The 2025/26 Bitterwasser season is coming to an end
At around 2 p.m. on Tuesday, January 27, 2026, the first truck carrying one of our seven containers set off. This marked the end of another impressive gliding season in Bitterwasser.
Gerhard and Astrid had flown a little too far south in the strong northwest wind (50 km/h) and noticed on the return flight that the thermals were breaking down. So the decision, still at higher altitude, the engine out and climb with engine on final approach altitude, for about 78 km final approach. After about 2 minutes, however, the engine then went on strike. So engine in and land in the pan, which had been selected as alternate before. So there was still enough time to radio the intention. After the landing Bitterwasser had no more contact with the two. After a short time, however, fortunately an "OK, we're fine." message via the SPOT emergency and tracking system. That reassured for the time being.
The two, quite correctly, took their SPOT with them when they tried to walk to a farm three kilometers away. This could be tracked in the flight office in Bitterwasser.
Unfortunately, the farm was locked and no one was there. So they could not make a phone call. So they went back to the plane and waited there for help.
In Bitterwasser a team was sent to pick them up and bring them back to Bitterwasser. At 00:30, everyone was back in Bitterwasser. However, the plane was still outside.
The next morning a team with a universal trailer drove off to recover the airplane. In the evening they were back as well. The following day, they set up and started troubleshooting the engine.
At around 2 p.m. on Tuesday, January 27, 2026, the first truck carrying one of our seven containers set off. This marked the end of another impressive gliding season in Bitterwasser.
In Europe Christmas is usually associated with cold temperatures, early sunsets and, in the best case scenario, snow. In Bitterwasser, the world looks very different.