F or the Dolderer family, aviation is a shared passion. When Matthias is asked why

he chose this career, he explains: I was born into a flying family, so my future was mapped out from the start. It all started when he took his first flight with his father, a private pilot, at the age of three. In 1976, the parents of the future aerobatic ace, who ran a farm, opened Tannheim Airfield in southern Germany. The Dolderers succeeded in combining these two apparently incompatible businesses by relocating the family farm to the airfield! At the tender age of six, Matthias was already well on his way to a lifetime of adven- ture. Today, the champion looks back on the milestones of his extraordinary career with great fondness.

A REAL ALL-ROUNDER Matthias took his first solo flight at 14 and earned his pilot s license three years later, qualifying to fly several types of planes and gliders. He soon finished third in the German Cham- pionships, and that was just the start. At 21, he became the youngest flight

instructor in the country. From the age of 22 to the present, he s run Tannheim Airfield with his sister Verena. For over twenty years, the airfield has been the venue for their big event: Tannkosh, the European equivalent of Oshkosh, the famous fly-in in the U.S. After get- ting his commercial pilot license at 25, Matthias joined a business aviation company. Next, he began flying with the legendary Flying Bulls, the Austrian fleet of airworthy vintage aircraft. In 2006, he started to enter aerobat- ic competitions. Two years later, he won the German championship in the unlimited category, the most difficult of all. Since 2009, Matthias has been performing with distinction in the for- midable Red Bull Air Races, navigating through the pylons with brio. It s like trying to park a car in a garage while travelling at nearly 400 km per hour!

PUSHING THE LIMITS Matthias lives his passion to the fullest. What I like about aerobatics is pushing the limits. A man who wears two hats, as race pilot and as airfield/flying school manager, he takes great pride

Matthias Dolderer is a star and national champion in his native Germany. Now his popularity also extends beyond borders as he has earned a name for himself in prestigious international air races. Read on to find out what makes this multi-talented ace tick.

BORN TO FLY in his own and his family s achieve-ments. You can only reach your goal

if you work hard, believe in yourself and never give up. Matthias shares many values with his partner, TOTAL, including tenacity as well as a passion for work well done, fine machines and new challenges. TOTAL supports our airfield and myself as a pilot by providing fuel and lubricants. TOTAL has been my supplier since 1984, be- cause the quality of its products and service is first-rate. By now, I ve come to see my sponsors as friends, which is the icing on the cake!

I FEEL FREE WHEN I FLY Aside from flying, Matthias likes foot- ball and will be following the 2016 European Football Championship. When asked if maintaining a high level in aerobatics is compatible with other sporting interests, such as football, his response is a definite yes. Of course! For one thing, I played goalie when I was younger. For another, the Germans won the World Championship in 2014. Naturally, that s the team I ll be cheer- ing for in the Euro 2016! As spring approaches, Matthias has a few ideas in mind for pleasant outings. For instance, he wouldn t mind heading for the island of Sylt. It s magnificent, perfect for a fairly upscale sort of holiday. Its airfield is supplied by TOTAL now... another reason to return there this year! Matthias has flown the skies of Sylt, Tannheim and many other airfields and tries to describe how it feels. I m living my childhood dream every day. Flying makes me feel free. It s a great way to avoid traffic jams! And the global community of pilots is like a great big family. Matthias s daughter wants to follow in his footsteps... We hope to be running into members of the Dolderer family at airfields for many years to come! n Pascale Nizet

© A

RM IN

W AL

CH ER

/ RE

D BU

LL C

ON TE

NT P

OO L