What makes nature in Namibia so happy is not so pleasant for gliders. Bitterwasser lay under clouds for a whole day, with regular thunderstorms and rain showers. But the bad weather was to pay off. After a day to gather strength and rest, we got back to flying.
The result was impressive! A total of 9 gliders managed to fly over the 1000 kilometer mark on 25 November 2023.
Right at the front: young talent Eric Schneider and gliding legend Guy Bechthold. With 1210 kilometers covered, the two returned to Bitterwasser shortly before sunset.
And that's not all! Another 3 gliders covered more than 900 km and in some cases even came close to 1000.
So even a rainy day can be a good thing!
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.