Adolf Galland Famous Quotes and Saying

Flying is more than a sport and more than a job; flying is pure passion and desire, which fill a lifetime.

Adolf Galland

inspirational sports life

Only in the spirit of attack, born in a brave heart, will bring success to any fighter aircraft, no matter how highly developed it may be.

Adolf Galland

congratulations brave heart

For the first time I was flying by jet propulsion. No engine vibrations. No torque and no lashing sound of the propeller. Accompanied by a whistling sound, my jet shot through the air. Later when asked what it felt like, I said, "It felt as though angels were pushing".

Adolf Galland

flying angel air

Their element is to attack, to track, to hunt, and to destroy the enemy. Only in this way can the eager and skillful fighter pilot display his ability. Tie him to a narrow and confined task, rob him of his initiative, and you take away from him the best and most valuable qualities he posses: aggressive spirit, joy of action, and the passion of the hunter.

Adolf Galland

track passion ties

The battle is tough but if you reach where you want to go, then at least in some sense it is worth it.

Adolf Galland

tough battle want

Never abandon the possibility of attack. Attack even from a position of inferiority, to disrupt the enemy's plans. This often results in improving one's own position.

Adolf Galland

inferiority air-power enemy

Superior technical achievements - used correctly both strategically and tactically - can beat any quantity numerically many times stronger yet technically inferior.

Adolf Galland

air-power stronger achievement

It's unbelievable what one squadron of twelve aircraft did to tip the balance.

Adolf Galland

unbelievable twelve balance

An excellent weapon and luck had been on my side. To be successful, the best fighter pilot needs both.

Adolf Galland

luck successful needs

"He who wants to protect everything, protects nothing," is one of the fundamental rules of defense.

Adolf Galland

air-power defense fundamentals

Many pilots of the time were the opinion that a fighter pilot in a closed cockpit was an impossible thing, because you should smell the enemy. You could smell them because of the oil they were burning.

Adolf Galland

impossible-things smell oil

I made a written report which is still today in existence. I have a photocopy of it, and I am saying that in production this aircraft could perhaps substitute for three propeller- driven aircraft of the best existing type. This was my impression.

Adolf Galland

driven three today

The first rule of all air combat is to see the opponent first. Like the hunter who stalks his prey and maneuvers himself unnoticed into the most favourable position for the kill, the fighter in the opening of a dogfight must detect the opponent as early as possible in order to attain a superior position for the attack.

Adolf Galland

hunters air order

Today it is even more important to dominate the . . . highly sophisticated weapon systems, perhaps even more important than being a good pilot; to make the best use of this system.

Adolf Galland

pilots important use

When I was fired from my post as General of the Fighter Arm, I was to give proof that this jet was a superior fighter. And that's when we did it. I think we did it.

Adolf Galland

arms giving thinking

Of course, the outcome of the war would not have been changed. The war was lost perhaps, when it was started. At least it was lost in the winter of '42, in Russia.

Adolf Galland

russia winter war

And most of these pilots were lost during the first five flights.

Adolf Galland

flight pilots firsts

Nine g's is good, if the pilot can stand it. We couldn't stand it. Not in the airplanes of World War II.

Adolf Galland

airplane war world

As a fighter pilot I know from my own experiences how decisive surprise and luck can be for success, which in the long run comes only to the one who combines daring with cool thinking.

Adolf Galland

running long thinking

It is true to say that the first kill can influence the whole future career of a fighter pilot. Many to whom the first victory over the opponent has been long denied either by unfortunate circumstances or by bad luck can suffer from frustration or develop complexes they may never rid themselves of again.

Adolf Galland

frustration careers long

Adolf Galland

Born :

Died :

Flying is more than a sport and more than a job; flying is pure passion and desire, which fill a lifetime.

Only in the spirit of attack, born in a brave heart, will bring success to any fighter aircraft, no matter how highly developed it may be.

For the first time I was flying by jet propulsion. No engine vibrations. No torque and no lashing sound of the propeller. Accompanied by a whistling sound, my jet shot through the air. Later when asked what it felt like, I said, "It felt as though angels were pushing".

The battle is tough but if you reach where you want to go, then at least in some sense it is worth it.

Never abandon the possibility of attack. Attack even from a position of inferiority, to disrupt the enemy's plans. This often results in improving one's own position.

Superior technical achievements - used correctly both strategically and tactically - can beat any quantity numerically many times stronger yet technically inferior.

It's unbelievable what one squadron of twelve aircraft did to tip the balance.

An excellent weapon and luck had been on my side. To be successful, the best fighter pilot needs both.

"He who wants to protect everything, protects nothing," is one of the fundamental rules of defense.

Many pilots of the time were the opinion that a fighter pilot in a closed cockpit was an impossible thing, because you should smell the enemy. You could smell them because of the oil they were burning.

I made a written report which is still today in existence. I have a photocopy of it, and I am saying that in production this aircraft could perhaps substitute for three propeller- driven aircraft of the best existing type. This was my impression.

Today it is even more important to dominate the . . . highly sophisticated weapon systems, perhaps even more important than being a good pilot; to make the best use of this system.

When I was fired from my post as General of the Fighter Arm, I was to give proof that this jet was a superior fighter. And that's when we did it. I think we did it.

Of course, the outcome of the war would not have been changed. The war was lost perhaps, when it was started. At least it was lost in the winter of '42, in Russia.

And most of these pilots were lost during the first five flights.

Nine g's is good, if the pilot can stand it. We couldn't stand it. Not in the airplanes of World War II.

As a fighter pilot I know from my own experiences how decisive surprise and luck can be for success, which in the long run comes only to the one who combines daring with cool thinking.