1938 Hanna Reitsch at Cleveland National Air Races – In Habicht Aerobatic Sailplane

This rare original September 3, 1938 press photograph captures Captain Hanna Reitsch, celebrated German aviatrix, seated in the cockpit of her DFS Habicht aerobatic sailplane at the Cleveland National Air Races. Reitsch’s confident smile and flight gear—leather helmet, goggles, and parachute harness—embody her fearless reputation as one of the world’s most skilled and daring glider pilots.

The DFS Habicht, meaning Hawk in German, was a high-performance aerobatic sailplane capable of extreme maneuvers. Designed in 1936 for the Berlin Olympic Games air display, it became synonymous with Reitsch’s remarkable demonstrations of precision aerobatics in unpowered flight.

This photograph, taken by Acme News Pictures, was issued to newspapers for coverage of the Cleveland Air Races, where Reitsch was a featured international attraction. Her appearance in the United States was part of a brief period of friendly aviation exchanges before the outbreak of WWII, after which she became a test pilot for the Luftwaffe.

Images of Reitsch from her American tour—especially at the Cleveland Air Races—are scarce, making this a standout piece for aviation history collectors.

📏 Details:

• Date: September 3, 1938

• Location: Cleveland, Ohio – National Air Races

• Photographer/Agency: Acme News Pictures

• Subject: Hanna Reitsch in DFS Habicht sailplane cockpit

• Size: Approx. 8" x 10"

• Condition: Excellent contrast and detail; light editorial markings on verso; original press caption attached

• Historical Note: Hanna Reitsch was one of the most famous female pilots in history, noted for her glider records, aerobatic performances, and groundbreaking test flights