Wilhelm Düerkop

Wilhelm Düerkop was a German glider and motor glider aerobatic pilot who spent many years promoting glider aerobatics in Germany. Born in Halberstadt on 30 June 1928, he died on 29 September 2019 at the age of 91. He was known by the nickname Salzmann, meaning salt man, because he worked as a pit foreman in a salt mine. With his colleague Hannes Mattes he flew synchronised motor glider aerobatics at air shows in Fournier RF 4 and RF 5 aircraft until Mattes died in 2004, and later joined the Skydance Acro Team. He lent his own gliders to learners and competition pilots, towed gliders for aerobatic courses and led the modification of a Standard Cirrus into the Cirrus K. The German glider aerobatics club championships, the Salzmann-Cup, are named after him.