Hermann Geiger

See also: Geiger

Hermann Geiger was a pilot Suisse born the October 27th 1914 with Savièse, in Were worth, and deceased the August 26th 1966 with Sion. Called the pilot of the Glacier S or the eagle of Sion or the Saint Bernard stealing , Hermann Geiger was a pioneer of the mountain-rescue.

At the 15 years age, Hermann Geiger begins a training of mechanic in a garage of Sion. In parallel, it builds a sailplane and takes its first lessons of gliding. At the end of its training, it is engaged at the aerodrome of Bern where it can obtain its patents of gliding and engine. With beginning of the year 1940, it is found with Winterthour to follow there a formation of policeman. During its free times, it gives courses of vol. In 1946, it is of return to Sion where it is engaged as policeman then, in 1947, as guard of the commercial airport. He becomes instructor, then chief-pilot and finally chief of place.

He works towards from now on an end: to be posed in the the Alps. Two precursors, Switzerland François Durafour, in 1921, and it German ace of war Ernst Udet, in 1932, had tried without success the experiment of a landing on glacier. Hermann Geiger tames the mountain while starting by carrying out droppings. After having conceived a special system of opening of the compartment, it supplies the huts and feeds the wild animals blocked by the Neige S by releasing bundles of hay. The May 10th 1952, with the orders of Piper of 125 horses equipped with retractable skis, it is posed for the first time on the glacier of Kander. Its technique consisted in landing by going up the slope and, to set out again it launched its machine on the slope.

The July 16th 1953, it succeeds in posing its plane with 4370 meters of altitude, at the top of the glacier of the Mont Pink.

From 1957, it controls a Hélicoptère. In 1965, it founds, in company of Bruno Bagnoud, the Company of aviation Air Glaciers.

The August 26th 1966, a stupid accident on the track of the aerodrome of Sion puts an end to its career. Three days later, an huge crowd attends her funerals. One year after its death, a walk birthday brings together 1700 people.

In 1958, French Television carried out documentary on Hermann Geiger: " Pilot of the glaciers" who gained the Price of the Town of Venice at the Price Italia 1958. This film of Jean-Jacques Lagrange makes the history of the attempts at landing in mountain and watch Hermann Geiger in his various activities with its Piper Super Cub and its helicopter. The film can be viewed on the Web site of the French-speaking Switzerland Télévision

External bonds

'' Hermann Geiger '' a film of Jean-Jacques Lagrange

Video
: '' Hermann Geiger '' dies in 1966, a homage to see on the site of the files of the French-speaking Switzerland Télévision

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