As early as the 19th century, the Schmallenberg citizen, sculptor Kaspar Hamm (1800 - 1867), had the "dream of flying".

With chicken and goose feathers glued to his arms and basket tubs attached, he jumped out of the skylight of his house onto the dung heap below. The attempt ended with a broken rib. ln the vernacular, this flight attempt earned him the name "Floigenkaspar". The Fluggemeinschaft Rennefeld in Schmallenberg erected a monument to him in the old cemetery on the Werth with the inscription:

Häv Bieller hoggt un Voih kureiert
un äuk et Floigen mol probiert .
doch`t Floigen is mey nit gerohn,
Hiär lot mik siellig oberstohn.
(I have hewn pictures and cured cattle
and also tried flying once, but I did not succeed in flying
, Lord let me rise blessed).

In 1933, the first air sports club in Schmallenberg was founded by men and women who were enthusiastic about flying. Schmallenberg was founded. The air sports club was called DLV (Deutscher Luftsportverband) Ortsgruppe Schmallenberg. The 1st chairman from 1933 to 1945 was Anton Mönig from Schmallenberg.

Members of the club painstakingly built a training glider in the Hardebusch and Witte carpentry workshops, and this glider was christened "Floigenkaspar" by Mayor Krass in 1935 with a large turnout of Schmallenberg citizens.

The training of the Schmallenberg glider pilots took place at the airfield in Schüren near Meschede took place. After August Stockhausen had completed training as a flight instructor, training could take place in Schmallenberg trained at the Aberg. Close to the flying site, on the property of Baron von Fürstenberg, a hangar was built by the club members. It was financed by the members themselves, donations and with the help of the town of Schmallenberg.

When war broke out in 1939, this beautiful sport came to an end for the time being, and nobody knew how long this interruption would last. Most of the members were drafted - and for a long time it was quiet on the gliding site at Aberg.

15 glider pilots were killed or died in the Second World War.
After the end of the war in 1945, all pilots and glider pilots were hit equally hard by the ban on flying imposed by the victorious powers.

The ban was only lifted after 6 years. On May 19, 1951, at the instigation of August Stockhausen and Ewald Schüssler, a founding meeting was held in the inn "Zur Krone" (Penne). The air sports club was newly founded at this meeting. It called itself the Aero-Club Schmallenberg. At the inaugural meeting, the board was elected by 35 members:

Karl Theo Kevekordes 1st Chairman
Wilhelm Göddeke Managing Director
Albert Hoffmam Treasurer
Ewald Schüssler Site Manager

At one of the following meetings, it was decided to purchase a new school glider (SG 38). It was financed with a loan from the office's then Sparkasse Schmallenberg.

The previous flying field at Aberg was re-approved by the relevant authorities. In the fall of 1952, a flight advertising week was held in the Grafschafttal.

A two-seater glider (Mü 13 E) was used to organize guest and training flights for the first time since the war. The pilot was Walter Molz, who later became the club's flight instructor. In December 1952, under the guidance of flight instructor Karl Bölting from Büenfeld the first rubber rope launches were made.

In 1953, the Aero Club decided to purchase a Schmallenberg decided to purchase a new-generation Ka 2 "Rhönschwalbe" two-seater glider. The purchase price of DM 8,500 could not be raised by the Schmallenberg glider pilots alone. The decision was made to form a flying club with the neighboring clubs of Fredeburg and Meschede to found a flying community. A site was found for the two-seater training at Rennefeld between Werpe and Wormbach was suitable and approved. The winch required to launch a glider was built by members of the club under the guidance of August Stockhausen. The heart of the winch - a 100 hp Maybach engine - was installed in a disused fire engine donated by the town of Schmallenberg donated by the town. An old English motorcycle with sidecar was used to pull out the tow rope.

After the airfield Rennefeld was approved by the aviation supervisory authority in Münster on December 15, 1953, the first take-offs took place on the new site on January 31, 1954. The flight instructors Karl Bölting, Walter Molz and Hans Günter Heinzel were responsible for training glider pilots.

Number of student pilots: Schmallenberg 16, Fredeburg 5 and Meschede 35, a total of 56 students. Landings on the site were difficult. In the east, the landing took place over a pine forest, the landing area was about 180 meters. In the west, landings had to be made directly behind a high-voltage overhead power line on an area that was also very short.

A lively air traffic developed as early as 1954.

The christening of the Rhönschwalbe took place at the request of the Meschede aviation comrades in Meschede on the sports field "lm schwarzen Bruch" in the name of the Meschede aviation pioneer "Arnold Flues". The Ka 2 and SG 38 airplanes were stored at Schützenhalle in Wormbach were parked there. The airplanes could be transported to the airfield on a trailer pulled by a tractor. The price of a school take-off was 1 DM, that of a passenger take-off 10 DM.

DM 10 for a passenger take-off.

In August 1955, the first German gliding championship after the Second World War took place in Oerlinghausen. The Fluggemeinschaft Rennefeld took part in this championship with the Rhönschwalbe. - Pilot Hans Günther Heinzel, co-pilots August Stockhausen and Ewald Schüssler -. The flying club took 4th place in the two-seater class.

After thorough training, the first solo flights on the SG 38 training glider took place in October 1955. August Stockhausen built a seat cover (boat) around the otherwise open pilot's seat for high take-offs on the winch. The Schmallenberg glider pilots Arnold Mönig, Albert Hoffmann, Jost Vollmert, Karl Dahm, Walter Mohren, Ulli Ermecke, Günter Hinkel, Meschede and Benno Rameil, Finnentrop. After a training course, Ewald Schüssler passed his flying instructor examination in 1956.

At the beginning of 1957, the LSV Meschede from the Fluggemeinschaft Rennefeld in order to fly on the reopened airfield at Schüren. The Fluggemeinschaft Rennefeld now consisted of the clubs Fredeburg and Schmallenberg.

Another important task for the flying community was the construction of a new hangar. The cost estimate for a 10 x 25 meter hangar amounted to DM 20,000. The city Schmallenberg approved a subsidy, the state of North Rhine-Westphalia

Westfalen also provided a large sum, while the rest was raised by the company itself. On September 29, 1957, the hangar was consecrated in church by Dean Rüsing from Wormbach took place. In the same year, a new winch was installed in an American Cadillac road cruiser by the company itself.

A VW Kübelwagen from the Second World War was purchased as a rope retrieval vehicle.
After 6 years of hard work, the assets of the flying community amounted to approx. 68,000 DM.
In 1958 the Fluggemeinschaft Rennefeld 25 years of flying in Schmallenberg. On this occasion, the memorial stone in honor of the Floigenkaspar was inaugurated at the old cemetery.

August Stockhausen received the Otto Lilienthal diploma in 1959, Georg Beckmann passed the examination as a gliding instructor, and the Fluggemeinschaft Rennefeld purchased a new Ka 7 two-seater glider.

In 1960, the flying community acquired a single-seater "Libelle" glider from the Lommatsch company in the former GDR. The seller was allegedly suspected of espionage and was arrested at Rennefeld by the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution.

In 1961, the Aero-Club Kahler-Asten was dissolved in Winterberg and joined the Remefeld flying club with its flying fleet (Gö 4, Ka 2b, winch and cable recovery vehicle).

With the approval of the airfield Rennefeld for powered flight, further prospects opened up for the club:

An Auster MK 5 motor plane, a three-seater high-wing aircraft, was purchased as a passenger and towing plane. Wemer Klens, Ewald Schüssler, Georg Beckmann, Dieter Siebert and Paul Stracke acquired their powered flight licenses. A control tower had to be erected for a better overview. In October 1963, Paul Stracke passed his exam as a gliding instructor. The flying community now had 3 gliding instructors at its disposal. In 1964, the Auster MK 5 motorized glider was replaced by a new Beagle Terrier. The flying club also built a new double drum winch. In 1965, the hangar was extended and a new Ka 8 glider was purchased. In 1968, Konrad Reimann passed his exam as a flight instructor and acquired the authorization for powered flight. At the airfield Schmallenberg Rennefeld an "International Astronomical Youth Camp" was held at the airfield in 1970. The participants came from the USA, Switzerland, Italy, Holland, England, Belgium, Spain, Tunisia and Germany. Organizer of the youth camp WElI`6l'l Werner Liesmann from Hundesossen and members of the flying community.
In 1971 the Fluggemeinschaft Rennefeld acquired a two-seater SF 25b motor glider. Several club members had already acquired their license for motor gliders the previous year. Ewald Schüßler and Paul Stracke passed their exams as instructors for motor gliders.

In order to get schoolchildren and young people interested in flying, a school flying club was set up with the grammar school. Schmallenberg and a new ASK 13 two-seater training glider was purchased.

In 1972, the club bought a new four-seater Jodel DR 300 tow plane and the Baegle Terrier was traded in.
In 1973 the Fluggemeinschaft Rennefeld joined the Flugplatz-GmbH Hochsauerland in 1973. The Flugplatz-GmbH Hochsauerland was founded in 1965 with the aim of creating an efficient Schmallenberg to create an efficient airfield in the region. The cities of Schmallenberg, Fredeburg and Winterberg as well as well-known local companies joined Flugplatz-GmbH as shareholders.
After the district president in Münster issued a decree on 26.6.1972 approving the expansion of the gliding site Rennefeld into a special airfield, Flugplatz-GmbH decided to carry out the expansion in January 1973. This project was only possible thanks to the foresight and support of all local politicians and the special efforts of our mayor Paul FALKE. A new lease was signed with the Catholic parish Wormbach a new lease was signed, and so the expansion began. The costs were borne by the state of North Rhine-Westfalen, the district Meschede and the Fluggemeinschaft Rennefeldthe latter in the form of personal contributions.
During the expansion in 1975, only limited flying was possible on the airfield Werden, with training taking place at the neighboring airfield in Schameder near Erndtebrück. After a good year of expansion, the flying community received official approval from the district president in Münster on 18.07.1975 to open the special landing field "Schmallenberg-Rennefeld".

The new airfield is approved for single and twin-engine airplanes up to 2000 kg, helicopters, motor gliders and gliders (aerotow and winch tow). The runway has a length of 800 x 30 m. with taxiway. The official inauguration took place on July 24 and 25, 1976 in conjunction with a "fly in" and a flight day. In the same year, the flying community bought a new ASW 19 glider with a transport trolley, which broke during an off-field landing during the gliding competition held for the first time at the Rennefeld airfield in 1977. Sauerland - gliding competition held at the airfield for the first time in 1977. 1978 New acquisition of a four-seater motorized Jodel DR 400 and a single-seater Astir glider.

1979 The transport committee of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia promised long-term funding to increase the efficiency and maintenance of the airfield. With this promise, an aircraft hangar measuring 40 x 20 m. with a forecourt and tank system (capacity 25,000 liters) was built. With the approval of the district president, the site was licensed for parachute jumps in 1983. The Fallschirmsport-Club Leverkusen e.V. came to Rennefeld as a guest club. As part of the safety measures, the field was extended by 100 meters to the east with the support of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia.
The old hangar was converted for training courses and events and a new training and recreation room was set up. In 1983 the Fluggemeinschaft Rennefeld celebrated its 50th anniversary.

A large anniversary event was held in the Hawerlandhalle Wormbach with guests from state, district and local politics, representatives of the Münster district government, high-ranking local business representatives and neighboring associations. The Vice President of the German Aero Club, Reinhold Krämer, awarded the "Otto Lilienthal" diploma to the Fluggemeinschaft Rennefeld the city Schmallenberg - Dieter Sieben and Paul Stracke. Ewald Schüssler received the golden badge of honor.

In the jubilee year, the 2nd gliding competition was held at Rennefeld. Sauerland-gliding competition was held for the second time at with 21 gliders and ended with a big flying day.

The club continued to develop steadily in the years that followed, as can be seen from its achievements, such as competitions, tests and investments.
On Monday, November 6, 1989, a smouldering fire destroyed around 80 percent of the club's aircraft fleet. Fluggemeinschaft Rennefeld was destroyed. Further damage was caused to the large hangar of Flugplatz-GmbH and a Cessna drop plane belonging to the skydiving club Iserlohn. The SF 25 motor glider and 2 gliders were totaled. A motor plane and a performance glider had to be overhauled at great expense. The total damage amounted to DM 270,000. All aircraft were insured at current value, which meant that the club had a financial shortfall of around DM 100,000.
After one year, thanks to generous donations from members and the support of the city, the association was able to Schmallenberg the association was able to achieve a financial endowment that made it possible to replace the original aircraft fleet. In the late summer of 1990, a new SF 25 C motor glider with the registration number D-KIOA was acquired. The new motor glider was presented at our airfield festival and blessed according to good old custom.
At the annual general meeting on February 2, 1991, the 1st chairman of the Fluggemeinschaft Rennefeld Ewald Schüssler announced his decision not to stand for re-election due to illness and to retire from the board. The meeting appointed him Honorary Chairman. Hans Zeumer from Fredeburg was elected as his successor. The construction of a new control tower with preparation room and office by Flugplatz-GmbH with funds from the state of North Rhine-Westphalia and the club's own contribution was started in 1992 and completed in 1993. On July 4, 1993, the tower was inaugurated in a ceremony and handed over for its intended purpose. Present were the mayor Belke-Grobe, city director Halbe, city treasurer Schrewe, representatives of the Düsseldorf government and the financial construction office Dortmund. The visitors were welcomed by the 1st Chairman of the Fluggemeinschaft Rennefeld Hans Zeumer and the Managing Director of Flugplatz-GmbH Dieter Neumann. It was a dignified and impressive ceremony when Pastor Kleffner from the neighboring club Attendom - long associated with flying at Rennefeld - blessed the new tower and said the Our Father.

On March 3, 1994, German Chancellor Helmut Kohl and NRW Minister of the Interior Schnoor landed a helicopter at Rennefeld to mark the 750th anniversary of the town. In the course of this anniversary, a historical parade took place on September 11, in which the Fluggemeinschaft Rennefeld took part with a "Floigenkaspar float". The jump by Floigenkaspar Alex Vollmert was one of the highlights of the parade. The flying community had the opportunity to purchase a new Jodel Regent DR 400 motorized plane. The financing was only possible through the favorable sale of the Jodel DR 400 engine purchased in 1978. The transfer of the new aircraft took place on 02.08.1994 by Dieter Siebert. Ewald Schüssler and the long-standing technical director Walter Bröker were honored as deserving members. Winterberg They were awarded the Silver Medal of Honor of the Aero Club.

On June 1, 1996, the control tower built in 1960 was demolished and a canteen extension was built on the site.

On 02.11.1997 our honorary chairman Ewald Schüssler passed away. Since the founding of the flying club in 1951, he had made a significant contribution to the establishment and development of the club through his tireless personal commitment.

At the Annual General Meeting on 11.03.2000, the 2nd Chairman of our association, Mr. Dieter Siebert, retired from the operational side of the business after more than 35 years on the Board. In recognition and appreciation of his services, he was awarded honorary membership and, as a token of gratitude, the "Floigenkaspar" emblem of the flying community in gold.

The same recognition and appreciation was also given to the long-standing technical manager Mr. Walter Bröker from Winterberg. The new 2nd chairman was Michael Dohle from Schmallenberg.
At an anniversary celebration on May 12/13, 2001, the club commemorated its re-founding after the Second World War.
Fellow pilots Albert Hoffmann and Franz-Josef Mönig used old photos and film clips to make a video film "Flugsport im Raum Schmallenberg" and presented it as part of the anniversary celebrations.
On July 1, 2001, the model flying group, which had been affiliated to the flying community since 1957 and had been flying very successfully in competitions for years, became independent. The new club is called Modell-Flieger-Club (MFC) Rennefeld e.V. and remains in friendly contact with the flying community.
At the beginning of October, a new ASK 21 training glider was purchased to replace the long-serving Ka 13, which had been so damaged during a hard landing that it was not worth repairing.
On October 12, 2002, the new ASK 21 was christened Hawerland. At the same time, the new double-drum winch with the latest technical know-how was presented to the public. The clergy of both denominations shared the dedication and speeches.
In the summer of 2003, our airfield was the backdrop for filming the WDR program "Klingendes NRW". With our Yodel Regent and Hans-Georg Gloth at the controls, the presenter of the program, Gisbert Baltus, was flown all over NRW.
In 2005, the Münster district government shortened our runway due to the eastbound flight. This is a massive restriction on flight operations and cannot be accepted in the long term. Talks have been held with Flugplatz-GmbH and the landowner (parish). However, as a lot of forest and therefore a lot of money is involved, a quick solution is not to be expected.

The Fluggemeinschaft Rennefeld has not been immune to the trend away from pure glider training towards microlight training. So the club reacted in 2005 and sold old gliders (LS 1 and the Ka 8), as well as the old winch.
A modern ultralight aircraft, a 2-seater Rans S 6 Coyote, was purchased in September. The club has 4 flight instructors (Frank Demelius, Paul Stracke, Konny Reimann and Alfred Schnüttgen) for this new type of flying.
The first woman to learn gliding at Rennefeld was able to look back on 50 years of club membership on 01.10.2005. Elisabeth Schauerte from Schmallenberg became fascinated by flying in 1955 at the age of 23, actively pursued this unusual hobby for a woman for 20 years and has worked for the club as treasurer since 1973.

On January 18, 2007, the storm Kyrill swept across the Sauerland and caused devastating damage around our airfield. However, Kyrill relieved us of a major worry, or rather - blew it away. The runway shortening ordered by the district government was reversed and we have the full length of the runway again.

Over the course of 2007, it became increasingly clear that we could no longer manage with one ultralight aircraft. In order to meet the great demand for UL training, the instructors ordered an ultralight class motor glider in December, a Sinus 912, which was delivered in June 2008.

In order to make the new purchase more realistic, the aircraft fleet was reduced by underutilized aircraft (the DR 300 powered aircraft, the DG 300 glider and the SF 25 powered glider).

In September 2008, the Fluggemeinschaft Rennefeld celebrated its 75th anniversary on Saturday the 27th with a "Fly and Drıve In" and Sunday the 28th with a family day.