New Florida distance record for hang gliders

[Ron Gleason]

On Thursday April 26th two pilots, Johnny Durand from Australia and
Dustin Martin from AZ, flew 283 miles from Groveland FL to just south
of the South Carolina border. They had tremendous support from their
driver, Chris Smith of CA, and others back at the flight park to
ensure they flew around airspace, no TFR's were posted for the huge
wildfire in GA and that the front passing through GA/TN was not
getting dangerous (there were tornado warning in western GA).

You view and download the tracklog at http://ozreport.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=7590
and also view the hour by hour posting, satellite images and blip map
predictions at http://ozreport.com/11.86#7

This distance may not seem impressive to sail plane pilots but
consider the gliders they are flying have ~ 16 to 1 glide ratios. The
planning, timing and luck all came together.

[Mike the Strike]

> This distance may not seem impressive to sail plane pilots but
> consider the gliders they are flying have ~ 16 to 1 glide ratios. The
> planning, timing and luck all came together.

Many of us sailplane pilots are ex (or current) hang glider pilots and
are suitably impressed!

Mike

[[email protected]]

On Apr 27, 6:59 am, Ron Gleason > wrote:
> On Thursday April 26th two pilots, Johnny Durand from Australia and
> Dustin Martin from AZ, flew 283 miles from Groveland FL to just south
> of the South Carolina border. They had tremendous support from their
> driver, Chris Smith of CA, and others back at the flight park to
> ensure they flew around airspace, no TFR's were posted for the huge
> wildfire in GA and that the front passing through GA/TN was not
> getting dangerous (there were tornado warning in western GA).
>
> You view and download the tracklog athttp://ozreport.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=7590
> and also view the hour by hour posting, satellite images and blip map
> predictions athttp://ozreport.com/11.86#7
>
> This distance may not seem impressive to sail plane pilots but
> consider the gliders they are flying have ~ 16 to 1 glide ratios. The
> planning, timing and luck all came together.


CONGRATS Dustin! It sure is amazing how hang gliding cross-country
flights have been extended by aero-towing, instead of having to launch
from a mountain. Plus, planning really helps. Certainly, that flight
ought to earn him AHGA's Eagle of the Month award this month. As an
ex-hang glider pilot for many years, I am very impressed. Knowing
Dustin, I expect this flight will be just one more long one that he
will exceed again one of these days. He's one hot hang glider pilot
(and not just because he's from Arizona!). And, congrats to Johnny
Durant, too!

Bob T.
19