The Yellow Bird: Klaus Ohlmann and his Caproni Calif

In the world of high-performance aviation, where modern gliders look like sleek, identical carbon-fiber needles, one aircraft immediately stands out in the Southern French Alps: a striking, bright-yellow machine with a deep violet rudder. It is the *Caproni Vizzola Calif A-21S*, piloted by none other than world-record legend Klaus Ohlmann.

For Klaus, this aircraft is far more than just a vintage glider—it is a time machine, a classroom, and a masterclass in aerodynamic engineering.

1. Flying „Side-by-Side“
Unlike almost all modern high-performance two-seaters where the passenger sits behind the pilot, the Calif features a *side-by-side cockpit*. For Klaus’s legendary flights in Serres and across the Alps, this layout changes everything. It turns a flight into a shared, eye-to-eye experience. Whether he is guiding a co-pilot through turbulent mountain rotors or reading the invisible energy of a massive lee wave, sitting shoulder-to-shoulder allows for perfect communication and shared goosebumps.

2. The Heavy Metal Masterpiece
While the rest of the gliding world fully transitioned to fiberglass and carbon in the 1970s, the Italian manufacturer Caproni chose a different path: *aluminum*.
* *The Wave Advantage:* This robust metal construction gives the Calif a unique advantage in heavy mountain wave conditions. Where ultra-lightweight composite gliders bounce and flex violently in heavy turbulence, the heavy Calif cuts through the air like a luxury cruise liner. Klaus often describes it as switching from a light dinghy to a solid, powerful ship.

3. A Record-Breaking Heritage
While Klaus is famous for breaking ultimate barrier records (like his breathtaking *3,009 km* flight in the Andes), the Calif brings its own royal pedigree to the table. In the 1970s, this exact model held *four FAI world records simultaneously*, including a massive 970 km straight-distance flight in Australia. Klaus keeps this legacy alive, proving every season that deep atmospheric understanding and a legendary airframe can outfly the most expensive modern tech.

Technical Cheat Sheet: Caproni Calif A-21S

If someone at the airfield asks for the hard facts, here is what makes Klaus’s bird so unique:

Specification
Wingspan: 20.38 meters (66.9 ft)
Cockpit Layout: Side-by-Side (2 seats)
Material: Main fuselage and wings made of Aluminum
Wing Geometry: Distinct rectangular inner wing with a double-trapezoid outer wing
Best Glide Ratio: 1:38* at 115 km/h
Never Exceed Speed (V_{NE}): 255 km/h (137 knots)
Gear System: Unique twin 5-inch main wheels retracting into the fuselage
Canopy: Two-piece design; the rear section slides elegantly backwards