Helmut Cloth - Inventor of the CYPRES Automatic Activation Device

The 20 Minute Call - A Skydiving Podcast

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Helmut Cloth is a German engineer and entrepreneur whose groundbreaking contributions have forever changed skydiving safety. After taking up the sport in 1972, Helmut became an active participant in European relative work (RW) record attempts. But a tragic accident in 1986—when a close friend died without deploying either canopy—sparked a mission that would shape the future of parachuting.

Motivated to prevent similar losses, Helmut spent four and a half years researching and developing what would become the world’s most trusted Automatic Activation Device (AAD). After testing twelve prototypes, he introduced the first CYPRES (Cybernetic Parachute Release System) in 1991—a revolutionary tool that automatically deploys the reserve parachute under life-threatening conditions.

To bring this vision to life, Helmut founded Airtec GmbH & Co. KG Safety Systems in Bad Wünnenberg, Germany in 1990. His innovation set a new global standard in skydiving safety and has since been credited with saving thousands of lives. In recognition of his extraordinary impact, he was awarded the prestigious FAI Gold Medal in 1997.

Today, CYPRES remains a cornerstone of safety in the sport, and Helmut Cloth’s legacy continues to guide the evolution of parachuting equipment and protocols worldwide.

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