Olaf Schmidt

Olaf Schmidt is a German glider aerobatic pilot, born in 1962. He joined his gliding club, Bremer Verein für Luftfahrt, at the age of 13 and gained his glider pilot licence at 16. He earned his glider and motor glider instructor rating in 1983, has helped at glider aerobatic courses as a tow pilot since 1984, and obtained his glider aerobatics rating in 1987. He entered his first glider aerobatic competition in the advanced category in 1994, and the 1998 German National Championship was his first in the unlimited category. He became a member of the German National Glider Aerobatics Team in 2001 and since then has competed in the European and the World Glider Aerobatic Championships. His career shows the club based route by which most glider aerobatic pilots reach national team level.