Hang Glider Sets Two World Records in One Day
Posted on February 5, 2014 by
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.
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
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
