Gordon Boettger 1000 mile attempt going on right now

Minden to Kansas in a Duo
Noted on current post on Soaring Cafe:

His SPOT quit, but check out his path on http://flightaware.com/live/flight/N55LK

Currently over Uintas at 25,900' with 19 kts up. Fun to watch the
trace on the top of the page and the altitude and up / down on the
bottom of the page.

On Sunday, April 14, 2013 5:06:01 PM UTC-6, Bob wrote:
Minden to Kansas in a Duo

Noted on current post on Soaring Cafe:



His SPOT quit, but check out his path on http://flightaware.com/live/flight/N55LK



Currently over Uintas at 25,900' with 19 kts up. Fun to watch the

trace on the top of the page and the altitude and up / down on the

bottom of the page.

Excellent! He just entered Colorado with an excellent tailwind!!

Looks like they have landed at the airport at Gunnison, Colorado. Fantastic flight, guys!

On Sunday, April 14, 2013 9:10:12 PM UTC-4, Steve Leonard wrote:
Looks like they have landed at the airport at Gunnison, Colorado. Fantastic flight, guys!

Great flight!

On Apr 14, 6:11*pm, "John Godfrey (QT)"
wrote:
On Sunday, April 14, 2013 9:10:12 PM UTC-4, Steve Leonard wrote:
Looks like they have landed at the airport at Gunnison, Colorado. *Fantastic flight, guys!

Great flight!

I'll second those motions... superb going. Even though the weather
slowed their planned progress, it was a great flight, one to be proud
of, and I'll bet they will be happy to warm up now that they are on
the ground!

Sure was fun to watch the trace as it was happening. Brought back
memories of last summer's 475 mile world record hang glider flight in
Texas. Watched that one on SPOT page to landing.

Thanks Gordon and Hugh! I got almost nothing done today! Good show, GREAT FLIGHT!

Terrific attempt, but I've gotta ask some questions:

Did they expect to fly a thousand miles in daylight? I know they're
equipped for night flight, but I'd hate to have to land anywhere in Colorado
at night in a glider. Worse would be to bail out!

Were they counting on wave to carry them all the way from Minden to Garden
City? That sounds unreasonable to me and I'd expect thermals to quit before
sundown. Is the sink rate of the Duo low enough that they could fly at
minimum sink all night and hope to catch a thermal over the plains in the
morning? Could they keep each other awake?

Again, wonderful flight and I would have been amazed to see it work out, but
I just don't see how it would be realistically possible. Someone please
enlighten me!


wrote in message
...
Thanks Gordon and Hugh! I got almost nothing done today! Good show, GREAT
FLIGHT!