The Original HL II

The story of the Lambach HL II starts at the annual Whitsuntide Flying Festival at Groningen airport in the year 1936. Because of the supremacy of the Germans, several leading Dutch industrials and prominent sports pilots got the funds for a Dutch aerobatics aircraft. At the same time the young Delft engineer Hugo Lambach had made some sketches for such an aircraft, and with this assignment, he could realize his dream. The production work started in January 1937 and it took only five and a half months to build the biplane. After her maiden flight on May 2, the test pilot Schmidt Crans praised the excellent flight characteristics. At the 1937 Whitsuntide Flying Festival, just two weeks after its maiden flight, the newly built Lambach aircraft achieved a marvellous third place in this competition. However, this fortune did not last for too long. In the morning of May 10, 1940, at the start of World War II, the aircraft was destroyed during German bombing raids at Ypenburg airfield, near The Hague. Only a set of drawings survived.

The replica

In the spring of 1989, the Society of Aerospace Students ‘Leonardo da Vinci’ was looking for an activity for its 9th lustrum. After some research, the decision was made to rebuild the HL II. The complete set of original drawings was copied and the component production was started. This was shortly followed by the production of the wooden wings and the welding of the steel tube airframe. The Military Aviation Museum in Soesterberg made the engine at our disposal, which had to be completely overhauled. The students attended to all aspects of aircraft manufacturing and were supported by the many pieces of advice of Mr De Koo, the former chief-engineer. The built was completed after 5 years of hard work of TU Delft students. On a nice spring day, 24th April 1995, the aircraft was presented to the public with the original name of “Lambach HL II”. To those present, more than 600 people, the sound of the running Gipsy Major was a great experience.

Current status

The Lambach is currently stationed in the main hangar of the Early Birds Society (Stichting Vroege Vogels) at Lelystad airport (EHLE). On March 26st 2017, the official transfer took place of the ownership and projects related to the Lambach HL II to the Early Birds society. Their goal is to have the Lambach up and flying again and maintaining this wonderful piece of Dutch aviation history. Lambach Aircraft will continue to support the Early Birds Society and provide assistance to get the aircraft up and flying again. More info on the current state of the project can be found on the website of the Early Birds Society.

Technical details