Alpine Soaring

Namibia: Your Dream 1,000 km Flight Awaits

Experience the world’s most exhilarating soaring sky over the majestic Namib Desert. Full turnkey mentoring and glider support for your first African expedition.

Duration

1 week

Level

Licensed SPL Pilot

Certification

Turnkey Expedition & Mentoring

Course Overview

Bitterwasser is the ultimate Mecca for soaring pilots, renowned for thermal updrafts reaching +5 to +8 m/s and cloud bases topping 5,000 meters above sea level. Flying over the breath-taking red dunes of the Namib Desert offers a once-in-a-lifetime combination of extreme soaring performance and awe-inspiring landscapes.

Designed specifically for pilots embarking on their first African expedition, our turnkey package removes all operational friction. We eliminate the stress of local validation paperwork, complex desert meteorology, and unfamiliar radio communications. You focus purely on the joy of flying.

Guided by our experienced Alpine Soaring instructors, you’ll receive dedicated daily briefings, route planning assistance, and in-flight mentoring to safely push your personal distance records and earn your place along Bitterwasser's legendary Palm Avenue.

Course Syllabus

1

Arrival & African Safari Welcome

Comfortable transfer from Windhoek airport to the Bitterwasser Lodge, check-in, orientation, and welcome briefing under the starry Namibian night sky.

2

Local Site & Safety Checkout

Outfield and salt-pan landing procedures briefing, local airspace rules, satellite tracker setup, and a site checkout flight with your instructor.

3

Desert Meteorology & Task Planning

Daily deep-dive briefings on Namib convective weather, convergence lines, wave phenomena, and strategic task planning for maximum distance.

4

Guided Cross-Country Mentoring

Dual-flight coaching or lead-and-follow cross-country flying with an experienced instructor to build confidence in extreme desert thermals.

5

The 1,000 km Challenge & Record Flights

Dual high-speed long-distance flights along optimized turnpoints to break personal bests and target the coveted 1,000 km.

6

Flight Analysis & Celebration

Evening IGC file debriefs, thermal technique optimization, and traditional Palm Avenue celebrations for outstanding flight milestones.

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Requirements

  • Valid EASA Sailplane Pilot License (SPL)
  • Medical Class 2 or LAPL
  • Minimum 50 hours flight time as PIC
  • Desire for high-performance desert soaring

Investment

Turnkey package includes glider rental, instructor mentoring, and full logistical support: €8600. Contact us for custom dates and availability.

About the instructor

Yegor KanakhinFlight Instructor FI(S)