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Thomas L. Knauff (born 1938) is 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 Knauff
Born	1938 (age 83–84)
Occupation	Writer Glider pilot Flight instructor
Nationality	American
Genre	Non-fiction
Subject	Aviation

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 instructors in the world. He was one of the few FAA designated pilot examiners who are authorized to issue initial flight instructor certificates.

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.[2]

World glider records

Knauff has set the following records:[3]

• 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 II

Other flying accomplishments

Knauff's other accomplishments include:[4]

• 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

Books

References

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