Boettger-Bennett 2,200 KM record flight from Minden

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."

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?

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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