There is a big departure right after breakfast. It's like christmas eve when Michael Stolze brings the good news of good thermals in the morning.
The cumulus clouds are already forming directly over Bitterwasser, and the temperatures have risen sharply in recent days. A weather situation that is strenuous for pedestrians, but the glider pilots are more than happy.
There were already 20 gliders waiting in the Bitterwasser pan in the morning. The bases, some at 5100 meters, further enhanced the flying action of the last few days.
On 17.12.23, 11 gliders exceeded the 1000 km mark. Simon Briel, together with Wilfired Grosskinski, covered the longest distance with 1272 kilometers. They followed the cloud route from Gobabis all the way to Botswana. With an average speed of 158 km/h, they were on the road for 8 hours and 24 minutes.
And the next few days also look like they will have good thermals!
All gliders must be careful to give way to Santa's sleigh.
A stay at the Bitterwasser Lodge is usually beyond the financial means of young pilots. At the same time, the next generation is the key to the future of our wonderful sport—and of the lodge as well. That is why supporting young pilots is a core part of the Bitterwasser Flying Center’s mission.
Early October is the ideal time to prepare the runways for flight operations. You can land at the Bitterwasser Flying Lodge in every which direction—depending on how you look at it, on 8 runways (plus one emergency runway), each in two directions. Jeremias carefully levels the landing area over the course of several weeks.