Doug Jacobs was one of the top American competition glider pilots of all time.
Internationally he brought distinction to the US Soaring Movement. Doug was World Champion in the 15 Meter Class in 1985 and winner of the Umberto Nannini trophy. He was a seven time member of the US Team at World Gliding Championships and won one gold and two bronze medals. Doug was Champion of the 1986 Hitachi masters of Soaring in 1986. He participated in the 1995 Takikawa Masters of Soaring in Japan in 1995 and was a bronze medalist at the 1998 Samedan Jubilee Competition in Switzerland.
Doug Jacobs was an 8 time national champion. He was a multi-year winner of the Hatcher "Top Gun" Trophy, the Kubly Trophy for fastest speed in the standard class nationals, and Giltner Trophy for the fastest speed in the 15M nationals.
His great soaring adventure was the 2003 Return to Kitty Hawk Coast-to-Coast Glider Race. Doug was the 15 Meter Champion.
Doug was a tireless volunteer for the sport of soaring. He served as Treasurer and Director-at-Large of the Soaring Society of America. He was Chairman of the US Team Committee. A frequent contributor to Soaring Magazine, he won the Lincoln Award in 1986.
Doug Jacobs was elected to the US Soaring Hall of Fame in 1990.