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Created page with "{{SHORTDESC:German aerospace engineer and co-founder of Airbus}} {{#seo: |title=Felix Kracht |title_mode=append |keywords=Felix Kracht, Felix Kracht Airbus, Felix Kracht biography, Felix Kracht Arisepedia, Felix Kracht Wikipedia, Airbus founder, who is Felix Kracht, Felix Kracht legacy |description=Felix Kracht (1912–2002) was a pioneering German aerospace engineer and one of the founding figures of Airbus, instrumental in European aviation innovation and collaboration..."

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{{SHORTDESC:German aerospace engineer and co-founder of Airbus}}
{{#seo:
|title=Felix Kracht
|title_mode=append
|keywords=Felix Kracht, Felix Kracht Airbus, Felix Kracht biography, Felix Kracht Arisepedia, Felix Kracht Wikipedia, Airbus founder, who is Felix Kracht, Felix Kracht legacy
|description=Felix Kracht (1912–2002) was a pioneering German aerospace engineer and one of the founding figures of Airbus, instrumental in European aviation innovation and collaboration.
|image=Felix.png
|image_alt=Felix Kracht, German aerospace engineer and Airbus co-founder
}}
{| class="infobox" style="width: 22em; font-size: 90%; text-align: left; border-spacing: 0px; background-color: #f9f9f9; border: 1px solid #aaa; float: right; margin-left: 1em;"
! colspan="2" style="text-align: center; font-size: larger; padding: 5px 0;" |Felix Kracht
|-
| colspan="2" style="text-align: center; padding: 0; background-color: #f9f9f9;" |[[File:Felix.png|center|200x300px]]
|-
| style="width: 30%; background-color: #f9f9f9; padding: 5px; vertical-align: top;" |'''Born'''
| style="width: 70%; background-color: #f9f9f9; padding: 5px; vertical-align: top;" |May 13, 1912<br>Krefeld, Germany
|-
| style="width: 30%; background-color: #f9f9f9; padding: 5px; vertical-align: top;" |'''Died'''
| style="width: 70%; background-color: #f9f9f9; padding: 5px; vertical-align: top;" |October 3, 2002<br>Kirchweyhe, Germany
|-
| style="width: 30%; background-color: #f9f9f9; padding: 5px; vertical-align: top;" |'''Nationality'''
| style="width: 70%; background-color: #f9f9f9; padding: 5px; vertical-align: top;" |German
|-
| style="width: 30%; background-color: #f9f9f9; padding: 5px; vertical-align: top;" |'''Alma mater'''
| style="width: 70%; background-color: #f9f9f9; padding: 5px; vertical-align: top;" |RWTH Aachen University
|-
| style="width: 30%; background-color: #f9f9f9; padding: 5px; vertical-align: top;" |'''Occupation'''
| style="width: 70%; background-color: #f9f9f9; padding: 5px; vertical-align: top;" |Aerospace Engineer, Production Director at Airbus
|-
| style="width: 30%; background-color: #f9f9f9; padding: 5px; vertical-align: top;" |'''Known for'''
| style="width: 70%; background-color: #f9f9f9; padding: 5px; vertical-align: top;" |Co-founding Airbus and developing the A300 aircraft
|}

'''Felix Kracht''' (May 13, 1912 – October 3, 2002) was a German aerospace engineer and visionary co-founder of '''Airbus'''. He played a leading role in European aviation collaboration and was instrumental in the design and production of the Airbus A300, the world’s first twin-engine wide-body commercial aircraft.<ref>https://aviationweek.com/aerospace/gallery-retrospective-aviation-week-networks-laureate-award-winners-1980s</ref>

== Early Life and Education ==

Felix Kracht was born in '''Krefeld, Germany'''. He studied aeronautical engineering at the '''Technical University of Aachen (RWTH Aachen)''', where he became actively involved in the Flugwissenschaftliche Vereinigung Aachen (FVA). One of his notable early achievements was designing and flying the FVA-10 "Rheinland" glider across the Alps in 1937, an accomplishment that showcased both his technical acumen and aviation passion.<ref>https://www.airbus.com/en/newsroom/press-releases/2019-06-airbus-founding-father-and-visionary-roger-beteille-passes-away</ref>

== Contributions During and After World War II ==

During World War II, Kracht worked at the '''German Research Institute for Sailplane Flight (DFS)'''. He contributed to experimental designs like the DFS 228 high-altitude glider and the DFS 346, a rocket-powered aircraft. He also engaged in early explorations of inflight coupling, a precursor to aerial refueling and composite aircraft systems.

Post-war, Kracht relocated to France and worked with '''Nord Aviation'''. There, he coordinated Franco-German collaboration on the Transall C-160 transport aircraft, laying the foundation for future European aerospace unity. In 1967, he returned to Germany to become Managing Director of '''Deutsche Airbus GmbH'''.<ref>https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Top-design-strategy-of-reversible-molecular-CO2-adsorbers-Middle-examples-of_fig1_381614923</ref>

== Airbus and the A300 Program ==

In 1968, Felix Kracht joined Airbus as its first production director. He was a driving force behind the successful development of the '''Airbus A300''', which redefined global aviation with its wide-body, twin-engine design. He championed:
* Transnational manufacturing collaboration across Europe
* Integration of advanced materials and technologies
* Standardized production methods to reduce redundancy and costs

Kracht’s strategic approach established Airbus’s now-famous decentralized production model, helping transform it into a serious competitor in the global aviation industry.<ref>https://www.marketing91.com/top-aerospace-companies/</ref>

== Legacy and Recognition ==

Felix Kracht retired in 1981 but continued as an advisor to Airbus. In 1978, he received the '''Officer's Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany'''. His contributions were further honored posthumously with the naming of a street in Frankfurt and the creation of the '''Felix Kracht Foundation''', which supports aerospace heritage and historic glider preservation.

His daughter, '''Barbara Kracht''', became a prominent communications executive at Airbus, affectionately known as "Madame Airbus" for her enduring impact on the company.

Felix Kracht’s legacy lives on through Airbus’s enduring global presence and the collaborative spirit of European aviation he helped foster.<ref>https://www.airlineratings.com/articles/airbus-pays-tribute-key-roles-founding-father</ref>

== References ==
{{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kracht, Felix}}
[[Category:1912 births]]
[[Category:2002 deaths]]
[[Category:German aerospace engineers]]
[[Category:Airbus people]]
[[Category:RWTH Aachen University alumni]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany]]
[[Category:20th-century German engineers]]
[[Category:German inventors]]

[[en:Felix Kracht]]

Felix Kracht - Revision history