Page 9 - Jahresrückblick_2021_web_engl

#fürfansvonfans 9

For me, impressive memories have Impressive for me was meeting many
developed during this time. astronauts from America, Russia and
Germany who looked at our world from
I met our founder Eberhard Layher and space and followed the invitations to
his family accidently in 1981 and learned Speyer not least by the excellent contacts
about the museum project. I felt very of our sponsor association member
enthusiastic about the idea and even more Gerhard Daum.
delighted when he asked me if I would
stand for election as 1st chairman of their I was especially pleased about the visit of the
association. After my election, Eberhard Buran’s sympathetic cosmonaut and test pilot
Layher gave me higher orders in exciting Igor Volk. He enhanced my sympathy for
explanations regarding my understanding him by accompanying our museum‘s trip to
of technology and automobiles. I like to Moscow in 2013 as a host to the cosmonauts‘
remember these enlightening conversations. mysterious training center, so-called Star
City. We arrived in front of high, closed gates,
During my time as a chairman of the but Igor Volk sitting at the front of our bus
friends‘ association, I had the privilege had them opened like magic doors. We
of accompanying some of our most experienced a reception there like state
impressive exhibits‘ transports. guests and were guided by the director in
person being allowed to take pictures of
During maneuvering the Tupolev through the everything.
Heilbronn industrial area, where it was really
a matter of centimeters, I literally held my
breath fascinated by the low-loader
drivers‘ precision.

The welcoming of the rescue cruiser John T.
Essberger at the landing point near to Speyer
Museum was a particularly emotional
moment for me as someone from the north
as well as being an active sailor, but also
because I was able to establish the first
contacts for the acquisition with the
Hamburg headquarters.

I was allowed to meet the largest towing
convoy with the Buran on board that ever
sailed up the Rhine on a ship. And what
a great reception the Speyer Museum gave
the Buran in the Space Hall. „Goose bumps“-
moments for me at an amazing laser show!

The basis

of the success of

the two museums:

a brilliant idea,
carried by enthusiasts.