Mayor John Windley recently welcomed members of a delegation from Mecklenburg-Vorpommern Germany to Kill Devil Hills.
The Mayor of Anklam, in Germany, was in attendance. The City of Anklam has historical aviation connections with Kill Devil Hills. In 1891, Otto Lilienthal, a mechanical engineer born in Anklam, achieved the first reproducibly safe gliding flight (now known as hang gliding).
Much like Kill Devil Hills is known as the birthplace of aviation, Anklam is known as the birthplace of the “Glider King.” The Wright Brothers credit Otto Lilienthal and his advancements for their success in achieving the first heavier-than-air powered flight.
Mayor Windley and the delegation formed a new international relationship to build upon.