Karl Rapp establishes Rapp-Motorenwerke in a former bicycle factory near Munich. He begins manufacturing his own aircraft engines. They suffer from problems with vibration that Rapp is unable to fix, so he switches to building Austro-Daimler aircraft engines under license.
Just down the road from Rapp's factory, Gustav Otto sets up a shop building small aircraft. The son of the inventor of the four-stroke internal combustion engine, he enjoys great success with his Bayerische Flugzeugwerke.

 

Otto-Werke

 


 

 

 

1916

Gustav Otto, Franz-Josef Popp and Karl Rapp

 The Bayerische Flugzeugwerke AG (BFW) is founded, and partner Gustav Otto (right) merges his three-year-old aircraft factory.

Rapp owns the Rapp Motoren Werke, which is renamed Bayerische Motoren Werke GmbH and whose first CEO is Franz-Josef Popp.

In 1922, BFW and BMW GmbH combine to form the BMW company that we know today.
   

 


 

 

 

Wallpaper

Two Austrians, Franz-Josef Popp and Max Friz, backed by a Vienna financier, Camillo Castiglioni, take over Rapp's business and rename it Bayerische Motoren Werke -- BMW.

BMW's first aircraft engine -- the Type IIIa -- goes into production. A water-cooled six-cylinder inline engine, it features a unique "high-altitude carburetor" developed by Friz that allows it to develop full power at altitude.

A rotating propeller is the inspiration for the BMW logo

 


 

 

 

1918
Corporate Charter

 The Bavarian Motor Works becomes a public company

BMW's first notable success was the 6-cylinder BMW IIIa engine, which in 1918 powered a biplane to 5,000 meters altitude in just 29 minutes. It was an impressive performance for those days, one that led to strong demand for BMW engines.

 


 

 

 

1919
Fokker with BMW engine

 World Altitude Record Set

Franz Zeno Diemer sets a world altitude record of 9,760m (32,013 ft.) in an aircraft powered by a BMW Type IV engine.

The Treaty of Versailles prohibits the production of aircraft in Germany. Otto closes his factory and BMW switches to manufacturing railway brakes. KLM of the Netherlands is the world's first airline company.

Franz Zeno Diemer is in the center of the photo.

 

next