Gliding is incomparable

leisure - Gliding is incomparable

The Gliding School at Wasserkuppe in the Rhön celebrates its 100th anniversary this year and claims to be the oldest in the world. "We are here at Wasserkuppe, the birthplace of gliding, and we are passionate about gliding," says school director Lukas Schmidt-Nentwig.

In this anniversary year, the school offers training sessions where gliding students and their glider pilots are pulled steeply into the sky at breakneck speed with a steel cable. "Starting with the winch is a little like riding a dragon," explains Schmidt-Nentwig. This start technique, which undoubtedly causes butterflies in the stomachs of some, saves both the environment and the wallets of aspiring female and male pilots, as glider pilots do not have to be lifted into the air with a motorized aircraft.

"It's fantastic, an amazing experience," gushes Dierk Althoff. The 61-year-old has already completed a good dozen starts and landings in the first three days of his course. "During my first winch start, I thought, 'Oh my goodness!' But that quickly turned into enjoyment, and you really enjoy gliding: it's unlike anything else."

The Pilots' Mountain in the tri-state area of Hesse, Bavaria, and Thuringia, as described by school director Schmidt-Nentwig, has a long history. Already in 1911, students from the southern Hessian city of Darmstadt laid the foundation for Wasserkuppe, the highest peak in Hesse, to become a mecca of glider sports, with their first attempts at gliding with glider aircraft on the treetop-free Wasserkuppe. "There's no more original way to fly," says the 33-year-old. "We learned to fly like birds, to use updrafts, and to stay in the air."

1. The Rhön region in Germany, known for the Wasserkuppe, has seen a significant increase in tourism due to the celebration of the Gliding School's 100th anniversary.
2. The commemoration of this milestone in Hesse has also highlighted the area's potential for leisure activities, attracting not only gliding enthusiasts but also those interested in air traffic.
3. In celebration of the Water Peak's anniversary, various events are planned, including exhibitions showcasing the evolution of gliding and its impact on Air traffic in Germany.
4. As the Gliding School approaches its centennial anniversary, the Thuringian, Hessian, and Bavarian governments have pledged their support, aiming to promote Rhön as a sustainable and enjoyable tourist destination.

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