Wilhelm Düerkop

Wilhelm Düerkop (30 June 1928 – 29 September 2019) was a German glider and motor glider aerobatic pilot and promoter of glider aerobatics in Germany for many years. He is known by the nickname Salzmann (meaning "salt man" in German). This is because he was a pit foreman in a salt mine.

Personal life Wilhelm Düerkop was born in Halberstadt on 30 June 1928. He died on 29 September 2019, at the age of 91.

Motor glider aerobatics Together with his colleague Hannes Mattes, he performed synchronised motor glider acrobatics using a Fournier RF 4 and an RF 5 at many air shows, until Hannes Mattes died in 2004. Later, Wilhelm Düerkop joined the Skydance-Acro-Team and still performs motor glider aerobatics with an RF 4. but he especially helps as the tow pilot using his Piper PA-18 "D-ELUF". He has also volunteered at many glider aerobatics events.

Cirrus K The modification of a Standard Cirrus into a Cirrus K was initiated by Wilhelm Düerkop in the late 1980s. He still owns the prototype, while the second one is owned by his nephew Wolfgang Seitz.

An ASK 21 that is owned by the glider aerobatics club Fördervereins für Segelkunstflug im BWLV e.V. has been christened "Salzlore",

Salzmann-Cup Salzmann-Cups (2000 & 2001 Nagoldtal Cup) year location winner (since 2005 unlimited) 2000 Nagold ? 2001 Nagold Phillipp Hilker 2003 Babenhausen Hans-Georg Resch 2004 Nagold Michael Zistler 2005 Ziegenhain Wolfgang Kasper 2006 Donauwörth Markus Feyerabend 2008 Hornberg Hans-Georg Resch 2009 Michelstadt-Vielbrunn Klaus Kahler 2010 Kitzingen Wolfgang Schiek 2011 Hayingen Hans-Georg Resch

The German club championships in glider aerobatics are named Salzmann-Cup after Wilhelm "Salzmann" Düerkop. There are three classes in each competition: the sportsman class, the advanced class and the unlimited class. The Salzmann-Cup plays a similar role as state championships in Germany. In the unlimited category, it is a qualification contest for joining the national team. Since 2002, the club championships are organized at different German airfields each year on Corpus Christi day and the following weekend.