ARGENTINA

• TEAM CAPTAIN : Prieto Jose Luis TUGORES
Age : 47
Home town : BUENOS AIRES
Profession : Industrial Manager
Started gliding in 1969
Gliding hours : 1200
He participated in 8 NATs and 12 regional contests. He was crew in the last World Gliding Championships in New-Zealand.

• PILOT : Carlos SCHMITT (standard class)
Age : 58. Carlos'father a German immigrant, founded a water pump factory and Carlos, is now Director. Graduated as a physician at the Medical Sciences University.
Began flying power in 1963 and qualified for his gliding licence in 1972. Gliding instructor since 1978. Has competed in numerous Nationals.

AUSTRALIA

• TEAM CAPTAIN : Beryl HARTLEY
Beryl started flying in 1965 when she met and married John Rowe. Her son Mark and husband of 14 years Arnie are both competition pilots. Actively involved in gliding from her local club Narromine Australia and in the Gliding Federation of Australia. She is a partner in an avionics business in Narromine, Airborne Avionics with her husband.

• PILOT : Bruce TAYLOR (standard class)
Soloed in 1984, the same month that he was married since when, has spent every available minute in the air. Has three children who will all be in SAINT-AUBAN for WGC 97. In fact, has taken the opportunity to live in France for seven months this year - to learn more about the Alps. Flown in the last three World Championships, albeit without much distinction. In between times, managed two Australian National Championship wins and two seconds in the Standard class. Flying an LS8 and have the good fortune to have a gliding club on his own farm in NSW, which is on the right hand side of Australia.

• PILOT : John BUCHANAN (standard class)
John Buchanan has represented Australia in world championships for nearly 20 years. He has recently sold his successful fiberglass manufacturing business and is spending more and more time with his chosen sport. John and his wife Pam both come from gliding families and have been involved in gliding in Australia since their teenage years. They now live in Toowoomba, Queensland and are active members of the local gliding club.

• PILOT : Ingo RENNER (Open class)
Ingo Renner leads the team to St Auban as the most successful Australian soaring pilot of all time. Ingo has won the world championships 4 times along with numerous national competitions in many countries. Ingo is a true soaring pilot who works full time in teaching soaring techniques to pilots in Australia, Germany, Italy and Spain each year. In his spare time he flies with his wife Judy in an old two-seater Kookaburra glider from his home airport in Tocumwal, Australia.
With 25.350 hours Ingo truly lives much of his life in the air.

• PILOT : David JANSEN (15 m class)
David Jansen is a Qantas first officer and resides in Sidney. He grew up in Narromine which is a world famous gliding site in New South Wales. David is still an active member of the local Narromine club where he went solo at 16 years of age. After leaving the local school, he entered the Australian Air Force before joining Qantas.

AUSTRIA

• TEAM CAPTAIN : Georg DEGASPERI
Georg Degasperi was born 1955 in Vienna. He started his flying career in 1972. In 1978 his passion for flying became profession. Since 1987 George is flying as Captain and Flight Instructor for Tyrolean Airways, a partner of Austrian Airlines.
Meanwhile he logged more than 15.000 flying hours, including about 1.000 hours in gliders
As Crewmember and Teamcoach he assisted the Austrian team during the WGCs in Sweden and New Zealand.
Georgs answer to the question about his gliding career : A very long time ago I was twice Lower Bavarian Champion...out of eight participants in total. It was real tough flying these days...

• PILOT : Guido ACHLEITNER (standard class)
Beginning gliding at 16, had already achieved 3 Diamonds a year later ! his father but for the WGC, his club (LSV Zell am See) has put an ASW-24 at his disposal.Competed in Junior European Championships in 1989 and 1993 in France and while training for the 1995 WGC in New Zealand, set a new Austrian national height record of 11,200mNN. Forced to withdraw while in 6th. place after outlanding damage to his glider on Day 6. Greatest triumph so far : Junior European Champion in Leszno, Poland, 1995 which qualified him for SAINT-AUBAN this year. Usually flies a Kestrel 17, shared with

• PILOT : Wolfgang FALKENSAMMER (15 m class)
Gliding licence achieved June 1975 and third Diamond in 1986. Third places in pre-Worlds at Wiener Neustadt and the Coupe du Monde de Vol a Voile en Montagne, 1988. Two wins in Austria in 1990 and then flew Uvalde, Texas WGC in 1991. In 1994, took silver in the Coupe Mondiale. Has 2400 hours in gliders.

• PILOT : Reinhard HAGGENMULLER (Open class)
Glider pilot since 1963 and power since 1967, since when ,Director and instructor at the St. Johann T. Airfield. 7000 gliding hours and around 1600 power in a total of 27,000 take-offs ! Austrian National Team since 1974 and 10 times State Champion in gliding disciplines. 6th ; in Rieti and 4th ; at Wiener Neustadt WGC,s. Team Bronze Medallist in the World Glider Aerobatics Championships. SAINT-AUBAN is his 10th. WGC.

• PILOT : Heinz HAMMERLE (standard class)
3500 gliding hours since 1961 and a WGC competitor since 1980 at 6 events, best result: 5th. in 1989 in Wiener Neustadt. Achieved Austria's first Standard Class 1000km. flight and has been national champion numerous times. Mountain soaring is his favourite kind of flying.

• PILOT : Peter HARTMANN (standard class)
Started out in aerodynamics at the tender age.of 8 building aeromodels.After many false starts, really got into gliding in 1980. Went into aerobatics 2 years later and entered national and world class contests and later EGCs as well as national contests. Flies professionally for Tyrolean Airways like team manager Georg and has 1800 gliding/5800power hours.

• PILOT : Karl RABEDER (15 m class)
After 2 years of flying over flat country, Karl discovered mountain soaring in 1980 south of his home in Linz and gained his Gold badge in an L-Spatz.First competed in Hockenheim, Germany in 1990. but the experience was marred by awful weather and rescued only by the interesting people he met. Entered Austrian Nationals the same year and has since pursued his passion for mountain flying at home, in Switzerland, France and New Zealand .with the support of his "best possible crew", wife Irene.

BELGIUM

• TEAM CAPTAIN :
• PILOT : Paul BOURGARD (Open Class)
Aged 65 and a company manager, with close to 5000 gliding hours and a 1000km. in his log-book. Has competed in 9 World Championships, one of them in a motor-glider, in which he won silver. Has also competed 8 times in European Championships with 4th ; (Vinon) and 6th ; (Leszno). Has twice been National Champion in Standard Class (1990 & 1992) and once in Open Class (1982).

• PILOT : José JAIME (standard class)
Born in Malaga, Spain, in 1955 and moved to Belgium after studies in electronics and information technology to work for BELGACOM. Flies with Royal Vervier Aviation and has logged 3300 hours in gliders. Enters this WGC as 1997 Belgian National Standard Class Champion. Competed .at Borlange and the Mountain Cup in Vinon as well as Belgian National and European Championships.

• PILOT : Paul JANSSENS (15 m class)
At 14, followed his father into gliding and has since flown 4500 hours, 2600 of them in gliders.Trained as a fighter pilot with the Belgian Air Force, he flew SIAI Marchetti and Alpha-Jets before joining DHL-Europe on Convair 580s, mostly on night runs. Later obtained ATPL in the Netherlands and now flies for KLM Royal Dutch Airlines.Makes and exports worldwide, kits for his PSS models.

• PILOT : Patrick STOUFFS (15 m class)
An IGC vice-president, Patrick has flown 4000 hours, including 1000 in mountains since beginning gliding in 1972, representing Belgium in 5 European Championships and two previous WGCs. Is a former Belgian National Champion and has just become 1997 vice-Champion in Standard Class. Runs the family building firm and has three flying-mad sons who will be in SAINT-AUBAN to cheer him on.

CANADA

• TEAM CAPTAIN : Christine FUTTER
Memorable moments!
Doing a first training spin in an open cockpit glider and feeling really close to the elements - maybe why I never willingly spin a glider; doing a first solo off a winch with a cable break half way up; having a cable detach from the rudder pedal in flight and making the approach and landing, pulling forwards on the rudder cable and backwards on the air brakes with the otherwise unoccupied left hand (try it some time!) - and resolving to make no more jokes about parachutes just being for cushions; and all the everyday 'top moments' our sport gives to pilots.

• PILOT : Dominique BONNIERE (standard Class)
An electronics engineer by profession working in the satellite communication field.
Started gliding in 1978 when a member of the Armed Forces stationed in Cold Lake, Alberta. Bought first glider, a Pik20B in 1984 and competed in first Canadian National Contest in that same year. Has competed at the national level every year since then. Completed Diamond Badge in 1990. Moved up to an ASW20 in 1991. Became Canadian 15 m champion in 1996. Other interests in soaring involved developing affordable glider instrumentation. With a partner, built variometers/final-glide computers which are marketed in Canada under the brand name, Skytronics. Later built GNSS recorder.

CZECH REPUBLIC

• TEAM CAPTAIN : Vach JAROSLAV

Born 1943 year. Team manager and capitain of the Czech Gliding Team. First flight in 1958, when he was 14 years old. Three years was in National Team from year 1971. He is a holder Czech record in o/r 300 kms. There is a National Coach and simultaneosly professional coach of the Flying Sport Centre of the Czech Aero Club at Moravska Trebova from 1975 year. There is a delegate in IGC - FAI gliding commission for the Czech Republic for a long time. From 1976 at Rayskala, Finland  makes a Team Manager´s job for the Czech Team, both men and women. Saint Auban is his 6th Worlds. In present time is a coach of Flying Sport Centre for the part time job only for the spring and summer season. There is a dealer of the Schempp Hirth GmbH for the Czech Republic and Eastern European countries and also a dealer Filser Electronic GmbH..

• PILOT : Milos DEDERA (15 m class)

Born 1956. Czech gliding pilot No:1. First flight  at Jihlava Aero Club in 1971. On these place will be the Open International European Club Class Championships 1998 next year. Milos DEDERA won his first Nationals in Nitra 1977 , in his only 21 age, and he nominated himself    to the Czech National Gliding Team. There is a holder of  the 4 Czech records, three times is the National Champion, European Club Class Champion  at Ahlberg, Denmark, in 1989 year, the  winner of the Tour Lilienthal in the  Standard Class, in  Berlin, Germany 1991 year. He participated on five Words [Italy 1995, Austria 1989, USA 1991, Sweden 1993 and New Zealand 1995]. On the last Europeans FAI in Rayskala 1996 year  finished  2nd and took silver medail in 15 m class just after Germanies pilot Michal Grund. Here, at Saint Auban´s Words  he flyes the glider VENTUS C, reg. No.  OK-2530, contest sign LF.
 

• PILOT : Petr KREJCIRIK (15 m class)

Born 1960 year. First flight  at Hranice Aero Club in 1978. There is a Director Manager of the Hranice Aero Club. The member of the  National Gliding Team is from 1993 year. First International experience on European Club Clas Championships at Dubnica in Slovakia 1994. His first big contest was FAI European Championships 1996 at Rayskala, Finland the last year, where was the 8th in 15 m Class. Here, at Saint Auban is his first World Championships. He flyes old VENTUS B, reg. No. OK-5512, contest sign ZV.

• PILOT : Pavel LOUZECKY (standard class)

Born 1957 year, first flight at Pribyslav Aero Club in 1974 year. Czech National Champion at Jihlava Nationals in 1994. His first international experiance was also European Club Class Championships 1994 at Dubnica, Slovakia. At Rayskala, Finland last year on Europeans FAI 1996, flew Discus CS in Standard Class, unfortunately, his placing was not so good like his ambitions. He payed the newcomer fee and he was 29th. A long time he solved the problem to participate or not on the World at Saint Auban, because did nor received any finance support from the goverment. Just one week before the practice week he decided that will go and get own money to contest. There was also the reason, why he has been arrived just one day before the beginning of the Worlds. Pavel is the owner small company [2 people], which assembly a roofs for the houses. He flyes the  glider DISCUS CS, reg. No. OK- 0370, contest sign CE at Saint Auban.

DENMARK

• TEAM CAPTAIN : Edvin THOMSEN
52. First flew in a glider at 30. Terrified ! Tried again and now has 2600 hours, with first mountain experience in Wiener Neustadt during the Worlds there. Successful Nationals pilot since 1978,with one win and numerous seconds behind Jan Andersen. 4 EGCs and 3 WGCs. Holds 3 national records. Following 6 years board membership as advisor to Danish Soaring Association, is, since 1996, national coach and administration chief.

• PILOT : Jan ANDERSEN (Open class)
Jan, who is 38 and married to Ellen with three small boys, is the Head of Treasury for a Copenhagen bank which he joined in the same year as he qualified as a glider pilot, 1976. Only a year later, he won his first contest-Club Class in the Danish National Championships and first flew internationally in 1979 at the European Club Class Championships in Sweden.

• PILOT : Knud ANDERSEN (15 m class)
Professional engineer aged 41. 2100 gliding hours and 60,000kms.3rd. in 1997 Nationals.Competed Wiener Neustadt and 1992 European Championships.

• PILOT : Henrik BREIDHAL (Open class)
31 years old and 16 years a glider pilot. Has won Danish Nationals and Nordic Junior Championships helped by crew member Martin, in shorts only whatever the weather !

• PILOT : Lars THERNHOLT (standard class)
A talented young pilot of 24, debuting in world competition this time. Junior European Champion 1993. Danish Junior Champion and 3rd ; in Nationals. Flying the family LS8 with brother Nils crewing.

FINLAND

• TEAM CAPTAIN : Hannu HALONEN
Crew member at WGC 81 Paderborn, team manager at European Club Class Championships 84 Bled and WGC 95 Omarama, Deputy Director of EGC 96 Rayskala.
Some top moments while crossing the finish line in National Competitions sometimes.

• PILOT : Markku KUITTINEN (standard class)
Twice World Champion in 1987 at Benalla and 1995 at Omarama...

• PILOT : Asko PANKA (standard class)

FRANCE

• TEAM CAPTAIN : Anthony ROE
Tony, fou du foot;-)

• PILOT : Jean Denis BARROIS (standard class)
Jean Denis Barrois, the TIMID PLAYBOY. He is young (29 years), is good looking and talented (winner of the pre-worlds 96 and second in the European Club Class Championships in 1994). All by himself, he is as successful with groupies as an entire pop group. This popularity has not gone to his head. This pilot is quiet, calm and very mature.

• PILOT : Jean Marc CAILLARD (standard class)
Jean Marc Caillard, known as CHACHA. He dropped naturally into soaring while still quite small. Coming from a soaring family, he grew up at Dole-Tavaux in the Jura, where his father Jean Claude formed a trio with Gabriel Chenevoy and Pierre Pellier, all of whom spent their whole lives in the developement of soaring. He follows in the footsteps of his famous cousin, Jacques Aboulin who has often distinguished himself in international competitions. With such a background, it is not surprising that he has already produced brilliant results, both national and international.

• PILOT : Gilbert GERBAUD (Open class)
Gilbert Gerbaud, known as SPEEDY, a bird in a previous life, talented from the very beginning. He soon outclassed his instructors. World champion in Sweden, he is an outstanding pilot from every point of view. His busy professional life leaves him with little leisure time, but he can show his great talent, even without much practice.

• PILOT : Didier HAUSS (Open class)
Didier Hauss, the PRO, talent and genious supported by rigour and experience. Exceptional mountain experience, winner many times at Vinon, in a word, a real pro. Airline pilot, ex-instructor at SAINT-AUBAN. Having flown in close cooperation with Jacques Aboulin, World Champion in 1989 in Austria, he now has the maturity to be quoted as a favourite.

• PILOT : Regis KUNTZ (15 m class)
Regis Kuntz, the HURRICANE. Dynamic, always pressing on, generous, he has a wide fuselage Ventus B with which to express these qualities. Although this is his first world championship, he has mountain experience. Accustomed to winning regulary at the Vinon competition, we can count on him to inspire a team already so talented.

• PILOT : Gérard LHERM (Open class)
Gérard Lherm, "gégé", the ascetic of the air, patience and perseverance are worth more than strength and violence. Uncontested specialist of wave flying, his experience of international competition goes back a long way; with consistently brilliant results, he is a familiar with all the steps of the podium. His last one was the top step of the pre-world 96. He won the first European Championships at Vinon in 1984.

• PILOT : Jean-Claude LOPITAUX (standard class)
Jean-Claude Lopitaux, the FLYING FOX. World champion at Wiener-Neustadt in 1989, second in the pre-world 96, these results come from long years of experience gained as a young wren perched on the wing of an old eagle; hard work has gained him the talents of a golden eagle, able to seize opportunities leading to victory.

• PILOT : Eric NAPOLEON (15 m class)
Eric Napoleon, known as NAPO. Obviously, with such a name he was destined to be an emperor. Winner at both the last two world championships in Sweden and New Zealand. His energy is contagious. It shows in the way he leads the Pôle Franceteam at SAINT-AUBAN, where he is chief pilot. His piercing blue eyes seem to indicate that he knows where he is going, and nothing is going to stop him. Even the road to Saint-Aubanthrough the Alpscarries his name! In a word, character and talent.

• PILOT : Gilles NAVAS (15 m class)
Gilles Navas, GILLOU, the genie of wind and cloud. All forms of flight and their challenges, everything we think extraordinary, is ordinary stuff to him. Part of his mind is always in the air like any extra-terrestrial being. That's what you call passion. Third in the last World's at Omarama.

GERMANY

• TEAM CAPTAIN : Holger BACK
Age 40. Holger learned to glide when he was 14 years old and since 1977 has reglarly taken part in the german Championships.
Holger is himself an experienced pilot in international competition.
WGC 87 : 2nd, WGC 91 : 2nd, Pre-world 96 : 2nd, and other 2nd places !

• PILOT : Michael GRUND (15M.Class)
Unmarried computer science researcher. gliding since 1984. 1989 ¨sport soldier¨in Rainer Wienzeck's group. German junior team 1989-1994 and German National Team '94 -'98. Has won German Motorglider comps. 1989 &1991; German Junior Nationals ; 2 German Nationals '94 & '96; European Championships 1996. 7th. in Omarama. Mountain experience includes French Alps, N. and E. Alps, Rieti & N.Z.

• PILOT : Werner MEUSER (15 m class)
45 y.o. television specialist considered one of Germany's most talented competition pilots.Competed, 1974, German Junior Championships after only 2 years in the sport. Nationals pilot since 1980 and has flown 3 European & 2 World Championships, finishing 2nd. in Rieti in 1994. Also flies power with 3500+hrs. in the cockpit

• PILOT : Robert SCHRÖDER (Open class)
Born 1965. Professional pilot flying Airbus 340 for Deutsche Lufthansa and married with 3 small children..First competed in the Alps in 1984. German Standard Class National Champion 1984 & 1986.Twice competed in WGCs, finishing 3rd. in Open Class in Omarama. 2500 gliding hours of which, half in mountains.

• PILOT : Uli SCHWENK (Open class)
A textile businessman of 37 who has 3 children and enjoys biking. 22 years a glider pilot. Completed 1000km. flight in Tocumwal, Australia 1987. 1992 and 1996 German National Champion, Open Class. First WGC, Borlange 1993. Vice-Champion Open Class in Omarama 1995 after a thrillingly close contest to the end. Distinguished by his infectious energy and mighty laugh.

• PILOT : Gerd SPIEGELBERG (standard class)
47. 3 teenage children.Graduate engineer working for a cargo-trailer company and gliding instructor with.3500+ gliding hours, including one out-landing crash. Competed nationally since 1979 and National Team Member from 1987, becoming National Champion 1991. Enjoys the annual Decentral Competition in Germany and has achieved a flight of 889KM.(1990) and a 3rd. in the Barron Hilton Cup. Is excited about qualifying for SAINT-AUBAN, his first international contest.

• PILOT : Martin THEISINGER (15 m class)
Encouraged by his father from an early age, began gliding at 14 and soloed after only 26 winch launches. Qualified for his first nationals while at university studying sport and physics. Later studied "Glider Sciences" under the late Prof. Helmut Reichmann and became an instructor in the Akaflieg-Saarbrucken and advanced trainer for X-country flying with the German Aeroclub. 5th. ; in the 1993 WGC in Sweden. He has flown many hours locally from Barcellonette and, luckily for his team-mates, is fluent in French.

• PILOT : Claus TRIEBEL (standard class)
A dentist by profession and devoted to his family , wife Judith , Alexandra (3) and Serena (4). Opened competition career with less than 80 hours, in the 1976 German Junior Championships. Completed Diamond Badge in his K6 in 1977. Competed in 3 European Club Class Championships before qualifying for Uvaldeand then came 3rd. in the Hungarian European Championships of 1992. Won Hahnweide Standard Class (1984) and Hockenheim 15M. (1986). Instructor and president at his home club, near Bayreuth and delighted to have qualified for SAINT-AUBAN without training in the 1996 German nationals.

• PILOT : Herbert WEISS (standard class)
Adult education teacher born in 1948, father of 2 young children. Began by building models before learning to glide in 1969. 1979/83 Club Class Regional Champion of Baden-Wurrtemburg. Placed 2nd. in the 1984 Barron Hilton Cup (725km.) as well as winning several more regionals. 1990 German National Standard Class Champion and competitor in 3 European Championships from 1992-6. Since 1979, power-glider instructor and regional flight training representative, with 5350 total flight hours.

GREAT BRITAIN

• TEAM CAPTAIN : R.A. BICKERS
Bob was appointed Team Manager in August 1994, having had two seasons as Manager of the Women's Team. He took up gliding in 1975 at the age of 32, becoming a full instructor three years later. In 1976 he started assisting in the running of the Open nationals at Lasham and has been involved as a competition organiser every year since. A retired AirLoadmaster with 34 years service in the royal Air Force, he has been CFI, DCFI, Chairman or Treasurer of a Service Gliding Club where ever he has served. An active PPL and Tug Pilot, Bob owns a shate in a Rallye light aicraft, is General manager of the London Gliding Club and also a member of the Lasham Gliding Society. In his spare time he goes gliding or occasionally he can be found relaxing in a kitchen preparing and cooking for his friends and family.

• PILOT : Andrew John DAVIS (standard class)
41, year old airline pilot who started gliding at 15 and soloed soon after his 16th. birthday. He holds 3 Diamonds and the British 750km. Diploma. In his first individual contest, the Western regionals of 1975, he was 2nd..
He first became National 15M. Champion in 1978, winning Euroglide of the same year. First national team place was at Wiener Neustadt in 1989 and he has flown every WGC since, in Standard Class, placing 2nd. at Wiener Neustadt and winning in Borlange. Andy has forsaken his beloved Discus to fly an LS8 this time, crewed by Robbie Knight, on leave from Shanghai.

• PILOT : Philip Ralf JONES (Open class)
Brother of teammate Steve and son of British gliding personalities Jane and Ralph, Philip, 31, has 1450 hours gliding and 2500 power hours. Gliding since 1982, he also flew RAF Tornadoes for 10 years before his present job, airline flying on 757s. 1995 UK National Open Class Champion. Married to Molly with several children.

• PILOT : Steve JONES (15 m class)
Began gliding at 14 in 1982, achieved all 3 Diamonds within a week of his 17th. birthday and then began contest flying. Has over 1700 hours to date and has competed in over 16 UK Nationals; best results: twice 2nd. in Standard and in Open Class. 3rd. in Junior Europeans in Sweden. Has several times qualified for EGCs but been unable to attend. This is his 2nd. WGC, following Omarama.

• PILOT : Alister KAY (15 m class)
Began as an RAF cadet in 1970. Very successful competition pilot-has won the Open Class Nationals 5 times, 4 in succession, and on his first outing for Britain, was 5th. at Borlange in Open Class. In addition to 3 Diamonds and a UK 750km ( flown in an ASH-25 with his late father), Alister holds 12 UK records and in 1990, flew in wave to 11,023m. to gain the UK 2-seater record at that time. Has 3500 hours, a full cat. instructor's licence and commercial licence for a Pitts Special.

• PILOT : Robin MAY (Open class)
An airline captain, gliding for 29 years and instructing for most of them, Robin has competed every year since 1979 and has claimed 15 UK and British records, of which 6 still stand and 6000 gliding hours. Current UK National Open Class Champion for the 4th. time and has represented Britain in Rayskala and Rieti at EGCs and Wiener Neustadt and Uvalde WGCs. Ed Downham will fly P2.

• PILOT : Brian SPRECKLEY (standard class)
Brian started competing in 1972 in an Open Class Ketrel 19, switching to 15M ; with an ASW 20 5 years later. This proved more successful and he won his first Nationals in 1980. Has flown 5 previous WGCs, winning medals on 3 different occasions : Benalla 1st. in 15M. Class, 3rd. in Borlange in Open Class and in Omaral in Open Class, flying a 2-seater with wife Gillian, with whom he started the popular European Soaring Club. Seven years as National Coach for the BGA gave him several thousand Motor Falke hours and a lifetime dislike for the motorglider preceded 7 more as Manager/ Chief Instructor at Booker Gliding Club one of Britain's busiest.

• PILOT : Martin WELLS (standard class)
45 y.o Chartered Building surveyor, BGA Inspector and company director. Has 3000+ gliding hours ince 1967. Has represented UK in 7 WGCs 1983-96incl. and will enjoy the crew help of his family.
• PILOT : Justin WILLS (15 m class)
  
  Born into a famous gliding, family, Justin started in1967 whilst working for the British Aircraft Corporation. Married to Gillian who is an instructor and was working for the BGA. Has soared across the Arctic circle in Norwayand from a remote tropical beach in Queensland. Justin holds several UK local records and has won major contests in Europe and USA ( including the 1997 Swiss nationals). 2nd. in Wiener Neustadt in 1989.
  They now spend European winters on their Irishman's Creek sheep station, close to Omarama, NZ, and spend summers gliding in Europe;
  

ITALY

• TEAM CAPTAIN : Smilian CIBIC
Smillian Cibic, retired engineer, born in Trieste in 1919.Sports, athletics, tennis, basket-ball,skiing, cycling (and is still does two), without ever being a champion. He came to gliding only at 40 (logging about 1600 hours), and only ten years later to competitions, where he had some fair results at national level, but also some spectacular crashes. These led him to concentrate more on organizing. He was for many years member and president of the national gliding commission,Italian delegate to I.G.C., President of the organizing committee of the 1985 world championships, competition director of the motorglider european championships 1992, president of the jury in the Europeans 1994 and team manager in many world and European championships. For his activity he was awarded the Paul Tissandier Diploma.

• PILOT : Luciano AVANZINI (standard class)
Luciano born in Milano in 1958 and a financial manager. In 1982,married Emanuela Pronzati, daughter of the well known pilot Attilio Pronzati; they have two daughters. Wife and daughters follow Luciano in his competitions and are his strongest supporters.
Luciano got his gliding licence in 1976, started competing in 1979 and has flown about 2500 hours. He was three times national champion in the centralized nationals and again three times first in the Italian distance championships, always in standard class.
His first international competition was, as for his team mates Galetto and Ghiorzo, the 1982 Club Class Championship (Hammelburg). He placed once first,one second and twice third in the International Mediterranean Cup. He flew in the standard class in the world championships 1991 (Uvalde) and in 1993 (Borlange), and was team manager in the 1985 World Championships (Rieti).8th in Lavender Glide.
He has several national distance records, and recently flew the first 1000 km in Italy with a standard class glider, and an out and return of 805,5 km.

• PILOT : Corrado COSTA (standard class)
Born in Milan in 1952, son of a gliding and power pilot, and is a manager. He started gliding in 1970, has logged about 3000 hours. He won the title in standard class in 1978 and had several good placings in the centralized, as well as in the distance nationals.
1986 and 1994 European Championships and Lavender Glide.
Together with Avanzini he holds, with 805,5 km, the out and return and the free out and return records.

• PILOT : Giorgio GALETTO (15 M class)
If some of his collagues are sons or sons in law of the art, he is a grandson, since his grandfather was an aviator in World War I , and his father is still a very active glider instructor and power pilot.
Born in 1957, started gliding in 1976,3650 hours on gliders and 615 in power planes; he is also an instructor.
First international competition was the 1982 Club Class International Championships (Hammelburg). Very remarkable was his show when his final glide brought him very low to the steep slope between the high airfield and the lower valley. He fought tenaciously gaining centimeter by centimeter until crossing the finish line, with the applause of the crowd that had gathered to watch this performance. He participated in five World Championships and five Europeans, always in the 15 m class.3rd in Lavender Glide.
He won 4 national centralized championships and 5 distance nationals. Often with his club mate Gostner he flies long stretches in the Alps, starting from Bolzano; with Gostner and Ghiorzo he has flown a 1000 km free distance in the Alps. Giorgio is also a good power pilot, and with Gostner was co-pilot in ferrying a Maule from Florida to Bolzano.

• PILOT : Stefano GHIORZO (15 m class)
Born in Milan in 1961 and manager in his father's quality printing company. He is married to Odile, with two daughters. His father was a power pilot and certainly transmitted his love for aviation.
He started gliding in 1978 competing from 1980. He was three times national champion in the 15 m class, and active on the international scene where he started, with his team mates Avanzini and Galetto, in the 1982 Club Class Championships (Hammelburg).Present in all world championships since 1983 (where he was the youngest pilot), contantly improving his performance, 5th in 1991 and 4th in 1995 after having fought for the podium until the last day. He participated in 4 FAI European Championships, winning the 15 m class in 1994, and once in the Motorglider European Championships (1992) which he also won.
Recently he flew, together with his team-mates Galetto and Gostner, a 1000 km free distance in the Alps.
He is a very determined and concentrated pilot in competition, and for his laconism is often referred to as "the mute".

• PILOT : Thomas GOSTNER (15 m class)
Born in Bolzano in 1957, married to Erika, three daughters; trader; is a most complete aviator, flying gliders (about 3000 hours, since 1975), powered planes (up to executives- about 2000 hours) and helicopters. With copilot Galetto, ferried a Maule from Florida to Bolzano.
He is especially good in mountain and wave flying, has some national distance records and was three times national distance champion, with more good placings in the centralized nationals.
Participated in world championships 1995, placing 11th and in 1992 and 1996 Europeans, always in the 15 m class. 8th. in Lavender Glide.
Recently flew with his team-mates Galetto and Ghiorzo, and with his brother Ernst, a 1000 km in the Alps.

JAPAN

• TEAM CAPTAIN : Yoshiyuki KAWASHIMA
29 years old; married; 1000 hours gliding; Systems Engineer in IBM.
Participated in JEC' 91 and Kiwi Glide as a pilot and was team captain for WGC' 93 in Borlange and WGC' 95 in Omarama. Usually flies in 15 m class in nationals and famous for big parties
Married two months after WGC'95 so since then spends most of his time on his wife, gliding club and working The Japanese have been flying mountain cross country in SAINT-AUBAN since 1982, and hoping to fly over 1000 km tasks in Japan. They are very pleased with F.F.V.V. and everyone in SAINT-AUBAN.

• PILOT : Makoto ICHIKAWA (standard Class)
31 years old. Married. One son. 3300 hours gliding. Glider : LS8a (10). Profession : soaring instructor. Started serious competition in 1989 in Cambrai, the European Junior championships, where he first met many wonderful people in Europe's scene. Has been sponsored by RECARO since 1991, and has mostly been competing in standard class. National champion 1993 and 1997. Third time participation in Worlds after Borlange and Omarama. Flew in Europeans last year to finish 12th, and has also competed in many countries, with results like 3rd in French Nationals 96, 6th in European Masters 1996 and 4th in Australian Nationals 1997. Bruce and Rae Drake from New Zealand will support him again. This has been good team in the last two years. Recently he has been exploring possibilities of long cross-country flights in Japan, using long wave system to NNE of Tokyo (where 1000 km+ should possible) and beautiful Japanese Alps west of Tokyo (where 750 km+ should be possible), and hopes to use these possibilities to raise Japanese pilots to international level.

LUXEMBOURG

• Olivier CARMES (Pilot and Team Manager)
Aeromodeller-turned-glider-pilot in 1990, twice National Champion of Luxembourg, he modestly points out that there is, in fact, only one club (Useldange) and all tasks start from there. Trained in aerobatics at Colmar with Sandor Katona and entered 2 contests in France. Studying in Aachen, Germany, he is able to profit from the excellent Akaflieg fleet and not only get his hands on performance gliders but also to begin mountain flying in the Alps, resulting in his third Diamond. Is working to introduce more Luxembourgers to flying and to become an instructor.

• Marcel ROSEFORT
Despite the name, he is not French but German. Started gliding in Krefeld in 1985, soaring in an ASK-13 .Then flew his first big x-country after a year with a 300km. triangle in the club ASK-21. In the winter of 1989, joined Akaflieg Aachen and in 1990, took part in the Nord- Rhein/Westfalen regionals. In 1992, he took an aerobatic licence, also in Aachen. Has now spent over 1000 hours in the skies of Germany and France. Best of all, he loves the French Alps for the panorama and is very happy to be acting as co-pilot in the Open Class in the biggest event in the world.

NETHERLANDS

• TEAM CAPTAIN : W.J. WIJSMAN
• PILOT : Eric BORGMAN (standard class)
Born in 1966. Pilot.
Gliding hours : 1700

• PILOT : Steven RAIMOND (15 m class)
Born in 1964. Airlin pilot.
Gliding hours : 1350

• PILOT : Baer SELEN (standard class)
Born in 1955. Aerodynamic Specialist
Gliding hours : 3600

• PILOT : Max VAN BREE (15 m class)
Born in 1959. Information analist.
Gliding hours : 1750

NEW ZEALAND

• TEAM CAPTAIN : Peter LYONS
Age: 62. Viticulturist, owns and runs a horticultural block, part owner of pastoral properties. Began gliding in 1968, 4000 hours, 3 Diamonds, 1000 km, held a PPL for 40 years with 650 hours. 'A' Cat gliding instructor, NZGA test pilot, tow pilot, and approved examiner for tow ratings. Four times NZ Standard Class champion, National Best Performance for 500 km O & R. Competed in two World Championships, Hobbs 1993, Rieti 1985, NZ Team Manager 1995. Married to Judith with a daughter, Juliet.

• PILOT : Tony VAN DYK : (standard Class)
Age: 43. Engineer. Started gliding 1974, 3300 hours. 'B' Cat gliding instructor. Standard Class champion 1991, 1995, 1996, 1997. Competed in three World Championships, 1989 Wiener Neustadt, 1991 Uvalde and 1995 Omarama. Vice President/ Treasurer of his local gliding club. Married to Diane with two sons.

• PILOT : Graham WHITE : (standard Class)
Age 42, married to Trish, a pharmacist, with two children aged four and two who definitely cramp the gliding time and are too young to crew at this worlds. Studied to become a dentist at Otago University and has practised in Havelock North for 18 years. Sports are smallbore rifle shooting, at which he has represented New Zealand, a little golf and, of course, gliding. Flew radio-controlled gliders starting 1979 then graduated to the real thing in 1983. Peter Lyons took a group to Matamata for some cross country training in 1984 and got him seriously interested in competition flying. First national competition was at Omarama in 1988 in a Std Cirrus with a mid field placing and a lot of fun. An 'arrival' on the Ben Ohau range out of Omarama in 1990 put him out of serious competition flying for a while. 1995 saw the arrival of an LS8 at Bridge Pa (his local airfield and the best lee wave in NZ) and fourth place in the 1996 Nationals at Matamata. Some mountain flying in the local area (Kaweka Range 1800 m) was good practice for the 1997 national contest at Omarama where he came second behind Tony Van Dyk. When travelling through France in 1991, he noticed the gliders on the ridges around Chamonix but never thought he would have the opportunity to fly in these wonderful mountains. Sometimes dreams come true...

• PILOT : John COUTTS (standard class)
Age 21, a member of the Auckland Gliding Club and a final year student at Auckland University studying civil engineering. He flew radio controlled gliders as a child then became interested in gliding at 11 years old. He flew solo on his 16th birthday and became an instructor at 18 years. He has 960 hours and attended the 1995 World Championships at Omarama as a crew member. This year he gained third place in the combined 15 Metre/Open Class at the 1997 Nationals at Omarama.
He will be flying DISCUS EH and is looking forward to flying in conditions completely different from those he normally flies in as the Auckland and Waikato regions are mainly flat land with low cloud bases not often much higher than 4000 ft and with restricting sea breezes.

NORWAY

• TEAM CAPTAIN : Hans Peter FURE
Hans Peter Fure started flying at the age of 33 in 1974 as a power pilot and passed his PPL in the same year. Has many hours glider-towing. Gliding came slowly from 1979 with his first competition entry in 1986. 1991 National B-Class champion in a Grob G103 Twin II. Has served the Norwegian Aeroclub in many functions as well as being advisor to the National Olympic Committee and had the pleasure of hosting the "Eurocup 97" event in Elverum, Norway.

• PILOT : Ole John ASKE (standard class)
Ole John is 32 years old, and started gliding at the age of 20. Currently he has accumulated 1.500 gliding hours, and holds a Gold C with 3 diamonds.
He started flying competitions in 1989, and has been on the national team since 1990. He won the National championship in the standard class in 1991, and have participated in the World Gliding Championship in 1991 and 1993. He has also flown in the Coupe de Monde de Vol à Voile en Montagne in Vinon, in 1995.
Ole John is educated as Computer Scientist at the Norwegian University of Technic and Science, and lives in Trondheim in the middle of Norway.
In the world gliding championships he will fly his LS7-WL "IN" in the Standard Class.

• PILOT : Birger BULUKIN (15 m class)
Birger is 56 years old, and started gliding in 1956.
He lives in Nittedal, 20 km north of Oslo, Norway and is a Master of Science in mechanical engineering (1965) of the Technical University of Trondheim, Norway.
He had an early career as an aeromodeler, participating in several World Championships for free flight models in the fifties and sixties. In the early seventies he designed the Bulsac glider computer which was manufactured by ATEW in Sweden.
He has 3200 gliding hours, has participated in 10 previous World Championships (the first was in Vrsac in 1968),and 3 European Championships. He came second in the 1992 Borlänge Pre World Championships (15M).
Birger works as a senior engineering surveyor (instrumentation and automation, drawing approval, type approval and inspection), and in any spare time besides gliding, joins his wife Grethe in the woods running orienteering competitions (In the winter long distance ski races).
Birger will fly his vintage (1985) LS-6, LN-GBB in the 15M class

• PILOT : Geir RAUDSANDMOEN (standard class)
Geir is 39 years old, lives at Raufoss in Norway (120 km north of Oslo) and is educated in engineering physics. He works with development of rocket motors.
Geir started gliding in 1975 and has a total of 2280 gliding hours, gold C with 3 diamonds and holds an instructor's license. He also has a private pilot's licence and 270 hours on powered airplanes. He started flying competitions in 1980 and won the Norwegian standard class championship in 1993 and 1997. He participated in the European Gliding Championships in Bekescsaba, Hungary in 1992 and in Riety, Italy in 1994. He has also flown in the Coupe de Monde de Vol à Voile en Montagne, in Vinon, in 1995 and 1996.

• PILOT : Erlend SORBYE (standard class)
41 year old airline pilot, flying MD-80s to earn money for gliding. Flying career started at 14 in the Netherlands where father was working in the University. Flew Rhonlerke, K8, K13 & K6 at the local field, Twenthe. Back in Norway, flew in the Trondheim Technical University Club, then went to military flying school and in 1976, to Arizona flying T-37 and -38 jet trainers.and gliding at Estrella. After competing in the Europeans in Finland in his LS3, bought an LS7 but cross-country progress was hampered by a lack of crew help so invested in a Discus Turbo which helps him extend the season, practise long flights and still make it to work next day ! Registration-GPS ! Flying in SAINT-AUBAN for the 2nd. timekeeping safety in mind.

POLAND

• TEAM CAPTAIN : Jerzy KOLASINSKI
41 years old: medical doctor, surgeon.
Started flying in 1972. 1720 hours. Used to be power pilot, but now has time only for gliding.
In 1985 won National Gliding competitions. On 25th May 1988 I tried to avoid colliding with a bull during outlanding and destroyed Jantar 2B totally.
Since 1992 : member of Polish Gliding Team. Since 1995, organizer of Polish Championships in spot-landing - a fun competition which is an occasion for meeting other Polish pilots in winter.

• PILOT : Franciszek KEPKA (15 m class)
57 years old. Manager. Gold badge with 3 diamonds. 6500 gliding hours.
Previous competitions : twice Polish champion, 6 times Polish vice- champion, 10 times entrant for a World Championships.
WGC : 4 times 2nd. World Vice-Champion in 1965 (England), 1970 (USA), 1972 (Yugoslavia), 1974 (Australia).
EGC : 1992 Hungary 1st place, 1190 Poland 2nd. place.
Eastern-bloc European G. C. : 1st. place in 19974, 1982, 1986, and 2nd. place in 1989.
Lilienthal Medal in 1993.

• PILOT : Sebastian KAWA (Open Class)
Talented young pilot who was leading in the 1995 Junior European Championships when his cameras were stolen as he assisted another out-lander in the same field, thus losing him his day points as he had no photo-evidence. Will be determined to make a good showing in this his first WGC. Comes from the mountainous Beskidy region of southern Poland.

SLOVAK REPUBLIC

• TEAM CAPTAIN : Peter BALGA
Born in 1960. Glider pilot since 1976. Participant in a lot of national gliding championships.
Peter is very busy this summer, because from St Auban he will be hurry to Prievidza in Slovakia, where his girl friend starts in the European Women's Championships. He loves French red wine.

• PILOT : Jozef KOSAR (standard class)
Born in 1959. Glider pilot since 1975. Holder of gold C with 3 diamonds.More then 3400 hours in air. Member of Czechoslovak and Slovak representative team since 1983. Inspector of glider flying. Many times Slovak champion. 3rd. place in European Gliding Championships in 1991. Winner of Sweglide 1992. 10th. place at World Gliding Championships in 1993. Jozef loves high flying. His highest is 8.200 m and we hope this champioship he will go higher. He has prepared a lot of oxygen for this purpose already !

• PILOT : Viliam KUBOVCIK (standard)
Born in 1961. Architect. Has flown more than 1.950 hours with gliders.Longtime member of National Representative Team of CSSR, CSFR and now Slovak Republic.
Czechoslovak champion in 1986, participant in Wiener Neustadt, 3 times participant of EGC.
Despite having quality connections by cell-phone, he is always late,except in his glider on the finish line !

• Ivan GASPAREK
1.300 gliding hours/ 450 power aircraft hours. Twelve times participant of Slovak National Gliding championships. Ivan has Gold C with 2 diamonds. Owner of private company building wooden houses throughout Europe.
Ivan looks forward to French cooking and snails.

• Miloslav MATULA
28 years old.Flying 14 years already. Instructor on gliders. Keen on navigation with motor-gliders.
Miloslav is known for his skills around aircraft and "matters" around flying ...

SLOVENIA

• TEAM CAPTAIN : Bostjan OBLAK
Bostjan Oblak, born 09.05.1971 lives just 2 km from Bled airfield which is the biggest gliding centre in Slovenia - where he started with gliding in 1987 and by now he has flown around 950 hours and holds a Gold badge with 3 diamonds.
He has participated in 4 national championships but in the last 3 years his professional life (computer engineer specialized in data storage) has taken most of his time so he tries to be involved in gliding competitions in other ways - crew, team captain.
For the past three years he has also been IGC delegate and heavily involved in the Slovenian NAC sport commission.
He likes SAINT-AUBAN and its surroundings, so he looks forward to having a great time at this historical event.

• PILOT : Bostjan PRISTAVEC (15 m class)
Bostjan Pristavec, born 10.08.1963 lives in a small tourist centre, Bled, in North West Slovenia, which is in the Eastern Alps. His first experience in aviation was in aero modeling from 1973, beginning gliding in 1983 and power, a year later. Gliding hours, 3200, and power, 320 hrs).
Professional ATC controller at Ljubljana International Airport. Married to Tanja. Has a daughter, Maja, 18 months old and already some experience as crew member to her father. Favorite sports: Skiing, Biking, mountain-climbing, etc. His own glider is not "yet?" competitive in WGC (18 m!? DG-600/18w); instead, he has a brand new DG 800S from DG Flugzeugbau for training and the Championships in St. Auban. Bo_tjan is also the first Slovenian glider pilot with a 1000 Km diploma. He flew 1000 from Slovenia to the West over the Dolomites to the Italian Swiss border.
He will come to SAINT-AUBAN with his young family and friends to make a nice atmosphere for good flying.

• PILOT : Mihael THALER (15 m class)
Mihael Thaler (54) is professionally connected to aviation as an Airbus A-320 Captain-Instructor with 13.000 jet hours. He started gliding with Aero Club Ljubljana when he was 17 and has since logged approximately 3.000 hours in gliders.
Mihael Thaler has won the Slovenian National Championship 7 times. He has not been so successful on the international level, but he did a lot of training last year and so is ready to improve. He has full support for gliding in his family, his Crew in Saint Auban being his wife Melita and son Marko. Mihael flew in Standard Class until 1989; since then, in the Racing Class, but he is a strong supporter of the 18m Class.

SOUTH AFRICA

• TEAM CAPTAIN : Carol CLIFFORD
Born of gliding parents. Father, Franck Foster, was co-pilot with Nick Goodhart when they won the W.G.C at St Yan, France in 1956.
Has two grown-up daughters. Actively involved in gliding all her life. Inevitably married a glider pilot - Bobby who has represented South Africa at numerous W.G.C. and has crewed for him at several world championships, as well as for other S. African pilots.
Hold silver C with aproximatively 300 hours. Was Team Manager in Sweden 1993 and New Zealand 1995.
A Sales Consultant with an Industrial Relations company. and has been secretary of the biggest gliding club (Magalies Gliding club) in South Africa for the last 20+ years, on the Soaring Society of S. Africa executive committee, and involved in the Bidding Document for the Worlds 2001.

• PILOT : Dick BRADLEY (15M Class)
Dick has been gliding for 37 years and has 3700 hours. He started gliding in England, but emigrated to South Africa with his wife Brenda in 1969. His first National Championship was flown in a 1:23 in 1969. Since then he has flown in 20 SA Nationals and won the standard class 7 times. His world gliding championship career began in Chateauroux, France in 1978, and he will be competing in his seventh world championship in SAINT-AUBAN. Dick is actively involved in the administration of gliding, having been treasurer and chairman of his local club. He is currently the chairman of the South Africa Soaring Society, and the SA delegate to the International Gliding Commission of which he is a vice president and treasurer.
Dick is the managing director of a software house. He and Brenda have four children, three of whom are involved in gliding.

• PILOT : Laurens J GOUDRIAAN (15M Class)
Says gliding is his life ! Started gliding at 14 years old encouraged by his father and soloed on his 16th birthday. After school, joined the airforce where he flew Harvards (100 hours), Sabers (100 hours) and Impalas (1000 hours).
In 1978, joined the family business of open cast mining and currently runs the Virginia crushing plant. Luckily to marry Suzie, who is very supportive. They have three daughters.and live in a small town in the Free State, close to the airfield.
First WGC was in Paderborn 1981, the first time that father and son competed in the same championship finishing 14th. both in the racing class. In 1983 Hobbs (racing class) came 3rd. In Wiener-Neustadt with his brother competed in the Open Class and came 10th. Competed in Uvalde 1991 for 10th.(15M). In 1996, took part in the Pre-Worlds held in SAINT-AUBAN.
Competing in the S.A. Nationals since 1979 and has won the racing class 14 times !
Any time work does not nail him down, he loves to spend in my glider.

SPAIN

• TEAM CAPTAIN : Jesus A BROTO
Born 1948, Pediatric Surgeon.
Started gliding in 1976
Gliding hours : 1350

• PILOT : Alvaro de Orleans-Borbon (15M class)
Born in Rome, Italy, 1947. Electronic engineer.
Glider pilot since 1970, 3000 hours, three diamonds.
Winner : three Italian Nationals, three Spanish Nationals, one Argentinian National, Coupe du Monde de Vol à Voile en Montagne in Rieti 1979.
Took part in World Gliding Championships in Vrsac 1972, Waikerie 1974, Chateauroux 1978, Paderborn 1980, Hobbs 1983, Rieti 1985.
Took part in the First Himalayan Soaring Expedition, 1985.
Currently 1st Vice President of FAI and of Royal Aero Club of Spain.

SWEDEN

• Team Captain : Kenneth HENSNER
Maintenance manager, Electrolux Cooling, Caravan Refrigerator Plant.
Born in 1949
2 children
Gliding since 1971
Gold badge, 2 diamonds (altitude diamond still missing)
1100 gliding hours
Gliding Instructor, Motala Flygklubb
Gliding club treasurer and treasurer of WGC 1993
Vice President of Swedish Gliding
Kenneth started gliding with his stepfather in 1971 and is a typical club glider pilot and instructor who enjoys cross-country and competition flying. He had considerable success in developing his small gliding club in Motala into a successful club with a hangar full of modern gliders. He played a great role in organising the 1993 WGC in Borlange where he successfully looked after the finances so there was some profit for Swedish Gliding.

• PILOT : Åke PETTERSSON (15M Class)
Consultant engineer, technical communication
Born in 1945
Gliding since 1961
Diamond badge, 4 times Swedish National Champion, has flown 12 WGC since 1970
5000 hours gliding
Gliding instructor, Stockholms Segelflygklubb
Ex-president of Swedish Gliding
IGC Vice president
Ake started gliding at age 15 after some years of aeromodelling. He became a gliding instructor at age 20 and spent his summer holidays instructing and flying cross country and competitions, flying his first Swedish Championships in 1967. He got into the Swedish.
Team for the WGC in Marfa in 1970 and has been entered in all WGC:s since that, but he couldn't fly in Wiener Neustadt 1989 due to illness. Ake's best WGC result was a second place in the 15-m class in Paderborn in 1981. He has set several National Gliding Records over the years. He was together with Gosta Arvastsson, Robert Danewid and others heavily involved in reorganising Swedish Gliding and was president 1989-1995 and vice president of the Royal Swedish Aeroclub 1992-1993.
Ake has competed in all classes in WGC:s. He likes the open class best because he enjoys the individual flying that is usual in that class. In SAINT-AUBAN he flies a Ventus-2 that he owns jointly with three friends.

• PILOT : Curt-Olle OTTOSON (standard Class)
Engineer, company owner
Born in 1942
Married with 3 children
Gliding since 1959
Gold badge, 2 diamonds
4000 hours gliding
2 times Swedish National Champion, 6 WGC
Gliding Instructor, Ljungbyheds Flygklubb
Curt-Olle flew his first National Championships in 1963 in a Weihe. He did a lot of instruction in his club and flew cross-country and competitions.
His international experience began in the Club Class in 1972 in Dinslaken. He flew his first WGC in 1983 in Hobbs and his best placing was 6th in 1987 and 1989. Curt-Olle is Sweden's most experienced mountain competitor, having competed in the EGC in Vinon, WGC in Wiener Neustadt, EGCs and WGC in Rieti. He was president of his gliding club for 10 years.
In addition to gliding, Curt-Olle enjoys wife and family life, work and occasional fishing.
Curt-Olle flies his own LS-7 but has swapped it for an LS-8 for SAINT-AUBAN.

SWITZERLAND

• TEAM CAPTAIN : Denis ROSSIER
Born in 1956. Started gliding in 1976. Gold badge 1990. Gliding hours : 2200. Occupation : airline pilot.
Top moments during gliding career : Sisteron-Gottard- Sisteron in 1994 and Sisteron-Grenoble-Furka in 1996.
Hobbies : gliding, aircraft instruction, glider and aircraft repair.
Vice president of FSVV since 1992, responsible of training.

• PILOT : Hans BINDER (Open Class)
Born in 1941. Profession : airline captain. Gold badge with 3 diamonds. 7000 gliding hours.
Previous championships : Swiss nationals (7 times national champion), Vinon, Rieti, Issoudun, Bailleau, South-Africa, Australia, Germany, European and World championships.
Several Swiss records, world record, several >1000 km flights.
Lilienthal contest (100 years of human flight 1891-1991) 3rd. place.

• PILOT : Daniel THUT (Open Class)
Born in 1955. Gliding hours 1000.

• PILOT : Ruedi SCHILD (Open Class)
Born in 1962. Gliding hours 1500. Gold C with 2 diamonds. Occupation : electromechanic.

• PILOT : Fridolin HAUSER (15M. Class)
Born : 1948. Married. Profession: electrical engineer and licensed mountain guide. Ski instructor. Owner of mountain climbing institute Alpinschule Toedi, CH-8722 Kaltbrunn, Switzerland. Leader of various expeditions all over the world, among others two expeditions for clients climbing Mt McKinley, Alaska, the coldest mountain over all, as well as the highest mountain of north America; Russia Africa and several peaks of Himalayas, Nepal. Although soaring is his passion today, he also enjoys horse riding, wind surfing or biking, should time be available, with his wife Regina who is a veterinary doctor and crew at WGC 97 in SAINT-AUBAN.
Gliding since 1977, approx. 3500 hours. Gold badge with 3 diamonds. Gliding instructor. Competitor since 1987. Member of Swiss National Gliding Team since 1991. Swiss champion 1996, placed 2nd to 4th at international competitions. Experienced in mountain and wave soaring and also in flat country soaring. Owns Ventus 2A and flew a Nimbus 3 at the WGC 93 and EGC 93, ASW24B at WGC 95, Ventus 2A in SAINT-AUBAN.

• PILOT : Chris HOSTETTLER (15M. Class)
Born in 1954. Profession : engineer for automation sofware. Home airfield : Mollis, 50 km East of Zurich. More than 2200 gliding hours. Projects : sell his ASW24 for a good price and fly once 1000 km. Wishes : have more vacation to make Australian dreams come true.
Began to learn to fly 1972. Competition flying intensified when he bought an ASW24 in 1990 and qualified for the Swiss Gliding National Team three years ago. Participated as soaring crew member (SCUM) at the WGC's in Omarama, Borlange and Uvalde.
Now trying his luck as competition pilot, supported by his competent groundcrew Thomas Badum, who flew Chris's ASW24 six years ago in Uvalde.

• PILOT : Markus GAUMANN (standard Class)
Born 1952. Married, 1 daughter. Profession : dentist. Gliding since 1971. Flight experience : 2700 hours.
Swiss champion 1992 and 1995. Participant in WGC 93, and EGC 90, 92, 94.
Hobbies : travelling and tennis.

• PILOT : Eduard INAEBNIT (standard Class)
Born 1944. Married with Eva, 2 children. Profession : engineer. Gliding licence since 1962 - 3200 flying hours. Power licence : 1993 - 80 flying hours. Competitions : since 1980 at the Swiss Nationals and many internationals, mainly Vinon (F), Rieti (I), Freiburg (D), Hahnweide (D) etc...
Participated at EGC's 1988 (Raskala), 1990 (Leszno), 1992 (Bekescaba), 1994 (Riet), 1996 (Raskala), and at WGC 1995 in Omarama.
Further activities : building kit-set plane LANCAIR 235 together with two friends.
Acting in an amateur theatre group.

• PILOT : Gabriel ROSSIER (standard Class)
Born in 1960. Pilot.
Gliding hours : 1700

U.S.A.

• TEAM CAPTAIN : Mark HUFFSTUTLER - Assistant : Kerry HUFFSTUTLER
Age : 39. Home town : Uvalde, Texas. Home club : Uvalde Soaring Association, USA. Profession : President - Aviation company. Married to KERRY, three children. Started gliding in 1983. Gliding hours : 1000.
Previous WSC's : 1989 Wiener-Neustadt, 1991 Uvalde Contest Manager, 1993 Borlange, 1995 Omarama.

• TEAM COACH : George MOFFAT
Age : 70. Home town :Marion, Massachusetts. Profession : retired teacher. Married to Suzanne. Started gliding in 1957. Gliding hours : 3800. 135000 X-C miles, 82 sailplane types.
Previous WSC's : 1968 4th place standard (Poland), 1970 1st place open class (Marfa), 1974 1st open class (Australia), 1983 4th. open class (Hobbs).
Lilienthal Medal 1977.
Flew first nationals in 1962, World Champion in 1970 an 1974, one of only 2 Americans who have won nationals in all three classes, 3 EGC, 3 world speed records, wrote "Winning on the Wind and 80 articles on flying and sailing.

• PILOT : Eric MOZER (Open class) CO-PILOT : Christophe VERON
Age : 43. Home town : Charlotte, North Caroline. Home club :Bermuda High. Profession : CEO, managing director-Plastic Mold Maker. Married to Lynn, 1 child. Started gliding in 1968. Gliding hours : 6500
Previous WSC's : 1978 Chateauroux, 7th. standard class. 1983 Hobbs, 5th. standard class. 1985 Rieti, 3rd. standard class. 1987 Benalla, 15th. 15 m class. 1991 Uvalde; 3rd. standard class. 1993 Borlange, 11th. open class.
Comments : looking forward to flying France on the US team with a Frenchman (Dago) in the back seat.

• PILOT : Ronald S. TABERY (Open class)
Age : 43. Home town : Austin, Texas. Home club : Fault Line Flyers. Profession : chemical engineer. Married to Betsy, 2 children. Started gliding in at birth. Gliding hours : 3000
Previous WSC's : 1989 Wiener-Neustadt. Dupont Trophy. Four times National champion.
Comments : first flight in a glider was with Neil Armstrong, soloed at 14, won first competition by winning all 6 days.

• PILOT : Douglas JACOBS (standard class)
Age : 49. Home town : Providence, Rhode Island. Home club : Sugarbush Soaring. Profession Financial manager. Married to Martha, 2 children. Started gliding in 1975. Gliding hours : 3000.
Previous WSC's : 1985 Rieti, 1st. place. 1987 Benalla, 3rd. place. 1989, Wiener-Neustadt. 1991 Uvalde, 3 rd. place. 1993 Borlange. 6 times US National Champion.
Comments : I have a few bad habits, but I try to make the most out of each one.

• PILOT : Jae WALKER (standard class)
Age : 35. Home town : Port Mathilda, Pennsylvania. Profession : airline pilot. Started gliding in 1977. Gliding hours 2200.
Previous WSC's : none.
Hobbies are cycling, running, aerobatic flight, race cars

• PILOT : Bill BARTELL (15 m class)
Age : 49. Home town : Phoenix, Arizona. Home club : Arizona Soaring Association. Profession : computer consultant. Started gliding in 1976. Gliding hours : 5000.
Previous WSC's : none.
US national record 500 km O&R 100 mph. US national record 300 km O&R 124 mph.
Placed 10th. in standard class in Lavender Glide 1996.

• PILOT : Gary ITTNER (15 m class)
Age : 41. Home town : Los Angeles, California. Home club : Hemet-Ryan. Profession : design engineer. Started gliding in 1983, first contest in 1985. Gliding hours : 2600. Gold badge 2 diamonds. 1997 US 15m National Champion.
Previous WSC's : 1995 Omarma.
Flew radio control model gliders competitively before learning to fly "full scale" gliders.


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Web page by Denis Flament (from Nogaro aeroclub) consulted times since 13-June-97 updated : 13-June-97