a bit
drab and boring and made a few prototype models in other colours, including
orangey-red ones. He made a dozen, but
was told to leave it at that as there was no demand. However, one day early in 1939 a dozen glider
pilots visited the factory, and the boss decided to give them the little Red
Reihers as souvenirs of the occasion.
Richard Reiher likes to fly in formation with other Tiny Visitors .....
Some of the pilots gave them to their children or other little
relatives, but most kept them and carried them in their breast pockets as good
luck charms. War is a nasty business,
and the cheery little red gliders reminded them of a happier life in more peaceful
times.
....... if they want a change they can easily slip out of their harnesses!
The War was not kind to the pilots, nor to the Red Reihers
who shared their lives for a while. I
have no idea what happened to most of them, but the Reihers who now inhabit The
Little House had, each on their own, managed to escape death and
destruction. Lead by an instinct deeply
seated in every glider, no matter how tiny, they each made their way to the
Wasserkuppe after the War and formed a little squadron. For reasons I shall presently relate they had
to leave this refuge, and after numerous adventures met the other Little
Visitors who now share the airspace above my bed.
Rudolf Reiher departed for France some time ago on a secret mission .....
My Reihers are models of the very successful DFS Reiher
sports glider which was first built in 1937, and tested by the famous German
pilot Hannah Reitsch at the Wasserkuppe.
None survived the War. If you are
interested in details of this glider, try the Wikipedia link:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DFS_Reiher
Rudolf saying Good-Bye!
I have heard that a few more Red Reihers were hatched after
the War and used as gifts for visitors to the Wiking factory, but whether this
is true I do not know.
Richard and other gliders - notice that the ASK 13 Rudi-Alexis has taken to the air as well!
