Wiener Neustadt airfield is the cradle of Austrian aviation. Here at the Steinfeld with its weather-resistant soil, the conditions were ideal. Designers tested their designs, spectacular competitions took place and world records were broken. The emperor came and the military pilots presented themselves to the public for the first time. In the period from 1910 to 1912, the aviators and aviation pioneers triggered enormous enthusiasm, on nice days tens of thousands of spectators came to the airfield. Of course there was a huge demand for memorabilia, especially postcards. Incidentally, this also resulted in a precise documentation of all events on the airfield.
In years of meticulous work, the author has assembled a very comprehensive collection of more than 400 postcards from the Wiener Neustädter Flugfeld. They document its turbulent development in all facets and give a direct impression of this great era of aviation, which was just beginning. The photo studios and their working methods are also presented in this comprehensive work.
Aviation in Wiener Neustadt (1909-1912)
Marcus F Zeleznygraduated from the HTL (department of flight technology) and studied mechanical engineering at the Technical University in Vienna with a focus on lightweight and aircraft construction (Dr. techn.). The enthusiasm for aviation never left the former glider pilot. For a long time he has been doing research in the field of early civil and military aviation history with a technological focus. Numerous publications in specialist journals and lectures in museums and archives. Marcus F. Zelezny lives and works in Vienna.