Austrian Aviation Heritage with Heinrich Böhm – History, Passion & the Vision for Aviaticum

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00:00:47: Hello!

00:00:47: And welcome.

00:00:48: This is Episode twenty seven of Our amazing Aviation Quest CC podcast.

00:00:55: My name is Stefan.

00:00:57: I'm one of your hosts And as always, I'm not on my own with me here our beloved Jürgen.

00:01:04: How are you?

00:01:07: Beautiful day in Germany and Austria!

00:01:11: We're an audio podcast but thanks to Stefan, FS Clips YouTube long-term celebrity so to say.

00:01:22: Yeah, we also are on YouTube with our own channel and it's aviation-quest podcast.

00:01:29: And I think before you forget... Our flight today for this episode is from where to where Stefan?

00:01:37: Yes!

00:01:37: So if you watch on Youtube You'll see a real world flight and Today We're going somewhere where have never flown Before neither in the Real World nor In The Sim.

00:01:46: We're Going To South America We are joining a LATAM Airbus A-SIII-II and we're flying from Brasilia International to Sao Paulo.

00:02:00: Yeah, and we are aviation QSTC stories from above!

00:02:04: And today I think Stefan... ...we are taking slightly different perspective on aviation not from the cockpit but from people preserving its history underground.

00:02:17: Yes, absolutely.

00:02:19: We've always said that this is an aviation podcast or the pilot podcast so we want to spread out as much as we can and introduce people from different parts of the industry.

00:02:33: So yeah today we are looking at a museum right?

00:02:38: And it's actually in your home country right here again.

00:02:42: Also you're Hong Kong, so to say.

00:02:46: Okay you live now.

00:02:48: I know this is not a running joke.

00:02:51: today we are living on a sunny island in the Mediterranean but yeah it's about understanding where it all began.

00:03:01: so aviation and who keeps that story alive?

00:03:06: And I think we got a really, really interesting guest.

00:03:10: It's Heinrich Bohm the Deputy Chairman of the Aviatikum Aviation Museum in Wiener Neustadt and it is project dedicated to preserving and sharing Austria's aviation heritage with a very personal and hands-on approach.

00:03:29: Stefan, would you agree?

00:03:31: Yes.

00:03:31: The podcast was super interesting especially when he went into some details about the things on display.

00:03:41: I don't want to spoil anything.

00:03:44: we can talk about highlights.

00:03:45: for me personally afterwards I thought it was a really nice interview and you can hear the passion of someone who wants to preserve the history of aviation, show people what used be like especially right at the beginning.

00:04:04: What is meant as an aviator?

00:04:14: YouTube channel.

00:04:15: without further ado.

00:04:17: Stefan, do you think

00:04:19: he has

00:04:19: jumped right into the main part of this must have heard episode?

00:04:24: Exactly!

00:04:24: So without further adieu again well done to the interview.

00:04:28: again let's get started.

00:04:31: Heinrich Böhm Deputy Chairman of the Aviatikum Aviation Museum in Wiener Neustadt, a place dedicated to preserving and bringing Austrian aviation history to life.

00:04:43: Welcome to Aviation Quest CC!

00:04:46: Well it's an honor to have you with us Heinrich.

00:04:49: Thank You very much for inviting me on this podcast.

00:04:54: Yes, to get started Heinrich How did you personally become involved in the Aviaticom?

00:05:01: And what made your time and energy to this awesome project?

00:05:07: Actually, I guess approximately fourteen years ago... ...I was thinking of making a pilot license.

00:05:18: Because i was flying for business nearly extremely near every week somewhere in Europe And I was very, very interested in all the Aviatic history and energies... ...and also innovations.

00:05:37: But i didn't have time!

00:05:41: For some years I meet one guy who is actually... As always he's the lexicon-the life lexicum of aviation flying history All over the world.

00:05:54: He has a lot knowledge and he was working for the Aviatikum in Wiener Neustadt, of the historic place on the airport at Austria.

00:06:15: He invited me there to make this more open for everyone.

00:06:25: they shall know about the history of Austria, because this is very important.

00:06:30: Not many people knows that Austria was starting in nineteen hundred nine with Ego Etrich to have one of their first motor plane and started in Wiener Neustadt.

00:06:44: Before we get into the museum, there was a little side story.

00:06:47: We had a telephone call preparing us for this interview A few days ago Heinrich and you told me that You don't really be regret not getting a private pilot license because you have so to say what?

00:07:02: Was this...you got now the luxury of a flight instructor And a flight Instructor and So-to-say a taxi pilot.

00:07:13: Yes In the same hangar we are, there is also a flying school and they have eight airplanes by themselves.

00:07:21: And that makes great sense.

00:07:26: This is your friend so to say you're in the museum but still can have a trip into the air whenever you want almost wherever you want?

00:07:38: That's exactly.

00:07:39: I've got this key for it!

00:07:40: And so when they fly somewhere and there is a place, I am in.

00:07:51: Okay!

00:07:52: So you still got your share of real flying?

00:07:59: You don't regret or are there plans to get your own private license?

00:08:06: Not really because now i have the chance to be always in the plane, in private with two seats or four very small planes.

00:08:18: I don't need to start learning and have a lot of work now with the museum by myself!

00:08:25: Sounds like fulfilled aviation life.

00:08:29: but back to the Museum.

00:08:32: you just mentioned The Etrich-Taube, I think is the right topic here.

00:08:42: It seems to be a centerpiece of the museum.

00:08:45: What makes this aircraft so special both technically and historically Heinrich?

00:08:53: To come back you know the name Ottolinientau.

00:08:57: he was starting not to fly with some kind of wood from some hills and gliding around.

00:09:08: And the idea to become how we can fly like a bird, yeah?

00:09:15: He couldn't.

00:09:16: in the end he got an existence in Berlin but his description...he gave to Ego Etrich!

00:09:25: He was located in Wiener Neustadt And also in that time located was Ferdinand Porsche.

00:09:32: He was a constructor for motors, for the Mercedes-Benz IG and In that time There were the bright brothers in America and also the French people.

00:09:46: there was trying to make an aircraft with a motor.

00:09:52: so But in the beginning on the start they couldn't really fly and ego Hedrich was thinking how I can make a plane.

00:10:02: who?

00:10:02: Fly without Existence, who fly in the first time to be in the air with out problems?

00:10:09: And then he got to Ferdinand Porsche.

00:10:13: He said look i need a motor for an aircraft.

00:10:17: and Ferdinal Borsche says okay the motors for their cars, in that time it was very big and very heavy.

00:10:27: Okay I will construct one motor of a plane to eat the Ego Etrich Taube.

00:10:34: It looks like bird!

00:10:36: That's why its name.

00:10:38: And then they start.

00:10:39: this is really first airplane you can see actually on world was really start fly stable not with any existence and also the first woman I was flying with this plane.

00:10:56: And now it's still, yeah... It is the centerpiece of your museum.

00:11:04: Exactly!

00:11:05: We have the instrumental etrichthaube ...and we've got a lot of documents from history, from Egoetrich, from Ferdinand Porsche, from Mercedes,... Also our empire at that time was very interesting.

00:11:23: what is a plane?

00:11:24: What's something that can fly, I just know train and car.

00:11:28: And in nineteen hundred ten he visits Wiener Neustadt to see what is the plane.

00:11:37: Very interesting history also In this case.

00:11:40: At that time we have some video films with our empire where when he come do airport Of course it is black-and white.

00:11:51: there were no voice But there was underwriting that he says actually, what is this?

00:11:58: Is it just loud.

00:12:00: That's what he said!

00:12:05: To take a look at Austrian aviation history in a little bit broader scope so to say... What makes it unique in your view the Australian Aviation History as such?

00:12:19: First of all The first airport in the Empire time was located in Wiener Neustadt, where we are today with also our museum.

00:12:31: And there was Ego Ettrich.

00:12:33: he started before it was the airport to start construction for the Ettrichtaube and then slowly-slowly they began displaying different kinds of types to go nearly in Syria and also in light sense, this goes to Germany at that time.

00:12:58: They start also making planes similar with the Erdrichtaube.

00:13:03: It was very interesting.

00:13:04: we had a historic film made by women from above the Lüfte.

00:13:10: you can see on the ORF and it is located... place in Wiener Eichstadt, with two ladies.

00:13:21: The first pilot Millie Beese and Lilly Stein-Schneider from Austria And also the start to help make construction for planes.

00:13:32: Nobody that knows or not many people on the world know That women's was created a lot of ideas How we can create good nice plane To fly And the first two ladies would get a license.

00:13:50: We have lots of documents and also films from them.

00:13:54: It's really fascinating, yeah?

00:13:57: Yeah let speak specifically about museum experience at your place in Wiener Neustadt.

00:14:03: Heinrich For someone who has never visited Aviatikum What can they expect when you walk through doors for very first time.

00:14:18: For the very first time, what we are doing is after two will come visitors that we start to explain actually history.

00:14:29: The start of these aviations in Wiener Neustadt and then they started showing pictures from women all over the world – the first pilots.

00:14:41: And then go directly to our planes.

00:14:45: We show the Etrich-Taube, we showed a Messerschmitt.

00:14:49: one hundred nine was made in the Second World War but will come little bit later on this part I guess and then they'll see that the planes by themselves also how those kind of aircrafts were working at time unbelievable.

00:15:10: We have also not only these two flights, we have some more.

00:15:17: In different years we had some ballons from Starkbaum who made the Guinness Book of World Records.

00:15:29: He got his balloon more than fifteen thousand meters high and this is in our museum – the original one!

00:15:38: So you come in a new world, like... You came at the time.

00:15:44: The start of the aviatic In the beginning.

00:15:49: Yeah But give us already A little bit No spoiler or lot but Give some highlights That you got to offer there Or visitors can really experience Maybe also with their kids.

00:16:03: We have alot Of small planes, just models.

00:16:09: But we have also the Etterichthaube you can see.

00:16:12: We have the autopilot Pischoff What was actually a second plane.

00:16:18: it is made from a Mercedes car.

00:16:22: Actually Mr.

00:16:24: Pischof has made the plane.

00:16:26: It's one very interesting thing.

00:16:29: this plane was also flying by in Zeltwick by the Flying Bulls.

00:16:39: They have made a show with this plane, what we are having now at our museum and then our highlights is also the Messerschmitt one hundred nine.

00:16:49: This one plane was very dangerous during World War II produced in Wiener Neustadt And you can't see it like an original like this in some other places.

00:17:06: I heard, i don't know...I haven't seen it and It is very rare!

00:17:11: And we have a lot of motors.

00:17:14: they are restorated and They're very well to see.

00:17:19: how was the technique at that time?

00:17:22: How did they make motors from beginning of World War?

00:17:29: to go back, it was actually one of the first in World War I airplane what they used for war.

00:17:43: To give especially international visitors a little bit an overview.

00:17:49: or practically speaking how easy is it reach museum from Vienna?

00:17:57: You have a train, and with the car it's very easy.

00:18:00: With your car you're about in thirty minutes... ...you are in Wiener Neustadt Airport Ost We located on the Wienerstrasse hundret twenty.

00:18:11: You can find us also very easily from our internet homepage aviatikum.at.

00:18:21: You can come by train And then We have no directly bus or train directly to the airport, our museums.

00:18:32: There you need a car and some more body.

00:18:35: Or just conduct us and we arrange something.

00:18:40: Wow!

00:18:41: You mean maybe pick up international guests with your car in their handshake?

00:18:48: Yes,

00:18:49: without over-promising here.

00:18:52: But of course not everyone.

00:18:56: but there's also solutions that you will find us.

00:19:03: I don't get to hear in a hotspot situation.

00:19:09: What kind of audience do typically see Heinrich?

00:19:13: Are they aviation enthusiasts or families, or professionals in the aviation industry?

00:19:24: Actually from a child between really specialists.

00:19:32: they are coming from England.

00:19:34: We have groups of Hungary and we also have groups for France.

00:19:38: when there is an interest to come they look at what happens in Austria where I can find something that defines us from the internet.

00:19:49: And then we have a lot of groups or companies that say okay, they make some special for our workers.

00:20:00: so where can go what you look?

00:20:02: and there come people who don't know about flying?

00:20:07: They get really very interested in history from Austria and this is that what we want to do.

00:20:17: This actually, it's what you like blow out.

00:20:21: let say in the world that Australia have a very big history And I can't say there are specialists or non-specialists There come everyone everywhere.

00:20:37: We had last year first time again open because many years was closed about covid.

00:20:45: so we have nearly every week, a bus with fifty-sixty per person.

00:20:51: what comes outside from the open time.

00:20:57: I mean i was just thinking of myself you know back then being an enthusiastic kid from early on...I think your place would've been aviation wonderland for me!

00:21:11: Actually, it is when we see the children interested there.

00:21:16: Really?

00:21:16: I

00:21:17: can imagine!

00:21:18: You see a lot of shining eyes

00:21:20: huh?!

00:21:20: Yes yes and then... When you go out or will be sitting our neighbors with new airplanes where they also fly around to see difference between start of Aviatic and modern airplane.

00:21:39: today It is also very interesting, and all the tests we are showing.

00:21:44: We're showing it really well.

00:21:45: And what do you have in our partnership?

00:21:48: Is that Austria-Aviatic Archive?

00:21:55: This was more or less private before.

00:21:58: So there's a lot of description of airplanes A lot of descriptions and pictures.

00:22:05: But this actually Unbelievable that this was before, always in private hands.

00:22:13: It is still in private hand because we are a private museum.

00:22:17: but what I want to do with my colleagues... We want bring it out everyone To show them again the history of the Aviatic Austria.

00:22:35: Let's already have little bit view into near future.

00:22:38: with next question Heinrich How would you describe the current state of the museum today?

00:22:44: So where are you strong and Where do you want to improve?

00:22:53: what we wanted to do very now it's its We started becomes wearing on noon.

00:23:01: Now that Because they have the need is direct card, maybe a notice You can come one time with this card without enter price, so you don't pay for the first time.

00:23:16: You have also many possibilities For the future with us together.

00:23:23: My dream and not only my dream The dream of me and my colleagues is that we have a center Of aviatic in Wiener Neustadt.

00:23:33: That means We have history from the archive from the flying, uh...from airplanes and we have new airplanes.

00:23:49: So to open this for all people it is a wish.

00:23:54: what do you want in future?

00:23:56: Of course!

00:23:57: This kind of cost.

00:23:59: who will support us?

00:24:01: We are interested to make this big.

00:24:05: I mean,

00:24:08: can you give us or our audience overview in concrete terms about your... this sounds super interesting.

00:24:16: This aviation history center.

00:24:19: what are the highlights of all divisions so to say the main visions for the future and also a timeline if something like these already exists?

00:24:30: We have actually, we are working now on the project itself that we have ideas.

00:24:36: We bring it to paper and make a simulation And then you will see how strong maybe some private people who were very interested in the Aviatic give us chance together To say ok this is now really a big, big place where you can see the history.

00:25:03: Where can... You'll see new flies?

00:25:05: There's all this together in one place and not only on one place.

00:25:12: it is historic place Wiener Neustadt.

00:25:15: there was to start.

00:25:18: So maybe too early to share publicly your vision but are willing partners or investors that are looking forward maybe to support you.

00:25:34: Exactly, it could be in many ways.

00:25:37: for example when we have a chance for new building what is an idea?

00:25:45: We can give the company and also airline place into making some action themselves to have a strict, fixed place.

00:25:59: To show maybe make some highlights there or make some for whatever?

00:26:08: So put it down.

00:26:09: what kind of partners are you looking for?

00:26:13: so when I get your right this could be private persons but also companies.

00:26:19: Also companies of course, and also the governments itself.

00:26:23: Now we get support from Wiener Neustadt in a very good way that can be opened.

00:26:35: without this we couldn't open it but these have to create new ways.

00:26:43: There's a lot of description we had made on the paper.

00:26:54: It is too much to say now here, it just... Yeah!

00:27:00: We are not ready for this yet and we're already ready to discuss with people.

00:27:04: yes The ideas are there

00:27:08: But if someone listening right now feels addressed how can they reach out?

00:27:12: And support their project?

00:27:14: I guess write in your home page or what easiest way to contact you.

00:27:19: The easiest way to contact me is To send my email and to conduct me.

00:27:25: And just ask, I mean talk why not?

00:27:31: We have the history from Mercedes we have a history from Ferdinand Porsche we have the History of other works history of Messerschmitt And also, I think there are many airlines that may be interested to find a place... ...to show the new innovations from production or ideas for future.

00:27:58: When we have a place together this would be great!

00:28:03: By the way in our aviation QCC studio here we got Henry's email address so you can ask him about it as well me personally on my link in account or our channel, so to say no problem at all.

00:28:21: We handed forward it for interested people if you allow.

00:28:28: Yes of course and also now a home page.

00:28:31: when we look on cooperation partner You will find the name and email address.

00:28:44: Heinrich, towards the end of this interview is there any topic you want to go into more depth or do say that it's worth some deep dive minutes?

00:28:56: It's your interview.

00:28:58: Also maybe about the current museum something we wanted to point out but was a little bit too short.

00:29:07: in these interviews

00:29:11: Of course I mean at this time There is no chance to explain everything about the history, everything about our ideas.

00:29:21: So that's what I'm always saying when you're interested and You have some ideas just conduct me.

00:29:30: Let's meet directly on the place.

00:29:32: then you can see by yourself how it looks.

00:29:36: What are the possibilities for the future?

00:29:39: And what we can do together The way for a long future, not tomorrow.

00:29:48: For the long future because this we want to keep alive.

00:29:54: This what you have

00:29:58: Yeah sounds like a plan Henry.

00:30:01: from my side It's pleasure.

00:30:04: I mean i'm focusing in moment on mental coaching and aviation.

00:30:08: And if there is something Yeah, you want to address me.

00:30:12: You know some presentation or something and say hey I could need some mental support of whatever.

00:30:18: just reach out for me.

00:30:20: i will send you afterwards a small personal coaching voucher.

00:30:24: so it's totally optional no costs nor strings attached.

00:30:28: And if its ever useful for me For you Just feel free To Reach Out To Me.

00:30:37: Thankyou very much for the chance and sorry, from my English.

00:30:42: I practice it is not last year's so i forgot a little bit but hope that people understand what aviatic means what museum aviatikum mean?

00:30:57: And what history of Austria mean?

00:30:59: What the chance could be in future

00:31:02: ?

00:31:04: I think you gave us great overview about the highlights of aviation history.

00:31:10: And yeah, I mean i'm looking forward.

00:31:13: maybe this dream of yours will come true within the next years and then certainly I would be more than honored to have a follow-up interview with you in... Maybe that's already taking place.

00:31:33: aviation history center in Wiener Neustadt.

00:31:37: Yes, this would be great and I'm open for all these there's you know Jürgen.

00:31:44: again thank you very much for the chance to talk on here on the air and maybe somebody contact me.

00:31:53: it is where i will be happy.

00:31:57: alright that brings us to the end of the interview.

00:31:59: well done jürgen super interesting.

00:32:02: how was?

00:32:05: I mean, from my perspective it was really an amazing interview and also a place to be or meet if you are in the region of Vienna.

00:32:17: Just check it out.

00:32:20: I think really also for families and kids, maybe a really an eye-opener literally to get them interested in aviation... In a tangible way.

00:32:32: what would you say Stefan?

00:32:34: Yes absolutely!

00:32:35: Some of the things he talked about now that we heard interviewer can be no more spoilers The fact they have actual taube which is pretty amazing.

00:32:48: I loved what he said about women in the cockpit, you know how actually the first aircraft were flown by women?

00:32:58: That was super interesting.

00:32:59: and that they dedicate a part of the museum to that fact.

00:33:03: It's also really cool that there have been planes made out of a car!

00:33:08: I didn't even notice it existed.

00:33:13: So all these things are worth seeing on their own, and then of course the Messerschmitt one zero nine which is an iconic aircraft.

00:33:24: By the way the home page is aviaticum.at for everyone interested in visiting or supporting the project And you can find there details and also amazing photographs of what this place unique place got to offer.

00:33:44: And hey Stefan, what we should not forget?

00:33:47: It is amazing.

00:33:48: Christoph Paszewski I said it before he's a little bit the mentor from very early days of this project.

00:33:55: He was also this time The Connecting Force behind his episode.

00:34:00: Yeah!

00:34:00: It really... Christoph Paszewski absolutely brilliant What you are doing here to visit Behind the Curtain so say for our podcast.

00:34:10: and yeah Christoph was our guest in episode fourteen.

00:34:15: He is a seaplane enthusiast, literally flight instructor and also an author.

00:34:21: If any of you would like to learn more about his work including his book please visit aviator.at or bushpilot.at.

00:34:34: So these are Christoph Parzhevsky's home pages.

00:34:38: Thank You!

00:34:39: Yeah, absolutely.

00:34:40: It was one of our first guests... I believe he's the first guest!

00:34:47: And we were super lucky to get him on because he is still in touch with us and he still recommends who can interview next.

00:34:56: He helps making connections.

00:35:00: so yeah i think that we are incredibly lucky to have him right at the beginning Because it has been a driving force for the postcards behind-the scenes, right?

00:35:12: No spoiler alert.

00:35:13: So to say it a word today but I just had a telephone call yesterday evening with Christoph and yeah... It could be!

00:35:22: But no spoiler alert!

00:35:27: There is something great already in planning that will be on tape within next days.

00:35:35: Yeah, it is worth following our podcast.

00:35:39: It's really amazing guests already I think Stefan you can confirm this.

00:35:45: they are all ready pre-recorded.

00:35:47: and yeah with Heinrich.

00:35:50: certainly.

00:35:50: another highlight that also his museum one more time.

00:35:56: please go there.

00:35:57: if we have the chance to visit Vienna.

00:35:59: it's not far away from Vienna Yeah, it's a place to meet.

00:36:06: Yeah exactly.

00:36:07: and like you said we have some pretty cool people coming up.

00:36:12: I'm actually amazed how many of them were really happy to come on not just People from the industry itself but even podcasters that run huge podcasts themselves.

00:36:24: And uh You know i want to say A big thank-you To all these people to give up some of their time, talk with us.

00:36:33: You will hear more about that in the coming weeks.

00:36:36: who's come on and who'll be on our podcast?

00:36:39: but already for everyone has been on or have recorded a big thank you from both of us right?

00:36:53: Absolutely!

00:36:54: And yeah I mean if I could be a guest or i know somebody who might Qualified, so to say.

00:37:02: No we are looking out for everybody everything somehow connected with aviation.

00:37:08: please Please write in aviation at aviation dash quest to see.

00:37:12: is our email address or LinkedIn.

00:37:15: It's my personal account there which reach out from me linkedin young rice and Certainly also a home page that you can find all the contact information I think via quite yeah We are quite connectable so to say and we even have a Discord server thanks to Stefan.

00:37:35: So the Discord Server is FS Clips, Stefan's Discord Server.

00:37:39: you can find it also in the show notes of the podcast.

00:37:43: I think the podcast section there is quiet straight forward to find Stefan.

00:37:50: Yeah, absolutely.

00:37:53: So like Jürgen said anyone who has anything to do with aviation would talk us but not just the aviation also flight simming.

00:38:01: you can deny a huge flights in enthusiasts.

00:38:04: We've already had people on from the flight team.

00:38:07: There's a difference between aviation and flights?

00:38:10: Well, I guess.

00:38:12: so you know... A little bit!

00:38:16: So i don't want to offend any flight teamers now but

00:38:19: you know what?

00:38:22: It is getting dangerous because today's interview was approved that we are really looking out for everybody connected with aviation.

00:38:32: I think, yeah we are looking forward for guests and please write us.

00:38:40: And certainly on YouTube you can also subscribe and follow our send to whatever your thing is good for us than for you

00:38:49: exactly.

00:38:50: so just sum it up Jürgen an eye where aviation nuts?

00:38:56: I think sums it up the best.

00:39:01: So if you're crazy about aviation, If It's your passion doesn't matter what role You play.

00:39:08: we want to hear from you because We will have something in common.

00:39:12: Okay shall we wrap this Up Jürgen?

00:39:15: Yeah i say one more time Heinrich thank you very much for The insights you shared with our listeners today and This episode And For Your Work you and your team are doing to keep aviation history alive in such a tangible way.

00:39:33: Thank you, and thank you Stefan for your time!

00:39:35: Exactly, thanks everyone for listening... ...and yeah we look forward to seeing you on the next one.

00:39:43: bye-bye.

00:39:55: We appreciate your time and support.

00:40:04: And we'd love to have you back for the next episode.

00:40:07: until then stay safe, Stay

00:40:13: curious!