Rolf Bödeker is probably the pilot with the most hours in the world as co on Arcus / EB28. But the division of labor between the crew is not quite as simple as this picture might give the impression. Rolf: “After two and a half hours the change takes place.“ The pilot not flying can by no means withdraw to the as a passenger. Flight management is his task, so the important clarification of where the turning points to be set during the flight. If you want to be fast in Namibia, you have to recognize the lines that make the fast flight possible and use them consistently. Reinhard: “It is important to create a barogram without any jagged edges.” It is nice to have six-meter thermals, but if you only get down in between, the big distances, the 1000 k and more cannot be realized. In any case, Reinhard and Rolf are well-rehearsed, they always play at the forefront in the race for the long distances – sometimes over short distances with particularly high cutting speeds.
The Bitterwasser Flying Lodge was the main sponsor of the Junior World Gliding Championships, where from August 2 to 17, 2026, around 80 pilots from 22 nations competed for the titles in the Standard and Club classes. The grand prize for the JWGC winners was a one-week stay at the lodge, including travel and an airplane.
Largely unnoticed by the public, the 5th Red Bull Global Aerial Performance Camp 2026 took place in Bitterwasser, Namibia, from April 21, 2026, to April 30, 2026.
A few videos and pictures on this page offer a glimpse of the athletes and their performances.