Karl Striedieck
Encyclopedia
Karl H. Striedieck II is a world record setting glider
pilot 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 nine world records flying gliders there. He was selected for the U.S. national soaring team 12 times, and won a silver medal in the world championships in 1978 and 1983.
Mr. Striedieck was a U.S. Air Force pilot from 1959 to 1962, flying the F-86 Sabre
and F-102 Delta Dagger
, then continued his military service until 1981 in the Pennsylvania Air National Guard
, where he transitioned to the A-7 Corsair II
. A year before graduating from Pennsylvania State University
in 1965, he started flying gliders when he and Bill Clark co-founded the Nittany Soaring Club, flying out of the former State College Air Depot. He has over 15,000 flying hours, with nearly half of that total in gliders.
Mr. Striedieck moved his home to the Eagle Field private airport on top of Bald Eagle Mountain
, near State College
, Pennsylvania
in 1966, and now lives there with his second wife, Iris.
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 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 nine world records flying gliders there. He was selected for the U.S. national soaring team 12 times, and won a silver medal in the world championships in 1978 and 1983.
Mr. Striedieck was a U.S. Air Force pilot from 1959 to 1962, flying the F-86 Sabre
F-86 Sabre
The North American F-86 Sabre was a transonic jet fighter aircraft. Produced by North American Aviation, the Sabre is best known as America's first swept wing fighter which could counter the similarly-winged Soviet MiG-15 in high speed dogfights over the skies of the Korean War...
and F-102 Delta Dagger
F-102 Delta Dagger
The Convair F-102 Delta Dagger was a US interceptor aircraft built as part of the backbone of the United States Air Force's air defenses in the late 1950s. Entering service in 1956, its main purpose was to intercept invading Soviet bomber fleets...
, then continued his military service until 1981 in the Pennsylvania Air National Guard
Pennsylvania Air National Guard
The Pennsylvania Air National Guard is the air force militia of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. It is, along with the Pennsylvania Army National Guard, an element of the Pennsylvania National Guard. It is considered a part of the United States Air Force, as well as of the state.-Overview:The...
, where he transitioned to the A-7 Corsair II
A-7 Corsair II
The Ling-Temco-Vought A-7 Corsair II is a carrier-based subsonic light attack aircraft introduced to replace the United States Navy's Douglas A-4 Skyhawk, initially entering service during the Vietnam War...
. A year before graduating from Pennsylvania State University
Pennsylvania State University
The Pennsylvania State University, commonly referred to as Penn State or PSU, is a public research university with campuses and facilities throughout the state of Pennsylvania, United States. Founded in 1855, the university has a threefold mission of teaching, research, and public service...
in 1965, he started flying gliders when he and Bill Clark co-founded the Nittany Soaring Club, flying out of the former State College Air Depot. He has over 15,000 flying hours, with nearly half of that total in gliders.
Mr. Striedieck moved his home to the Eagle Field private airport on top of Bald Eagle Mountain
Bald Eagle Mountain
Bald Eagle Mountain, once known locally as Muncy Mountain, is a stratigraphic ridge in central Pennsylvania, United States, running east of the Allegheny Front and northwest of Mount Nittany. It lies along the southeast side of Bald Eagle Creek, and south of the West Branch Susquehanna River, and...
, 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...
in 1966, and now lives there with his second wife, Iris.
World Glider Records
- Out-and-return distance: 767.02 km, 3 March 1968, Eaglesville, Pennsylvania, Schleicher Ka 8Schleicher Ka 8|-References:*Taylor, John W. R. Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1966–67. London:Sampson Low, Marston & Company, 1966.**...
B - Out-and-return distance: 916.30 km, 7 November 1971, Eagle Field, Pennsylvania, Schleicher ASW 15Schleicher ASW 15|-References:***Thomas F, Fundamentals of Sailplane Design, College Park Press, 1999*Simons M, Segelflugzeuge 1965-2000, Eqip, 2004*...
- Out-and-return distance: 1098.54 km, 15 October 1972, Eagle Field, Pennsylvania, Schleicher ASW 15Schleicher ASW 15|-References:***Thomas F, Fundamentals of Sailplane Design, College Park Press, 1999*Simons M, Segelflugzeuge 1965-2000, Eqip, 2004*...
- Out-and-return distance: 1025.02 km, 7 October 1972, Eagle Field, Pennsylvania, Schleicher ASW 15Schleicher ASW 15|-References:***Thomas F, Fundamentals of Sailplane Design, College Park Press, 1999*Simons M, Segelflugzeuge 1965-2000, Eqip, 2004*...
- Out-and-return distance: 1298.97 km, 17 March 1976, Lock Haven, PennsylvaniaLock Haven, PennsylvaniaThe city of Lock Haven is the county seat of Clinton County, in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. Located near the confluence of the West Branch Susquehanna River and Bald Eagle Creek, it is the principal city of the Lock Haven, Pennsylvania, micropolitan statistical area, itself part of the...
, Schleicher ASW 17Schleicher ASW 17|-References:* Gliders and Sailplanes of the World by Michael Hardy - Ian Allan Ltd 1982 ISBN 0711011524* Sailplanes 1965-2000 by Martin Simons - Eqip ISBN 3980883817-External links:*... - Out-and-return distance: 1634.70 km, 9 May 1977, Lock Haven, PennsylvaniaLock Haven, PennsylvaniaThe city of Lock Haven is the county seat of Clinton County, in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. Located near the confluence of the West Branch Susquehanna River and Bald Eagle Creek, it is the principal city of the Lock Haven, Pennsylvania, micropolitan statistical area, itself part of the...
, Schleicher ASW 17Schleicher ASW 17|-References:* Gliders and Sailplanes of the World by Michael Hardy - Ian Allan Ltd 1982 ISBN 0711011524* Sailplanes 1965-2000 by Martin Simons - Eqip ISBN 3980883817-External links:*... - Distance over a triangular course: 1362.68 km, 2 May 1986, Julian, PennsylvaniaJulian, PennsylvaniaJulian, 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...
, Schleicher ASW 20Schleicher ASW 20|-References:**, Soaring, May 1978*Sailplane Directory, Soaring, July 1997*Thomas F, Fundamentals of Sailplane Design, College Park Press, 1999*Simons M, Segelflugzeuge 1965-2000, Eqip, 2004...
B - Free distance using up to 3 turn points: 1434.99 km, 12 May 1994, Port Matilda, PennsylvaniaPort Matilda, PennsylvaniaPort Matilda is a borough in Centre County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is part of the State College, Pennsylvania Metropolitan Statistical Area...
, Schleicher ASW 20Schleicher ASW 20|-References:**, Soaring, May 1978*Sailplane Directory, Soaring, July 1997*Thomas F, Fundamentals of Sailplane Design, College Park Press, 1999*Simons M, Segelflugzeuge 1965-2000, Eqip, 2004...
B - Straight distance to a declared goal: 1288.79 km, 18 April 1997, Eagle Field, Pennsylvania Schleicher ASW 27Schleicher ASW 27|-References:***Simons M, Segelflugzeuge 1965-2000, Equip, 2004...
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- 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/gliding/aircraft.asp?id=284
- Source: Fédération Aéronautique Internationale
Other Flying Accomplishments
- Smirnoff Derby Twice, won 1978
- SSA Contest Rules Committee Chairman 1992-2004
- Contest Organizer/Manager 18 times
- Lilienthal Medal 1971
- Lincoln Award 1986
- Exceptional Achievement Award 1972, 1977, 1986, 1994, 1997
- U.S. Standard Class Trophy 1973, 1980, 1981, 1992, 1996;
- U.S. Schreder 15M Trophy 1977, 1980, 1983, 1987, 1989, 1996, 1999, 2001
- Giltner Trophy 1988, 1989, 1993, 1999, 2001
- Hilton Cup 1989
- du Pont Trophy 1990
- Kubly Standard Trophy 1991, 1992, 1993, 1990
- Gomez Trophy 1999
- Lattimore Trophy 1999
- Hatcher Trophy 2001
- FAI 1000 K Diploma #5 (Int #8) 1972
- 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