Thomas Knauff

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Thomas L. Knauff (born 1938) is an American author, glider pilot, flight instructor, 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 1960's, ultimately setting five world records flying gliders there. He was the stunt pilot in the 1999 film The Thomas Crown Affair.[1]

Mr. 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 one of the most respected glider flight instructor's in the world. He is one of the few FAA designated pilot examiners who are authorized to issue initial flight instructor certificates. He is also currently training FAA operations inspectors in gliders under government contract.

Mr. Knauff currently lives near State College, Pennsylvania with his wife Doris Grove, another hall of fame glider pilot. They own and operate the Ridge Soaring Gliderport in Julian, Pennsylvania, which they founded in 1975.

Source: Trasition to Gliders: A Flight Training Handbook for Power Pilots, About the Author, by Doris Grove

1 World Glider Records
2 Other Flying Accomplishments
3 Books Authored
4 External links

[edit] World Glider Records

Single-place glider
- Out-and-return distance: 1,646.68 km, 25 April 1983, Schempp-Hirth Nimbus 3
- Distance over a triangular course: 1,362.68 km, 02 May 1986, Schempp-Hirth Nimbus 3
- Free distance using up to 3 turn points: 1,394.04 km, 01 June 1993, Schempp-Hirth Discus B

Two-place glider
- Out-and-return distance: 829.7 km, 07 April 1979, IAR IS-28B2 "Lark"
- Out-and-return distance: 1,000.88 km, 28 September 1981, Grob Twin Astir II

Source: Fédération Aéronautique Internationale [2]

[edit] Other Flying Accomplishments

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) 1980

Source: Soaring Hall of Fame [3]

[edit] Books Authored

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 9-9967728-9-6
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 0-9605676-3-2
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
Trasition to Gliders : A Flight Training Handbook for Power Pilots .2nd ed., 1990, 1984, ISBN 0-9605676-2-3