His highlight to date: “The 1,278-kilometer flight with the Ventus 3”. In a team flight together with Tobias Welsch, Manfred Dick and Alexander and Bernd Schmid, he first flew far into the Namib Desert. The second part of the route led along the edge of the weather developments to the border with South Africa, before heading back to Bitterwasser through the showery landscape in the evening. “It was not only challenging in terms of flying, but also the scenery was simply incredible!” says Benedikt.
The Bitterwasser Cup is aimed at all young glider pilots up to the age of 25. The flights must have taken off from an OLC Europe country, and the six best flights will be judged according to the OLC Plus rules. The winner of the Cup will receive exclusive coaching in Bitterwasser, including a free flight, accommodation and the opportunity to either use a glider from the lodge or have their own club glider transported to Namibia free of charge.
In early September, the containers holding the gliders for the 2026/27 season were loaded in Waghäusel. Transported by trailer, truck, and cargo ship, the gliders are now on their long journey to Namibia, to the Bitterwasser Flying Lodge.
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.