Salomon Idler


Salomon Idler was a German shoemaker, who is best known for his attempt to become an aviation pioneer.

Biography

Idler was a shoemaker in Augsburg, who also had several other interests. He was also known as a poet and actor. He was married two times.
Idler dreamed of flying, and constructed a set of wings that he would ride while hanging suspended from his arms. He made one attempt at flying, originally planning on launching himself from the Perlachturm, a 70-meter tower in the center of Augsburg, but the clergyman was able to convince him to start at a lower level. In the attempt he was unable to control his descent, and fell onto a bridge. He survived, but four chickens under the bridge were killed when it collapsed.
After his abortive attempt, Idler became known as "der fliegende Schuster". A street near the University of Augsburg is named after him.
Idler's attempt is fictionalized in the novel Der Teufelsvogel des Solomon Idler by Peter Dempf.