Thomas Knauff
Encyclopedia
Thomas L. Knauff 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 1960s, ultimately setting five world records flying gliders there. He was the stunt pilot in the 1999 film The Thomas Crown Affair
.http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/contributor/1809084341
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 instructors in the world. He is one of the few FAA designated pilot examiners who are authorized to issue initial flight instructor certificates.
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.
Glider (sailplane)
A glider or sailplane is a type of glider aircraft used in the sport of gliding. Some gliders, known as motor gliders are used for gliding and soaring as well, but have engines which can, in some cases, be used for take-off or for extending a flight...
pilot, flight instructor
Flight instructor
A flight instructor is a person who teaches others to fly aircraft. Specific privileges granted to holders of a flight instructor qualification vary from country to country, but very generally, a flight instructor serves to enhance or evaluate the knowledge and skill level of an aviator in pursuit...
, Federal Aviation Administration
Federal Aviation Administration
The Federal Aviation Administration is the national aviation authority of the United States. An agency of the United States Department of Transportation, it has authority to regulate and oversee all aspects of civil aviation in the U.S...
(FAA) Designated Pilot Examiner, and a member of the U.S. Soaring Hall of Fame
Soaring Hall of Fame
The Soaring Hall of Fame recognizes individuals who have made the highest achievements in, or contributions to, the sport of soaring in the United States of America. It has been located at the National Soaring Museum in Elmira, New York, since 1975...
. He was an early pioneer of ridge soaring in the Ridge-and-valley Appalachians
Ridge-and-valley Appalachians
The Ridge-and-Valley Appalachians, also called the Ridge and Valley Province or the Valley and Ridge Appalachians, are a physiographic province of the larger Appalachian division and are also a belt within the Appalachian Mountains extending from southeastern New York through northwestern New...
in the 1960s, ultimately setting five world records flying gliders there. He was the stunt pilot in the 1999 film The Thomas Crown Affair
The Thomas Crown Affair (1999 film)
The Thomas Crown Affair is a 1999 American heist film directed by John McTiernan. The film, starring Pierce Brosnan, Rene Russo and Denis Leary, is a remake of the 1968 film of the same name....
.http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/contributor/1809084341
Mr. Knauff was the first glider pilot to fly 750 km and 1000 km triangle course flights in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, 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 is one of the few FAA designated pilot examiners who are authorized to issue initial flight instructor certificates.
Mr. Knauff currently lives near State College
State College, Pennsylvania
State College is the largest borough in Centre County in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. It is the principal city of the State College, Pennsylvania Metropolitan Statistical Area which encompasses all of Centre County. As of the 2010 census, the borough population was 42,034, and roughly double...
, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
with his wife Doris Grove
Doris Grove
Doris Grove is an American world record breaking glider pilot, flight instructor, and a member of the U.S. Soaring Hall of Fame. She was an early pioneer of ridge soaring in the Ridge-and-valley Appalachians in the 1970s, ultimately setting three world records flying gliders there, and becoming the...
, another hall of fame glider pilot. They own and operate the Ridge Soaring Gliderport
Ridge Soaring Gliderport
Ridge Soaring Gliderport is a public-use glider airport located two nautical miles southwest of the central business district of Unionville, in Centre County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is privately owned by Knauff & Grove, Inc....
in Julian, Pennsylvania
Julian, Pennsylvania
Julian, is a census-designated place in Centre County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is part of the State College, Pennsylvania Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 152 at the 2000 census...
, which they founded in 1975.
- Source: Trasition to Gliders: A Flight Training Handbook for Power Pilots, About the Author, by Doris Grove
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, 2 May 1986, Schempp-Hirth Nimbus 3
- Free distance using up to 3 turn points: 1,394.04 km, 1 June 1993, Schempp-Hirth Discus B
- Two-place glider
- Out-and-return distance: 829.7 km, 7 April 1979, IARIndustria Aeronautica RomânaIndustria Aeronautică Română or Romanian Aeronautic Industry in English, is a Romanian aerospace manufacturer founded in 1925. Based in Ghimbav, near Braşov, Romania, the company employs around 1200 specialists including more than 170 engineers...
IS-28B2 "Lark" - Out-and-return distance: 1,000.88 km, 28 September 1981, Grob Twin Astir IIGrob G 103 Twin Astir|-References:*...
- Out-and-return distance: 829.7 km, 7 April 1979, IAR
-
- Source: Fédération Aéronautique InternationaleFédération Aéronautique InternationaleThe Fédération Aéronautique Internationale is the world governing body for air sports and aeronautics and astronautics world records. Its head office is in Lausanne, Switzerland. This includes man-carrying aerospace vehicles from balloons to spacecraft, and unmanned aerial vehicles...
http://records.fai.org/pilot.asp?from=gliding&id=75
- Source: Fédération Aéronautique Internationale
Other Flying Accomplishments
- Over 50 U.S. national gliding records
- World/National gliding competitionsGliding competitionsSome of the pilots in the sport of gliding take part in gliding competitions. These are usually racing competitions, but there are also aerobatic contests and on-line league tables.-History of 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 FameSoaring Hall of FameThe Soaring Hall of Fame recognizes individuals who have made the highest achievements in, or contributions to, the sport of soaring in the United States of America. It has been located at the National Soaring Museum in Elmira, New York, since 1975...
http://www.soaringmuseum.org/halloffame/halloffamebios.html#K
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
- Transition to Gliders : A Flight Training Handbook for Power Pilots .2nd ed., 1990, 1984, ISBN 0-9605676-2-3