Bitterwasser - the Place

Glider Pilots from all over the world come to Bitterwasser to chase records or to just enjoy great flying.

The largest group is German speaking, so it helps to speak this language. It took them a while but they managed to find a Canadian Flag.

Gliding started in the seventies here but it wasn't until the nineties when Bitterwasser became a well known Soaring Center.

A number of other Soaring Centers have developed over the past years. It's a busy sky on a good day.

The "airfield" is a large dry lake bed (pan), about 3km in diameter. The surface is very smooth and allows take offs and landings in every directions. The runways are only marked at the take-off end without any markers or limits on the sides, so one can always adjust the take-off direction to eliminate the crosswind component which is very helpful with open class gliders.
Compared to the size of the pan, the lodge and tie-down area (visible on the picture at the top edge of the pan) look tiny.

Click on the photo to enlarge and see the details. Gliders are tied down along the various rows of palm trees. It is tradition here to plant a palm tree for an exceptional soaring performance, such as a 1000km+ FAI diploma flight (declared).

Most Bitterwasser regulars own one of the bungalows which are built from local materials but modern and comfortable. They contain two large rooms, each with a bathroom and a shared kitchen. When not used by the owners, the units are rented to guests. This is unit 38a & b which I am sharing with a German pilot.

After flying the pilots congregate in the restaurant with inside/outside seating to swap stories.
A French - Namibian chef creates great meals.

Most of the pilots are German but there is also a significant French contingent as well as groups from Switzerland, Italy, Israel and even one US pilot.
The head waiter does a fabulous job announcing the dinner menu in English and the local Nama language which incorporates a number of tongue clicks. Never heard anything like it. My nephew Tom is learning a new sentence every day and uses it to the delight of the line crew and the kitchen staff.

A lovely pool makes the 35 - 40 degree days quite bearable on the ground.pt in immaculate shape with attractive landscaping.

The grounds are nicely landscaped and are kept in immaculate shape.

There is quite a bit of wildlife around. Fortunately not of the dangerous sort. This little hare tends to hang around my unit.

The little Springbock, about the size of a Whippet came right up to my window to  explore.
Sadly many of them starved during a severe drought a few years ago because they were unable to reach the greens in the trees like the larger animals.