Before joining the series, Schrodt was an airline pilot and yachtsman.

Whilst being passionate for yachting in his youth, Schrodt maintained a strong interest in flying, travelling 30 kilometres (19 mi) each day in order to clean hangars in exchange for 10 minutes of flying lessons.

[2] After completing flight school, he became a pilot for Lufthansa at 19 years old;[2] Schrodt retired in 2002 to focus on aerobatic flying.

[2] Klaus has flown over 100 different aircraft, notching up more than 22,000 flying hours.

His interest in yachting led to crossing the Atlantic Ocean on three separate solo trips, the first of which was in 1976.