Les Horvath, famed glider pilot and founder of Arizona Soaring Inc/Estrella Sailport passed away November 9, 2021. Les introduced countless people to the wonders of motorless flight through his teaching, writing of books, performing of airshows, and his passion for aerial photography. Les was an accomplished cross-country soaring pilot, setting records and being named US National Champion. He took pride in hosting and participating in the first Hitachi Masters of Soaring in 1987. As skilled as he was in XC soaring, Les is most famous for his love of glider aerobatics. Les founded the Sailplane Aerobatic Association and is the only pilot to have been both National Champion in XC soaring and aerobatics. As a member of the US Aerobatic Glider Team, Les participated in multiple World Glider Aerobatic Championships in places such as Austria and Poland. A supremely talented pilot with an infectious smile and un-mistakable accent, Les was known around the world as one of the true masters of the sport.
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