Knauff was the first glider pilot to fly 750 km and 1000 km triangle course flights in the United States, and was the first to fly 1000 km with a passenger. His 1,647 km (1,023 mi) out-and-return flight in 1983 was the world's longest glider flight at the time, stood as a world record for nearly 20 years, and is still a U.S. national record. He has set more than 50 other U.S. National soaring records.
His glider flight training manuals, Glider Basics from First Flight to Solo and Glider Basics from Solo to License are the most popular in the U.S., and he is still one of the most respected glider flight instructors in the world despite his death in February 2024. He was one of the few FAA designated pilot examiners authorized to issue initial flight instructor certificates.
^. Soaringmuseum.org. Archived from the original on 2006-10-08. Retrieved 2013-10-19.
^. W3.gwis.com. Archived from the original on 2008-08-06. Retrieved 2013-10-19.
April 09, 2024
thomas, knauff, thomas, knauff, 1938, february, 2024, american, writer, glider, pilot, flight, instructor, former, federal, aviation, administration, designated, pilot, examiner, member, soaring, hall, fame, early, pioneer, ridge, soaring, ridge, valley, appal. Thomas L Knauff 1938 February 21 2024 was an American writer glider pilot flight instructor former Federal Aviation Administration FAA Designated Pilot Examiner and a member of the U S Soaring Hall of Fame He was an early pioneer of ridge soaring in the Ridge and valley Appalachians in the 1960s ultimately setting five world records flying gliders there He was the stunt pilot in the 1999 film The Thomas Crown Affair 1 Thomas KnauffBorn1938 1938 DiedFebruary 21 2024 aged 85 OccupationWriterGlider pilotFlight instructorNationalityAmericanGenreNon fictionSubjectAviationKnauff was the first glider pilot to fly 750 km and 1000 km triangle course flights in the United States and was the first to fly 1000 km with a passenger His 1 647 km 1 023 mi out and return flight in 1983 was the world s longest glider flight at the time stood as a world record for nearly 20 years and is still a U S national record He has set more than 50 other U S National soaring records His glider flight training manuals Glider Basics from First Flight to Solo and Glider Basics from Solo to License are the most popular in the U S and he is still one of the most respected glider flight instructors in the world despite his death in February 2024 He was one of the few FAA designated pilot examiners authorized to issue initial flight instructor certificates Knauff lived near State College Pennsylvania with his wife Doris Grove another hall of fame glider pilot They owned and operated the Ridge Soaring Gliderport in Julian Pennsylvania which they founded in 1975 closed 2022 2 Knauff died on February 21 2024 at the age of 85 3 Contents 1 World glider records 2 Other flying accomplishments 3 Books 4 ReferencesWorld glider records editKnauff has set the following records 4 Single place glider Out and return distance 1 646 68 kilometres 1 023 20 mi 25 April 1983 Schempp Hirth Nimbus 3 Distance over a triangular course 1 362 68 kilometres 846 73 mi 2 May 1986 Schempp Hirth Nimbus 3 Free distance using up to 3 turn points 1 394 04 kilometres 866 22 mi 1 June 1993 Schempp Hirth Discus B Two place glider Out and return distance 829 7 kilometres 515 6 mi 7 April 1979 IAR IS 28B2 Lark Out and return distance 1 000 88 kilometres 621 92 mi 28 September 1981 Grob Twin Astir IIOther flying accomplishments editKnauff s other accomplishments include 5 Over 50 U S national gliding records World National gliding competitions Kronfield Challenge Cup 1991 First American Eaton Trophy with Doris Grove 2000 du Pont Trophy 1989 Stroukoff Trophy 1989 SSA Exceptional Achievement Award 1986 FAI 1000K Diploma 15 Int 31 1980Books editKnauff has written the following books 6 Accident Prevention Manual for Glider Flight Instructors with Doris Grove 2nd edition 1993 No ISBN Accident Prevention Manual for Glider Pilots with Doris Grove 1992 After Solo 1995 ISBN 99967 728 9 6 Cockpit Guide for Glider CFI s Glider Basics from First Flight to Solo 5th edition 1993 ISBN 0 9605676 3 1 Glider Basics from Solo to License edited by Allan Northcut and Norm Gilmore drawings by Robert Fitch 1st ed 1984 ISBN 0 9605676 2 3 Glider Emergency Procedures Glider Flight Instructor Manual 2001 Judgment Training Manual for Glider Pilots with Doris Grove 1985 OCLC 61776977 Judgment training manual for glider flight instructors 1986 OCLC 61776976 Off Field Landings 1993 Ridge Soaring the Bald Eagle Ridge 1987 The Bronze Badge Book Transition to Gliders A Flight Training Handbook for Power Pilots 2nd ed 1990 1984 ISBN 0 9605676 2 3References edit 1 Archived May 22 2011 at the Wayback Machine Grove Doris About the Author in Transition to Gliders A Flight Training Handbook for Power Pilots Death Notices StateCollege com Retrieved 2024 03 09 FAI Record File The Soaring Hall of Fame Alphabetical Listing Soaringmuseum org Archived from the original on 2006 10 08 Retrieved 2013 10 19 The rec aviation soaring bibliography FAQ version 1 04 W3 gwis com Archived from the original on 2008 08 06 Retrieved 2013 10 19 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Thomas Knauff amp oldid 1216538023, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
