Helmut Reichmann


Helmut Reichmann was a German glider pilot, thrice World Gliding Champion, and co-founder, along 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 competitive 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 he eventually moved to the university's 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, who was also killed. Reichmann had been leading four members of a German squad at the time.