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So, it's finally starting again!
The 2025-2026 Bitterwasser season is just around the corner.
Thanks to Bernd Mangold, Thomas Strate, and the line boys led by Jeremias, almost all the planes were already set up when we arrived.
Since Reinhard Schramme had the time and inclination, we went on a nice, exciting little workshop flight on the first day.
. 376 km · Elmar Erik Fischer · Bitterwasser 28.10.2025
The second flight went west, where a line promised fast cuts over two hours.
Unfortunately, the attempt to reach over 200 km/h in the speed rating failed at just under 185 km/h, although the hourly average was 220 km/h at one point. However, we did break the 1000 km mark!
It was an exciting flight with spreading clouds at the beginning, followed by beautiful lines, showers and thunderstorms, a rapidly falling base and, finally, convergence.
1.012 km · Reinhard Schramme · Bitterwasser 30.10.2025
The forecast for the third day promised another line, but this time to the southwest.
Under well-formed clouds, the route first took us against the wind to the northwest.
This was followed by a long tailwind leg.
Unfortunately, a small break in the clouds prevented us from reaching the magical 200 km/h mark.
However, at 190 km/h, we were a little closer.
In the evening, the sea breeze pushed in from the west and cleared the good cloud cover in front of it.
. 904 km · Reinhard Schramme · Bitterwasser 31.10.2025
All in all, it was a worthy welcome to the weather in Namibia, which left us wanting more!
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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.