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.
In early September, the containers holding the gliders for the 2026/27 season were loaded in Waghäusel. Transported by trailer, truck, and cargo ship, the gliders are now on their long journey to Namibia, to the Bitterwasser Flying Lodge.
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.