Howard in his DG-300 cockpit (2004)
My sport/hobby is flying gliders (soaring) as a member of a German flying club.
I am a British Citizen from the North of England and started aviation with the construction and flying of radio-controlled model aircraft. My employment brought me to the city of Hamburg where I took up gliding in 1981 with the Luftsportverein Kreis Pinneberg e.V.
I gained my German glider pilot's license PPL/C in 1983 and the motorglider rating (PPL/B) in 1984. I have the Silver "C" badge and one diamond (300 km).
I am currently the club's "Segelflugreferent" and am also responsible for PR-work. Together with my wife Heike, I produce the club's newsletter "Der Thermikfuchs".
Since 1989 I am the proud owner of a D.G.300 Club Elan glider with the competition registration "HEM". I take part in the Deutsche Meisterschaft in Streckensegelflug DMSt. for the federal state of Schleswig-Holstein. To date my best completed flight was 413 kms around the city of Hamburg (1992). In May 2002 I attempted a 515 km flight on the Schwäbisch Alb (Southern Germany) and landed out after 488 kms. Better luck next time.
In addition to flying from our club's site at Uetersen airfield (West of Hamburg) I have flown a number of times from Oppingen-Au and Blaubeuren (both Schwäbisch Alb) and from Aboyne in Scotland.
I speak both the English and German languages.