Spine of Americas

I was chatting to a non glider pilot recently who seemed to think that a
tip-to-toe flight along the length of the Americas would make a cool
expedition.

Starting in Alaska and following the Rockies, crossing central America and
then picking up the Andes and Klaus Ohlmans tracks to the tip of Southern
America. Given that the total distance is some 17000 km
it would make it an epic trip over a period of a couple of months.

Any thoughts on whether this could this be done?

Ian

Glider pilots have completed two soaring safaris from Marfa (near the
Mexico-US border in the mountains of southwest Texas) north to Canada
along the Rockies, so that route is established as very soarable.
Perhaps a "relay" with different pilots soaring smaller segments of a
longer route. They could pass on a flag or glider-mail.
Burt
Marfa Gliders, west Texas
www.flygliders.com

wrote:
Glider pilots have completed two soaring safaris from Marfa (near the
Mexico-US border in the mountains of southwest Texas) north to Canada
along the Rockies, so that route is established as very soarable.
Perhaps a "relay" with different pilots soaring smaller segments of a
longer route. They could pass on a flag or glider-mail.

Two Germans, Winfried Boos and Fritz ?, have flown their ASH 26 Es from
Houston to Alaska (Fritz continuing to Nome!) and back to Houston,
mostly by soaring. They are the only ones to do it entirely in gliders,
I believe.

Many years ago, Jack Lambie flew a touring type motorglider from the Los
Angeles area to southern Argentina (not sure of the end point), but with
very little or no soaring.

I suggest the semi-adventurous start with the Houston-Nome-Houston trip
and see how they like it! I've taken my ASH 26 E to Alaska (starting in
Washington state), but I did it the conventional way, with a trailer,
and only flying the legs that had soaring weather. Boos and Fritz had to
motor some long legs, as they were traveling unassisted.


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Eric Greenwell
Washington State
USA

3 pilots left Houston from the Soaring Club of Houston....
"Eric Greenwell" wrote in message
...
wrote:
Glider pilots have completed two soaring safaris from Marfa (near the
Mexico-US border in the mountains of southwest Texas) north to Canada
along the Rockies, so that route is established as very soarable.
Perhaps a "relay" with different pilots soaring smaller segments of a
longer route. They could pass on a flag or glider-mail.

Two Germans, Winfried Boos and Fritz ?, have flown their ASH 26 Es from
Houston to Alaska (Fritz continuing to Nome!) and back to Houston,
mostly by soaring. They are the only ones to do it entirely in gliders,
I believe.

Many years ago, Jack Lambie flew a touring type motorglider from the Los
Angeles area to southern Argentina (not sure of the end point), but with
very little or no soaring.

I suggest the semi-adventurous start with the Houston-Nome-Houston trip
and see how they like it! I've taken my ASH 26 E to Alaska (starting in
Washington state), but I did it the conventional way, with a trailer,
and only flying the legs that had soaring weather. Boos and Fritz had to
motor some long legs, as they were traveling unassisted.


--
Change "netto" to "net" to email me directly

Eric Greenwell
Washington State
USA