Inauguration of the „Walter Eichhorn“ hangar at Siegerland airport

On 06.10.23, the new hangar H (“Walter Eichhorn hangar”) was ceremoniously inaugurated on the grounds of the Siegerland Airport (EDGS).

Walter Eichhorn should be a household name to most warbird enthusiasts: The former Lufthansa captain flew Lufthansa’s traditional aircraft, a Ju 52, for his employer. He professionalized civil parachuting in Germany (keyword “Walter’s Vögel”, translating to “Walter’s birds”), made a name for himself in the airshow scene together with his son Toni and their two T-6s (“Die Eichhörner”). Last but not least, he is the pilot who accumulated the most flying hours on the Messerschmitt Bf 109 after World War II.

Andreas Müller, District Administrator of the Siegen-Wittgenstein District

Back then, he was taught the associated theoretical knowledge by Erich “Bubi” Hartmann, one of the best-known and most successful German fighter pilots of the Second World War. Later, he flew various versions of the Bf 109 for different owners, including the Messerschmitt Foundation.

Walter Eichhorn has long had a close personal relationship with Siegerland Airport itself. Many of the aircraft he flew over the years were based here. So it was only natural for Georg Raab, managing director of Flying Legends GmbH and a flying comrade of Walter Eichhorn, to provide the impetus for naming the hangar and, once permission had been granted, to donate the lettering for the new name.

Michael Linke, author of “36.000 Stunden am Himmel. Die Geschichte von Walter Eichhorn und Toni Eichhorn”

Numerous guests attended the inauguration of the hangar, the naming of which remained a surprise for Walter Eichhorn himself until the very end: In addition to old and new friends and acquaintances, employees and supporters of Siegerland Airport, representatives from local politics and, among others, the former CEO of Airbus, who together with Walter Eichhorn is one of the Living Legends of Aviation, were also on hand.

Tom Enders, former CEO of Airbus and “Living Legend of Aviation”

After the festive part, the guests moved out of the hangar to the outside where, among other things, Walter Eichhorn’s “old” T-6 was waiting, which he had sold to the Flying Bulls after his active time at Airshows and whose current pilot, Raimund Riedmann, gave Walter a ride in “his” aircraft.

Raimund Riedmann and Walter Eichhorn with “Walter’s” old T-6

Georg Raab then gave a flight demonstration of the P-51 “Frances Dell”, allowing those present to experience first hand the sound of the Merlin engine and the iconic whistle of the Mustang during g-heavy maneuvers.

Georg Raab and P-51 “Frances Dell”

We consider ourselves fortunate to have played our part in a successful day and are pleased to have given the impetus to honor Walter Eichhorn, a one-of-a-kind pilot.