Helmut Reichmann
Encyclopedia
Professor Dr. Helmut Reichmann (* 1941; † March 10, 1992) was a German glider pilot
, thrice Gliding World Champion
and co-founder, with millionaire Barron Hilton
, of the Barron Hilton Cup
. He was an arts teacher and a professor of industrial design in his native Saarbrücken
in Germany
.
Reichmann earned his glider pilot license
in 1958 and soon achieved prominence as one of the most successful and influential people in the history of gliding
:
Reichmann retired from contest flying after his third world championship, wishing to dedicate more time to flight instruction in cross-country and competition
soaring. He taught gliding at the Sports Studies Institute at the University of Saarbrücken, but eventually moved to its Faculty of Fine Arts where he taught experimental sculpture and design.
Reichmann was the author of two books on soaring:
Reichmann died in the French Alps
in 1992 when his Discus collided
with an LS4
flown by Lars Gölz. Reichmann had been leading four members of a German squad at the time.
Gliding
Gliding is a recreational activity and competitive air sport in which pilots fly unpowered aircraft known as gliders or sailplanes using naturally occurring currents of rising air in the atmosphere to remain airborne. The word soaring is also used for the sport.Gliding as a sport began in the 1920s...
, thrice Gliding World Champion
World Gliding Championships
The World Gliding Championships is a gliding competition held every two years or so by the FAI Gliding Commission. The dates are not always exactly two years apart, often because the contests are sometimes held in the summer in the Southern Hemisphere....
and co-founder, with millionaire Barron Hilton
Barron Hilton
William Barron Hilton I is an American business magnate, socialite, and hotel heir. He is the former co-chairman of the Hilton Hotels chain, and the original owner of the Los Angeles Chargers...
, of the Barron Hilton Cup
Barron Hilton Cup
The Barron Hilton Cup is a worldwide soaring contest, founded by Barron Hilton, Chairman of the Board and President of the Hilton Hotels Corporation, and the late Professor Helmut Reichmann in 1981. The BHC is also co-sponsored by the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company...
. He was an arts teacher and a professor of industrial design in his native Saarbrücken
Saarbrücken
Saarbrücken is the capital of the state of Saarland in Germany. The city is situated at the heart of a metropolitan area that borders on the west on Dillingen and to the north-east on Neunkirchen, where most of the people of the Saarland live....
in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
.
Reichmann earned his glider pilot license
Glider pilot license
In most countries one is required to obtain a glider pilot license or certificate before acting as pilot of a glider. The requirements vary from country to country....
in 1958 and soon achieved prominence as one of the most successful and influential people in the history of gliding
Gliding
Gliding is a recreational activity and competitive air sport in which pilots fly unpowered aircraft known as gliders or sailplanes using naturally occurring currents of rising air in the atmosphere to remain airborne. The word soaring is also used for the sport.Gliding as a sport began in the 1920s...
:
- 1965 German Junior Champion
- 1968, 1971 and 1973 German National Champion
- 1970 and 1974 World Champion in the Standard Class
- 1978 World Champion in the 15-Meter Class
- 1978 FAIFédération Aéronautique InternationaleThe Fédération Aéronautique Internationale is the world governing body for air sports and aeronautics and astronautics world records. Its head office is in Lausanne, Switzerland. This includes man-carrying aerospace vehicles from balloons to spacecraft, and unmanned aerial vehicles...
Lilienthal Gliding MedalLilienthal Gliding MedalLilienthal Gliding Medal – the highest soaring award in the world, established by Fédération Aéronautique Internationale in 1938 in honor of Otto Lilienthal, a German pioneer of human aviation. It aims "to reward a particularly remarkable performance in gliding, or eminent services to the sport of...
, the highest honor in soaringLift (soaring)Gliding flight is heavier-than-air flight without the use of thrust. It is employed by gliding animals and by aircraft such as gliders. The most common human application of gliding flight is in sport and recreation using aircraft designed for this purpose... - 1973 to 1992, German National Team Coach.
Reichmann retired from contest flying after his third world championship, wishing to dedicate more time to flight instruction in cross-country and competition
Gliding competitions
Some of the pilots in the sport of gliding take part in gliding competitions. These are usually racing competitions, but there are also aerobatic contests and on-line league tables.-History of competitions:...
soaring. He taught gliding at the Sports Studies Institute at the University of Saarbrücken, but eventually moved to its Faculty of Fine Arts where he taught experimental sculpture and design.
Reichmann was the author of two books on soaring:
- Streckensegelflug. Also available in English as Cross-Country Soaring and in Spanish as Vuelo Sin Motor - Técnicas Avanzadas. It is still a primary reference on soaring.
- Segelfliegen - Die praktische Ausbildung. Also available in English as Flying sailplanes - A Practical Training Manual and in Spanish as Vuelo Sin Motor - Enseñanza Practica. This provides more basic information.
Reichmann died in the French Alps
French Alps
The French Alps are those portions of the Alps mountain range which stand within France, located in the Rhône-Alpes and Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur regions....
in 1992 when his Discus collided
Mid-air collision
A mid-air collision is an aviation accident in which two or more aircraft come into contact during flight. Owing to the relatively high velocities involved and any subsequent impact on the ground or sea, very severe damage or the total destruction of at least one of the aircraft involved usually...
with an LS4
Rolladen-Schneider LS4
|-See also:-References:**Thomas F, Fundamentals of Sailplane Design, College Park Press, 1999*Simons M, Segelflugzeuge 1965-2000, Eqip, 2004*Brütting G, Die berühmtesten Segelflugzeuge, Motorbuch Verlag**German-language Wikipedia*...
flown by Lars Gölz. Reichmann had been leading four members of a German squad at the time.