Dieter Schlueter

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Dieter Schlueter (born March 19, 1931 in Frankfurt am Main ) is a German engineer who became known for developing and manufacturing the first commercial radio-controlled model helicopters .

At the end of 1969 he carried out the world's first successful flights with a radio-controlled model helicopter. In June 1970 he flew internationally recognized world records over a distance of 11.5 km and 28 minutes of uninterrupted flight with the world's first modular model that he produced. The numerous inquiries about components and replica options led him to turn his hobby of model construction into a profession in addition to working as a self-employed automotive expert . At the end of 1971 he had already sold almost 300 helicopter kits, and around 500 more orders were pending. Due to the great demand, the Nuremberg model construction company HEGI took over the production and sales, licenses were given to a supplier to the Graupner company based in Germany and to the Kalt company in Japan. At the beginning of 1974 he decided to give up the activity as an expert and only to work as a model maker. "Schlüter-Helicopter-Modellbau" in Mühlheim am Main delivered through specialist dealers and various foreign agencies all over the world. Between 1975 and 1981 he also constructed other RC models, including boats and model aircraft, and minor technical developments in the RC area. These were not so well known due to the dominant revolutionary developments in the model helicopter sector.

In 1986 he sold his company to Robbe Modellsport on the condition that he could work as a designer and consultant for another three years . To this end, he founded the "Engineering Office for Construction and Documentation" in Wiesbaden , which still exists today , in which, among other things, the models Junior 50, Scout 60, Magic and various technical accessories as well as the helicopter catalogs for Robbe were designed.

For the manufacture and sale of model helicopters for industrial use, the company "Aero-Tec Helicopter-Technik GmbH" was later established in Wiesbaden, which was taken over in 1997 by Uwe Welter. Schlüter continues his engineering office in Wiesbaden today and, in addition to model helicopters and accessories, also deals with developments for sports boats and yachts as well as the design of jetties.

literature

  • Dieter Schlueter: remote-controlled helicopter. 14th edition. Neckar-Verlag, Villingen-Schwenningen 2007, ISBN 3-7883-3126-7 (the standard work by the inventor of the model helicopter).
  • Dieter Schlueter: The history of the model helicopter and other memories. Neckar-Verlag, Villingen-Schwenningen 2007, ISBN 978-3-7883-0695-3 ( model special ), (The life story of the "father of the model helicopter").

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