Thomas Knauff

Thomas L. Knauff (born 1938) is an American writer, 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.

Contents

• Thomas 1st Birthday in the Park
• World glider records
• Other flying accomplishments
• Books
• References

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.

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.