On Friday, March 8, 2013 7:42:39 AM UTC-6, son_of_flubber wrote:
As someone with zero XC experience, this seems an impressive feat of endurance. I have a general question and it is not meant as criticism or negativity. I just don't understand WHY someone would want to spend 4 hours in a glider let alone 11. What does it feel like to do this? What is the attraction? Do you get into a euphoric state after the first two hours or so? Is the euphoria related to mild hypoxia? My longest flight in a glider has been about 100 minutes and I came down because my bladder was full (no having made anticipated the need). So I really have no idea why people like to stay up that longer than that. What is the difference between a 1.5 hour flight and a 4 hour flight?

many of us take great satisfaction and trying to fly the maximum distance possible in a given day. duration is an important part of that.

Randy is a long haul airline pilot, long duration flights are nothing new to him. He's been trying to get a sunrise to sunset flight at Talhina for many years and along with that is expanding the envelope on the distance potential for this site.