European Distance Record smashed on a Gradient Avax XC2

Czech pilot, Karel Vejchodsky has just flown 332.6 from Nove Sady, flying west into Germany.

'I could manage to fly very fast as very nice cloudstreets formed in first 2/3 of the distance. In the end of flight after crossing CZ/Germany borders I flew in sweet cloudless themals. The wind was not strong but conditions allowed me to push speedbar between clouds almost constantly. I am still surprised with performance of Avax XC2, great to know it is possible to fly big distances with today´s serial class gliders. I am so happy! '

World Record conditions in Texas

David Prentice reports on PG Forum:

I have been torturing myslef here in the NW by watching the radar sat loop of the conditions in south Texas, and i saw that today was setting up to be epic and it was. The good cloud streets finally set up all the way to the New Mexico border, unfortunately there was not a single PG pilot there to give it a go. We are up in Washington waiting for the Chelan X-C open. But there were several HG pilots who were in Zapata and late news is that Dustin Martin flew 410 miles landing north of Big Spring TX, just 23 miles short of the HG world record. Gary Osaba may have set a new world record for light sailplane class flying 483 miles. Usually these record days come in sets of two or three where sometimes each day gets slightly better. David Prentice The Strong La Nina over the winter has become neutral, obviously a global pattern that is benefiting Texas at the moment. Good luck guys.

370km on a Deck Chair!

Phil Bibby reports that our World Record Tandem distance has been bettered by a guy on a sunlounger !!!

Last Saturday Ken Couch, emulating icon Larry Walters, flew a garden deckchair from Bend; Oregon to Cambridge; Idaho, a distance of 370 Km!

'I feel gutted ! We need to respond, I feel perhaps, 400Km on a Double Bed might be a suitable repost !'

CNN News

He's at it again! Yesterday he took off at 06.00hrs PST in an attempt to extend his PB. You can track his flight here.

Oh well, I guess we will have to accept defeat on this one!