Einheitsspindelbock Luftwaffe Jack Stands

General remarks

There were quite a few jacks being brought to service over the years. There are early designs and there are later designs and there is also the "Einheitsspindelbock", the standarized Luftwaffe item which could be ordered at the supply depot using a simple code of numbers.
We focused the Einheitsspindelbock (standard) which can be found on the Horten 229 production site and many other sites.

Saw horses or "Profilböcke" also saw wide use in aircraft maintenance scenarios at that time. They were used to accommodate wings or the fuselages, sometimes two placed parallel on the tail end and in many other ways.

We are in the process of making our references available for you right here on this website.

Gun Calibration

One very frequent reason for jacking up a fighting aircraft is of course gun calibration. For this purpose a gun calibration disk has been attached to the propeller hub. The aircraft has been jacked up and secured using lines. The calibrations have been performed with a running engine, so its crucial to have the plane stabile

Note the stoppers as well as the prop-pit. This entire set-up looks very much like a German home base.
Note the stoppers as well as the prop-pit. This entire set-up looks very much like a German home base.
Gun calibration under field conditions. Photo found by Miroslav Stehel.
Gun calibration under field conditions. Photo found by Miroslav Stehel.
Two jacks in the center, two in the rear. "Achtung! Feuer!"
Two jacks in the center, two in the rear. "Achtung! Feuer!"
Note the timbers beneath of the jacks. Obviously there were no large jacks around, so... they just made it happen.
Note the timbers beneath of the jacks. Obviously there were no large jacks around, so... they just made it happen.
Dont forget to secure the aircraft properly.
Dont forget to secure the aircraft properly.

Me-262 jacked up and vandalized (Waldwerke)

Please note the jack with the profile-attachement. 262s were jacked like that which also can bee read from the stencils on the fuselage. The profile was supposed to be used on a spot which was reinforced by internal framework. This spot was indicated by the famous "Hier aufbocken" stencil. A modification like this just takes a bit plastic sheet and maybe 20 minutes...

No. 1) The aircraft is resting on jacks while the starboard wing is supported by a hydraulic lifting device. These devices were used to mount and un-mount the engines.
No. 1) The aircraft is resting on jacks while the starboard wing is supported by a hydraulic lifting device. These devices were used to mount and un-mount the engines.
No.2) A couple of days later. Someone cam to the ingenious idea to take the lift away. The aircraft tipped over and is now resting on its starboard wing. The engine cowlings are visible in the foreground.
No.2) A couple of days later. Someone cam to the ingenious idea to take the lift away. The aircraft tipped over and is now resting on its starboard wing. The engine cowlings are visible in the foreground.
No.3) More visitors show interest in souveniers. One of the cowlings is missing.
No.3) More visitors show interest in souveniers. One of the cowlings is missing.

Please note the profile which has been added to the jack in the middle. The fuselages on 262s were jacked that way. There were stencils on the fuselage indicating where the jacks should be positioned to allow the fuselage resting on internal supports.

 

 

General knowledge for jacking -up aircraft

 

IMPORTANT: In order to prevent the aircraft from tippin over it´s nose after being lifted on its tail, the manuals dictate that you should weighten the tail with sand bags! Apparently there were versions of jacks which had like side-walls. These could have been filled with sand. These side walls are also something you can do very easy by using some plastic sheet. How this should look like is shown on the following image.

b.) Small Jack

c.) Large Jack

d.) A total of 240kg of weight has been added.

Profilböcke (Saw Horses)

Profilbock on a 229 production site. Note the specific wooden profiles, lacking any spilled paint.
Profilbock on a 229 production site. Note the specific wooden profiles, lacking any spilled paint.