Boettger-Bennett 2,200 KM record flight from Minden

[Mitch Polinsky[_2_]]

Last Wednesday Gordon Boettger and Hugh Bennett flew a Duo Discus for 2,200
KM as measured by the OLC, making their flight the highest ranked OLC
flight in world, beating even Klaus Ohlmann's and John Williams' flights
in the Andes. Here's a description of the flight prepared by Doug
Armstrong, who provided wonderful meteorlogical support to them for the
flight:

"Gordon Boettger and Hugh Bennett on April 20th established a new record
distance for sailplane flight in the northern hemisphere and their
endeavor catapulted them to the best flight in the world for the sport of
soaring in 2011. Their flight in a Duo-Discus covered 2200 km or 1367
miles in 13 hours and 20 minutes with an average speed of 103 mph.
The flight's journey began at Minden, NV's airport using meteorological
lift of the Sierra wave (well known
to general aviation interests). The first turnpoint was Inyokern, CA in
the Owens valley in the lee of the southern Sierra and then retracing
their path to the next turnpoint at Susanville, CA near the northern end
of the Sierra with a favorable tailwind component and ground speeds of 160
mph. The next leg of their flight was along the full length of the Sierra
back to near Inyokern and the last leg headed north again and finished at
dusk in Winnemucca, NV. Soaring, NV launched them with an aerotow just
after sunrise while the FAA's Air Traffic Control in Oakland graciously
handled the safety of the flight's airspace for the entire flight."

[bildan]

On Apr 25, 2:48*pm, Mitch Polinsky
> wrote:
> Last Wednesday Gordon Boettger and Hugh Bennett flew a Duo Discus for 2,200
> KM as measured by the OLC, making their flight the highest ranked OLC
> flight in world, beating even Klaus Ohlmann's and John Williams' flights
> in the Andes. *Here's a description of the flight prepared by Doug
> Armstrong, who provided wonderful meteorlogical support to them for the
> flight:
>
> "Gordon Boettger and Hugh Bennett on April 20th established a new record
> distance for sailplane flight in the northern hemisphere and their
> endeavor catapulted them to the best flight in the world for the sport of
> soaring in 2011. *Their flight in a Duo-Discus covered 2200 km or 1367
> miles in 13 hours and 20 minutes with an average speed of 103 mph.
> The flight's journey began at Minden, NV's airport using meteorological
> lift of the Sierra wave (well known
> to general aviation interests). *The first turnpoint was Inyokern, CA in
> the Owens valley in the lee of the southern Sierra and then retracing
> their path to the next turnpoint at Susanville, CA near the northern end
> of the Sierra with a favorable tailwind component and ground speeds of 160
> mph. *The next leg of their flight was along the full length of the Sierra
> back to near Inyokern and the last leg headed north again and finished at
> dusk in Winnemucca, NV. *Soaring, NV launched them with an aerotow just
> after sunrise while the FAA's Air Traffic Control in Oakland graciously
> handled the safety of the flight's airspace for the entire flight."

Without doubt Boettger and Bennett's flight is a great achievement and
they are due our congratulations, but how does it beat Klaus Ohlmann's
3008 Km flight?

[Tony[_5_]]

On Apr 25, 5:05*pm, bildan > wrote:
> On Apr 25, 2:48*pm, Mitch Polinsky
>
>
>
> > wrote:
> > Last Wednesday Gordon Boettger and Hugh Bennett flew a Duo Discus for 2,200
> > KM as measured by the OLC, making their flight the highest ranked OLC
> > flight in world, beating even Klaus Ohlmann's and John Williams' flights
> > in the Andes. *Here's a description of the flight prepared by Doug
> > Armstrong, who provided wonderful meteorlogical support to them for the
> > flight:
>
> > "Gordon Boettger and Hugh Bennett on April 20th established a new record
> > distance for sailplane flight in the northern hemisphere and their
> > endeavor catapulted them to the best flight in the world for the sport of
> > soaring in 2011. *Their flight in a Duo-Discus covered 2200 km or 1367
> > miles in 13 hours and 20 minutes with an average speed of 103 mph.
> > The flight's journey began at Minden, NV's airport using meteorological
> > lift of the Sierra wave (well known
> > to general aviation interests). *The first turnpoint was Inyokern, CA in
> > the Owens valley in the lee of the southern Sierra and then retracing
> > their path to the next turnpoint at Susanville, CA near the northern end
> > of the Sierra with a favorable tailwind component and ground speeds of 160
> > mph. *The next leg of their flight was along the full length of the Sierra
> > back to near Inyokern and the last leg headed north again and finished at
> > dusk in Winnemucca, NV. *Soaring, NV launched them with an aerotow just
> > after sunrise while the FAA's Air Traffic Control in Oakland graciously
> > handled the safety of the flight's airspace for the entire flight."
>
> Without doubt Boettger and Bennett's flight is a great achievement and
> they are due our congratulations, but how does it beat Klaus Ohlmann's
> 3008 Km flight?

Boettger and Bennett's flight is the highest scoring for the 2011 year
(so far) on the OLC.

[Mike Schumann]

On 4/25/2011 4:48 PM, Mitch Polinsky wrote:
> Last Wednesday Gordon Boettger and Hugh Bennett flew a Duo Discus for 2,200
> KM as measured by the OLC, making their flight the highest ranked OLC
> flight in world, beating even Klaus Ohlmann's and John Williams' flights
> in the Andes. Here's a description of the flight prepared by Doug
> Armstrong, who provided wonderful meteorlogical support to them for the
> flight:
>
> "Gordon Boettger and Hugh Bennett on April 20th established a new record
> distance for sailplane flight in the northern hemisphere and their
> endeavor catapulted them to the best flight in the world for the sport of
> soaring in 2011. Their flight in a Duo-Discus covered 2200 km or 1367
> miles in 13 hours and 20 minutes with an average speed of 103 mph.
> The flight's journey began at Minden, NV's airport using meteorological
> lift of the Sierra wave (well known
> to general aviation interests). The first turnpoint was Inyokern, CA in
> the Owens valley in the lee of the southern Sierra and then retracing
> their path to the next turnpoint at Susanville, CA near the northern end
> of the Sierra with a favorable tailwind component and ground speeds of 160
> mph. The next leg of their flight was along the full length of the Sierra
> back to near Inyokern and the last leg headed north again and finished at
> dusk in Winnemucca, NV. Soaring, NV launched them with an aerotow just
> after sunrise while the FAA's Air Traffic Control in Oakland graciously
> handled the safety of the flight's airspace for the entire flight."
>
>
>

Did they have a wave window for this flight, or did they file an IFR
flight plan?

--
Mike Schumann

[[email protected]]

On Apr 25, 9:22*pm, Mike Schumann >
wrote:
> On 4/25/2011 4:48 PM, Mitch Polinsky wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
> > Last Wednesday Gordon Boettger and Hugh Bennett flew a Duo Discus for 2,200
> > KM as measured by the OLC, making their flight the highest ranked OLC
> > flight in world, beating even Klaus Ohlmann's and John Williams' flights
> > in the Andes. *Here's a description of the flight prepared by Doug
> > Armstrong, who provided wonderful meteorlogical support to them for the
> > flight:
>
> > "Gordon Boettger and Hugh Bennett on April 20th established a new record
> > distance for sailplane flight in the northern hemisphere and their
> > endeavor catapulted them to the best flight in the world for the sport of
> > soaring in 2011. *Their flight in a Duo-Discus covered 2200 km or 1367
> > miles in 13 hours and 20 minutes with an average speed of 103 mph.
> > The flight's journey began at Minden, NV's airport using meteorological
> > lift of the Sierra wave (well known
> > to general aviation interests). *The first turnpoint was Inyokern, CA in
> > the Owens valley in the lee of the southern Sierra and then retracing
> > their path to the next turnpoint at Susanville, CA near the northern end
> > of the Sierra with a favorable tailwind component and ground speeds of 160
> > mph. *The next leg of their flight was along the full length of the Sierra
> > back to near Inyokern and the last leg headed north again and finished at
> > dusk in Winnemucca, NV. *Soaring, NV launched them with an aerotow just
> > after sunrise while the FAA's Air Traffic Control in Oakland graciously
> > handled the safety of the flight's airspace for the entire flight."
>
> Did they have a wave window for this flight, or did they file an IFR
> flight plan?
>
> --
> Mike Schumann- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

Altitudes used and area flown make this an IFR flight. Lots of good
will with ATC required.
UH

[Mike Schumann]

On 4/25/2011 9:44 PM, wrote:
> On Apr 25, 9:22 pm, Mike >
> wrote:
>> On 4/25/2011 4:48 PM, Mitch Polinsky wrote:
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>> Last Wednesday Gordon Boettger and Hugh Bennett flew a Duo Discus for 2,200
>>> KM as measured by the OLC, making their flight the highest ranked OLC
>>> flight in world, beating even Klaus Ohlmann's and John Williams' flights
>>> in the Andes. Here's a description of the flight prepared by Doug
>>> Armstrong, who provided wonderful meteorlogical support to them for the
>>> flight:
>>
>>> "Gordon Boettger and Hugh Bennett on April 20th established a new record
>>> distance for sailplane flight in the northern hemisphere and their
>>> endeavor catapulted them to the best flight in the world for the sport of
>>> soaring in 2011. Their flight in a Duo-Discus covered 2200 km or 1367
>>> miles in 13 hours and 20 minutes with an average speed of 103 mph.
>>> The flight's journey began at Minden, NV's airport using meteorological
>>> lift of the Sierra wave (well known
>>> to general aviation interests). The first turnpoint was Inyokern, CA in
>>> the Owens valley in the lee of the southern Sierra and then retracing
>>> their path to the next turnpoint at Susanville, CA near the northern end
>>> of the Sierra with a favorable tailwind component and ground speeds of 160
>>> mph. The next leg of their flight was along the full length of the Sierra
>>> back to near Inyokern and the last leg headed north again and finished at
>>> dusk in Winnemucca, NV. Soaring, NV launched them with an aerotow just
>>> after sunrise while the FAA's Air Traffic Control in Oakland graciously
>>> handled the safety of the flight's airspace for the entire flight."
>>
>> Did they have a wave window for this flight, or did they file an IFR
>> flight plan?
>>
>> --
>> Mike Schumann- Hide quoted text -
>>
>> - Show quoted text -
>
> Altitudes used and area flown make this an IFR flight. Lots of good
> will with ATC required.
> UH

Obviously this was largely in Class A. Just curious about the technical
details of how you organize this kind of flight. Do you file an IFR
flight plan?

--
Mike Schumann

[Darryl Ramm]

On Apr 25, 7:32*pm, Mike Schumann >
wrote:
> On 4/25/2011 9:44 PM, wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> > On Apr 25, 9:22 pm, Mike >
> > wrote:
> >> On 4/25/2011 4:48 PM, Mitch Polinsky wrote:
>
> >>> Last Wednesday Gordon Boettger and Hugh Bennett flew a Duo Discus for 2,200
> >>> KM as measured by the OLC, making their flight the highest ranked OLC
> >>> flight in world, beating even Klaus Ohlmann's and John Williams' flights
> >>> in the Andes. *Here's a description of the flight prepared by Doug
> >>> Armstrong, who provided wonderful meteorlogical support to them for the
> >>> flight:
>
> >>> "Gordon Boettger and Hugh Bennett on April 20th established a new record
> >>> distance for sailplane flight in the northern hemisphere and their
> >>> endeavor catapulted them to the best flight in the world for the sport of
> >>> soaring in 2011. *Their flight in a Duo-Discus covered 2200 km or 1367
> >>> miles in 13 hours and 20 minutes with an average speed of 103 mph.
> >>> The flight's journey began at Minden, NV's airport using meteorological
> >>> lift of the Sierra wave (well known
> >>> to general aviation interests). *The first turnpoint was Inyokern, CA in
> >>> the Owens valley in the lee of the southern Sierra and then retracing
> >>> their path to the next turnpoint at Susanville, CA near the northern end
> >>> of the Sierra with a favorable tailwind component and ground speeds of 160
> >>> mph. *The next leg of their flight was along the full length of the Sierra
> >>> back to near Inyokern and the last leg headed north again and finished at
> >>> dusk in Winnemucca, NV. *Soaring, NV launched them with an aerotow just
> >>> after sunrise while the FAA's Air Traffic Control in Oakland graciously
> >>> handled the safety of the flight's airspace for the entire flight."
>
> >> Did they have a wave window for this flight, or did they file an IFR
> >> flight plan?
>
> >> --
> >> Mike Schumann- Hide quoted text -
>
> >> - Show quoted text -
>
> > Altitudes used and area flown make this an IFR flight. Lots of good
> > will with ATC required.
> > UH
>
> Obviously this was largely in Class A. *Just curious about the technical
> details of how you organize this kind of flight. *Do you file an IFR
> flight plan?
>
> --
> Mike Schumann

You betcha they have to file a flight plan. Oakland and Los Angeles
ARTCC are going to get pretty ****ed off otherwise. They will ask for
and be granted block altitudes.

Darryl

[Grider Pirate]

On Apr 25, 3:05*pm, bildan > wrote:
> On Apr 25, 2:48*pm, Mitch Polinsky
>
>
>
>
>
> > wrote:
> > Last Wednesday Gordon Boettger and Hugh Bennett flew a Duo Discus for 2,200
> > KM as measured by the OLC, making their flight the highest ranked OLC
> > flight in world, beating even Klaus Ohlmann's and John Williams' flights
> > in the Andes. *Here's a description of the flight prepared by Doug
> > Armstrong, who provided wonderful meteorlogical support to them for the
> > flight:
>
> > "Gordon Boettger and Hugh Bennett on April 20th established a new record
> > distance for sailplane flight in the northern hemisphere and their
> > endeavor catapulted them to the best flight in the world for the sport of
> > soaring in 2011. *Their flight in a Duo-Discus covered 2200 km or 1367
> > miles in 13 hours and 20 minutes with an average speed of 103 mph.
> > The flight's journey began at Minden, NV's airport using meteorological
> > lift of the Sierra wave (well known
> > to general aviation interests). *The first turnpoint was Inyokern, CA in
> > the Owens valley in the lee of the southern Sierra and then retracing
> > their path to the next turnpoint at Susanville, CA near the northern end
> > of the Sierra with a favorable tailwind component and ground speeds of 160
> > mph. *The next leg of their flight was along the full length of the Sierra
> > back to near Inyokern and the last leg headed north again and finished at
> > dusk in Winnemucca, NV. *Soaring, NV launched them with an aerotow just
> > after sunrise while the FAA's Air Traffic Control in Oakland graciously
> > handled the safety of the flight's airspace for the entire flight."
>
> Without doubt Boettger and Bennett's flight is a great achievement and
> they are due our congratulations, but how does it beat Klaus Ohlmann's
> 3008 Km flight?- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

I like to download and replay those big flights. Mention of a 3008
kilometer flight sent me looking. I can't find it. Do you have a
link? I did see Klaus has two flights in excess of 2,200 kilo, in
previous years. I just can't find a 3008K.
TIA

[Mitch Polinsky[_2_]]

At 05:05 26 April 2011, Grider Pirate wrote:
>On Apr 25, 3:05=A0pm, bildan wrote:
>> On Apr 25, 2:48=A0pm, Mitch Polinsky
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> wrote:
>> > Last Wednesday Gordon Boettger and Hugh Bennett flew a Duo Discus
for
>2=
>,200
>> > KM as measured by the OLC, making their flight the highest ranked
OLC
>> > flight in world, beating even Klaus Ohlmann's and John Williams'
>flight=
>s
>> > in the Andes. =A0Here's a description of the flight prepared by
Doug
>> > Armstrong, who provided wonderful meteorlogical support to them for
>the
>> > flight:
>>
>> > "Gordon Boettger and Hugh Bennett on April 20th established a new
>recor=
>d
>> > distance for sailplane flight in the northern hemisphere and their
>> > endeavor catapulted them to the best flight in the world for the
sport
>=
>of
>> > soaring in 2011. =A0Their flight in a Duo-Discus covered 2200 km or
>136=
>7
>> > miles in 13 hours and 20 minutes with an average speed of 103 mph.
>> > The flight's journey began at Minden, NV's airport using
>meteorological
>> > lift of the Sierra wave (well known
>> > to general aviation interests). =A0The first turnpoint was Inyokern,
>CA=
> in
>> > the Owens valley in the lee of the southern Sierra and then
retracing
>> > their path to the next turnpoint at Susanville, CA near the northern
>en=
>d
>> > of the Sierra with a favorable tailwind component and ground speeds
of
>=
>160
>> > mph. =A0The next leg of their flight was along the full length of
the
>S=
>ierra
>> > back to near Inyokern and the last leg headed north again and
finished
>=
>at
>> > dusk in Winnemucca, NV. =A0Soaring, NV launched them with an aerotow
>ju=
>st
>> > after sunrise while the FAA's Air Traffic Control in Oakland
>graciously
>> > handled the safety of the flight's airspace for the entire
flight."
>>
>> Without doubt Boettger and Bennett's flight is a great achievement
and
>> they are due our congratulations, but how does it beat Klaus
Ohlmann's
>> 3008 Km flight?- Hide quoted text -
>>
>> - Show quoted text -
>
>I like to download and replay those big flights. Mention of a 3008
>kilometer flight sent me looking. I can't find it. Do you have a
>link? I did see Klaus has two flights in excess of 2,200 kilo, in
>previous years. I just can't find a 3008K.
>TIA
>

Ordinarily one can see world record flights by going to the SSA web site
and putting the cursor on the "Soaring Achievement" tab and then the
cursor on the "World Records" tab. But when I just tried this I got a
"page not found" response.

Mitch Polinsky

[Tony[_5_]]

On Apr 26, 1:35*am, Mitch Polinsky
> wrote:
> At 05:05 26 April 2011, Grider Pirate wrote:
>
>
>
> >On Apr 25, 3:05=A0pm, bildan *wrote:
> >> On Apr 25, 2:48=A0pm, Mitch Polinsky
>
> >> *wrote:
> >> > Last Wednesday Gordon Boettger and Hugh Bennett flew a Duo Discus
> for
> >2=
> >,200
> >> > KM as measured by the OLC, making their flight the highest ranked
> OLC
> >> > flight in world, beating even Klaus Ohlmann's and John Williams'
> >flight=
> >s
> >> > in the Andes. =A0Here's a description of the flight prepared by
> Doug
> >> > Armstrong, who provided wonderful meteorlogical support to them for
> >the
> >> > flight:
>
> >> > "Gordon Boettger and Hugh Bennett on April 20th established a new
> >recor=
> >d
> >> > distance for sailplane flight in the northern hemisphere and their
> >> > endeavor catapulted them to the best flight in the world for the
> sport
> >=
> >of
> >> > soaring in 2011. =A0Their flight in a Duo-Discus covered 2200 km or
> >136=
> >7
> >> > miles in 13 hours and 20 minutes with an average speed of 103 mph.
> >> > The flight's journey began at Minden, NV's airport using
> >meteorological
> >> > lift of the Sierra wave (well known
> >> > to general aviation interests). =A0The first turnpoint was Inyokern,
> >CA=
> > in
> >> > the Owens valley in the lee of the southern Sierra and then
> retracing
> >> > their path to the next turnpoint at Susanville, CA near the northern
> >en=
> >d
> >> > of the Sierra with a favorable tailwind component and ground speeds
> of
> >=
> >160
> >> > mph. =A0The next leg of their flight was along the full length of
> the
> >S=
> >ierra
> >> > back to near Inyokern and the last leg headed north again and
> finished
> >=
> >at
> >> > dusk in Winnemucca, NV. =A0Soaring, NV launched them with an aerotow
> >ju=
> >st
> >> > after sunrise while the FAA's Air Traffic Control in Oakland
> >graciously
> >> > handled the safety of the flight's airspace for the entire
> flight."
>
> >> Without doubt Boettger and Bennett's flight is a great achievement
> and
> >> they are due our congratulations, but how does it beat Klaus
> Ohlmann's
> >> 3008 Km flight?- Hide quoted text -
>
> >> - Show quoted text -
>
> >I like to download and replay those big flights. Mention of a 3008
> >kilometer flight sent me looking. *I can't find it. *Do you have a
> >link? I did see Klaus has two flights in excess of 2,200 kilo, in
> >previous years. *I just can't find a 3008K.
> >TIA
>
> Ordinarily one can see world record flights by going to the SSA web site
> and putting the cursor on the "Soaring Achievement" tab and then the
> cursor on the "World Records" tab. *But when I just tried this I got a
> "page not found" response.
>
> Mitch Polinsky

Looks like the FAI's website is currently undergoing reconstruction

[[email protected]]

One of the GREAT flights in the soaring history of the USA to date by
any standards . WELL DONE to Gordon and Hugh on this outstanding
flight - obviously planned and executed to perfection.
From all us envious Cross Country Pilots in the flat country of
Indiana.

[Tom[_13_]]

On Apr 26, 7:57*am, " > wrote:
> One of the GREAT flights in the soaring history of the USA to date by
> any standards . WELL DONE to Gordon and Hugh on this outstanding
> flight - obviously planned and executed to perfection.
> From all us envious Cross Country Pilots in the flat country of
> Indiana.

Just spoke with a friend out in Minden. Reno 2012 will be a place to
put on your calender for the SSA convention. The presentation and
pictures will be worth your trip.

They carried battery's with total amp hours of 80, plus 2 O2 bottles
for 80 cubic feet. Amazing.

This flight of Ohlmann, Klaus DE (NI) 3020.75 km. was done Jan 21,
2003.

#711.

[MickiMinner]

> From all us envious Cross Country Pilots in the flat country of
> Indiana.

I believe there are pilots even in areas where the thermals are
booming, and the ridges strong that are STILL envious!
I am waiting for the trace...I want to express my amazement at this
GREAT achievement. Not only the planning, but the execution of the
flight. When I am running a contest in Inyokern later this year, I am
going to be constantly amazed at this flight! Congratuations on your
flight !
micki

[Tony[_5_]]

On Apr 26, 1:42*pm, MickiMinner > wrote:
> > From all us envious Cross Country Pilots in the flat country of
> > Indiana.
>
> I believe there are pilots even in areas where the thermals are
> booming, and the ridges strong that are STILL envious!
> I am waiting for the trace...I want to express my amazement at this
> GREAT achievement. *Not only the planning, but the execution of the
> flight. *When I am running a contest in Inyokern later this year, I am
> going to be constantly amazed at this flight! *Congratuations on your
> flight !
> micki

http://www.onlinecontest.org/olc-2.0/gliding/flightinfo.html?dsId=1702056