Xloritall logo

   Register Account | Log In


  • HOME
  • BLOG
    Blog Posts
  • PLACES
    Places Newest Added Most Popular Random Add a Place
  • ACTIVITIES
    Activities Events  new icon
  • PEOPLE
    Find People
  • TRAVEL
    Trip Planner  new icon
    Travel Deals
  • GEAR
    Gear & Clothing  
Xplorital Travel Deals

Hang Glider Sets Two World Records in One Day

Posted on February 5, 2014 by Jamie Brady   comments

 

Veteran hanglider and Red Bull athlete, Jonny Durand, broke not one but two hangliding world records - in the same day.

The record flights were the culmination of a year of planning, narrowed down to a two-week window. He selected the coastline of the Great Australian Bight, where the winds coming off the ocean bounce off the sheer cliff faces to provide the lift and speed needed to attempt the record flights. Normally in a flight, a pilot would have to perform circular maneuvers to maintain altitude, at a sacrifice to speed and pilot fatigue. “In the end, I only did two turns all day – one in each attempt just so I could turn the thing around to come home.” said Durand.

Even still, the winds abated for a period of time where Durand was sure he would have to set the glider down in the ocean. He began unstrapping most of his harness attachments, so that he only had a few more to unhook once in the water. A scary experience, especially given the reports of Great White sharks in the area. The wind picked back up, and Durand was able to complete the flight.

“

I actually resigned myself to the fact I was going to have to make a water landing and unstrapped myself.

”


The first record he set was for the fastest 300km (186 mile) out-and-back round trip - which took four hours and 16 minutes at an average speed of 72kph (44.7mph). The previous record was 5.5 hours (average speed of 56kph or 34.8mph).

Ninety minutes after the 300km flight, he was back in the air in pursuit of the 100km (62 mile) out-and-back record, which he set at 90kph (55.9mph). The previous record for that distance was 76kph (47.2mph). During the flight he reached speeds close to 110kph (68.4mph).




Photo: Mark Watson/Red Bull Content Pool


Photo: Mark Watson/Red Bull Content Pool


Photo: Mark Watson/Red Bull Content Pool


Photo: Mark Watson/Red Bull Content Pool


Photo: Mark Watson/Red Bull Content Pool


Photo: Mark Watson/Red Bull Content Pool

>>Visit the Xploritall Hang Gliding page. Join now to add Hang Gliding as an interest

 
Jamie Brady
Jamie is the Founder of Xploritall. He's an avid road cyclist, hiker, and cross-country skier. He caught the travel bug while performing as a techno DJ in various countries.
Author Connect: Twitter | Google+

Comments



 

contact us

faq

link to xploritall


terms of service

privacy policy

sustainability


Follow Us:

 

Copyright © 2011 xploritall.com. All rights reserved