The 2025/26 Bitterwasser season is coming to an end

Target of the trucks: the port of Walvis Bay and from there by ship to Germany. After the third container, the sideloader (the truck that places the containers on the flatbed trailers)  broke down and stopped working. At midnight, the last three containers left Bitterwasser. This marked the end of another impressive gliding season in Bitterwasser.

The past weeks were unusually green—Namibia experienced comparatively high levels of rainfall this year. Despite these special weather conditions, the season’s overall balance is remarkable. According to WeGlide, a total of 174 pilots launched from Bitterwasser Airfield. Flying was conducted with twelve different aircraft types, with the Schempp-Hirth Arcus M being used most frequently.

In total, 1,090 flights were completed, accumulating 7,224 flight hours. During these flights, a total distance of 837,140 kilometers was covered, at an average speed of 119 km/h. More than 300 flights longer than 1,000 km.

The season began as early as October 25, 2025, when Elmar Fischer and Reinhard Schramme took to the air for the first flight. Just five days later, on October 30, the second flight of the season already produced the first “1,000-kilometer flight.” The final flight of the season also belonged to Elmar Fischer, who took off one last time on January 27, 2026, together with Ekke Uhr.

The highest-scoring flight of the season was achieved by Tobias Welsche and Manfred Dick on December 4, 2025, earning 1,417 points.

The longest flight was completed by Simon Briel and Enrique Levin: on December 16, 2025, they covered 1,486 kilometers in exactly ten hours, at an average speed of more than 151 km/h.

The fastest 1,000-kilometer flight was flown by Nils Zitselsberger on November 26, 2025, as part of the 1,000-Kilometer Camp of the Wilfried Großkinsky Foundation. He completed 1,405 kilometers at an average speed of 166 km/h.

In addition, we are pleased to congratulate a total of 10 pilots on their Palms. Let us begin with the Palms awarded for a declared triangle over 1,250 kilometers. This achievement was accomplished by the following pilots:

1.    Max Schäfer & Klaus Reinhold, 11.11.25, Arcus M, 1,251 km FAI, 130 km/h
2.    Oliver Schwenk, 20.01.26, Arcus M, 1,251 km FAI, 140 km/h

We are also delighted that the following 8 pilots were able to plant a Palm, or will still do so in the coming season:

1.   Jan Schulz, 25.11.25, Ventus 3M, 1,003 km FAI, 120 km/h
2.   Carsten Freyer, 27.11.25, Arcus M, 1,002 km FAI, 127 km/h
3.    Nils Zitselsberger, 28.11.25, Ventus 3M, 1,001 km FAI, 131 km/h
4.    Nils Schlautmann, 25.12.26, Ventus 3M, 1,002 km FAI, 118 km/h
5.    Frank Fuchs, 19.01.26, ASH 31 Mi, 1,006 km FAI, 124 km/h
6.    Karol Müller, 20.01.26, Ventus 3M, 1,003 km FAI, 134 km/h
7.    Jaroslav Vancata, 21.01.26, Twin Shark, 1,004 km FAI, 133 km/h
8.    Florian Kraja, 21.01.26, Ventus 3M, 1,001 km FAI, 130 km/h

With these impressive achievements in mind, attention is already turning to the future:

The next season in Bitterwater begins at the end of October 2026.

Until then, we wish all pilots a season full of great flights and, above all, a safe and accident-free flying season in Europe and in the rest of the world.

We look forward to welcoming you back soon to the gliding paradise of Bitterwasser.

Departure oft he Containers with a sky full of love for glider pilots.