In total, Björn covered a distance of 1112 kilometers. After taking off early from the pan, Björn fought his way through the blue thermals to behind Veronica, where the first small clouds were waiting. The moderately good thermals, as described by the pilot, continued until the turning point at Gobabis. The clouds were there, but the thermal beards were difficult to hit.
On the approximately 450-kilometer route to the next turning point near Keetmanshoop, there were scattered showers, which made the whole thing even more difficult.
Shortly before the turning point, Björn gained height once again to be able to glide through the "blue hole" that was waiting behind Keetmanshoop.
Stronger updrafts were then found again at Brukkaros, which made the rest of the flight more relaxed. Even shortly before the last turning point, Björn was able to gain a lot of altitude and then enjoy a relaxed final approach towards Bitterwasser and the Palmallee.
On 30.12.23 Björn's 1000 kilometer palm tree was planted in a festive ceremony.
A successful end to the year for Björn and, of course, for Bitterwasser!
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.