Heinz Huth (glider pilot)

Heinz Huth, 1963

Heinz Huth (born December 5, 1908 in Hamburg ; † September 20, 1996 there ) was a German glider pilot and 1960 and 1963 world champion in the standard class.

Career

Huth began gliding in 1928 . He learned the trade of mechanical engineer. In 1936 he became a professional pilot. During the Second World War he flew in a weather reconnaissance team . After the war, Huth became an air traffic control inspector at Hamburg 's Fuhlsbüttel Airport .

During his first participation in a world championship in 1958 in Leszno / Poland , Huth was third in the standard class. Ernst Günter Haase became the first German to become world champion in the open class after the war.

At the 8th gliding championship in Cologne-Butzweilerhof he was able to prevail against the international competition and became world champion in the standard class.

At the next World Cup in Argentina , Huth flew strictly according to the speed-to- fly tables . These improved tables, which he created for his Ka 6 CR "Alte Liebe", also improved his flying style. In 1963 he became the first glider pilot to defend a world title. This procedure should also bring him the title of German master six times.

Huth already used a team to prepare for the competition, often including his wife Helene, called Taube . It provided him with current weather data and always ensured that the machine had a high surface quality. His above-average knowledge of weather developments also made him a respectable competitor into old age. His successes contributed significantly to the success of the Schleicher Ka 6.

At the 1965 World Cup, Huth came in 14th.

At the World Championships in 1968 he flew in 4th place in the open class with an ASW 12 .

Web links

• Victory in the elevator . In: Der Spiegel , June 9, 1965.
• Heinz Huth in the Munzinger archive ( beginning of article freely accessible)