World record out-and-return
Type of Record: O&R Distance (CC), World Record
Distance/Altitude: 332.5km • Duration: 6h55m
Wing Info: , ()
Site Info: , , USA
FAI Gender Class: General
Domestic or Out-of-Country? Dom
Flight Report:
Launched Walt's Point 10:25 AM. Got up enough to go SE to official 400 meter start cylinder out on the flats. Came back to mountains. Flew North to Mt. Tinemaha. Got high. Crossed to Black Mtn. Got high. Flew the Whites to near Boundary Pk. Got high. Flew to turnpoint out over the flats. Came back part way and got back up North of the mountains.
Flew the Whites to Black Mtn. Almost didn't clear Black. Got up in a smooth one just SE of Black, and then almost tumbled suddenly. Left a bit too low from that, and crossed Westguard pass to the low hills North of the Inyos. Got up.
Tried to leave lift at 15,900 feet (1200+fpm.) Couldn't get out of it. Raced at 70 mph to stay below 18,000 feet. Managed to do it (literally a few feet to spare.) Raced down the Inyos. Barely stopped, mostly just dolphin flight off to the side of a cloud-street. (Staying away from the street, as lift there was strong and base appeared to be 23,000 feet or so. Must stay under 18,000 for record!)
Went on glider early, as there was a bit of streeting along my line to goal. 1/8 way from Mtns. to goal, lost all lift. Crossing headwind the whole way to goal. Got there with at least 3,500 feet to spare. Wind low had switched from the prevailing SE and moderate to strong West. Landed at the edge of the dry-lake, into 15-20 mph wind.
