Soaring – August 2019

http://www.ssa.org • August 2019 • Soaring 23

this illustrious group. A creative pilot might find competi-
tive O&R speed lines in AZ, UT, and NM. Record seekers
must bring nerve and stamina!

Preparing for Your Record Flight
After getting ideas from these heat maps, seriously aspir-
ing pilots should consult the state records database for each
state (at ssa.org) to find the actual records for their ship
class and task type, and consult with the state record keeper
prior to flying any attempts.
Pilots should become familiar with the FAI rules, partic-
ularly with regard to declarations, starts, turnpoint dimen-
sions, and finishes. You also need to plan for a crew and an
official observer. In out-of-the-way places, an airfield man-
ager can serve as OO.
Any big record other than an altitude requires a long
soaring day, so records are most often set between April
and August. The days are longer in the north; at mid-
summer, Fargo, ND enjoys two hours more daylight than
Laredo, TX.
A new, top performing ship is not a requirement, because
record flying is about planning and endurance as much as it
is ship performance. There are many Open state records set
by Standard class ships.
However, a modern ship will be helpful in competitive
states. Motorgliders have a particular advantage because of
their self-sufficiency away from a glider operation.
The truly committed outfit their ships for night flying to
launch before dawn and land after sunset. ATC clearance
into Class A airspace can also help record seekers fly higher
and faster.

Flying a Lasting Record
You may have realized that almost any cross-country pi-
lot can easily establish a record, if they fly from the right
place. The record books are so sparse – in whole divisions,
states, record categories, and glider classes – that in some
places ANY FLIGHT if fairly claimed can be a record.
However, here are some guidelines (the author’s own;
flame suit on) to help create records that will stand the test
of time.
• Declared distance is harder than free distance. For in-
stance, a free out-and-return claim should be longer than
the declared out-and-return record.
• Fewer legs are harder than more legs. For instance, a

3-turnpoint (4-leg) claim should be longer than the out-
and-return (2-leg) record.
• Longer speed records supersede shorter ones. For

instance, if a pilot flies a 300 km triangle at 50 mph and
another flies a 500 km triangle at 100 mph, then 100 mph
also becomes the new 300 km triangle speed record. This
also applies to out-and-return speed records.
• Consider speed records when flying for distance, and
vice versa. One would hesitate to claim a triangle distance

if a longer triangle speed record had been flown.

•    A   record set by   a   lower  class   ship    is   the    record  to   beat   

for a higher class until superseded in the higher class.

•    Open-Multi should  fly  the    biggest records,    even        bigger  

than Open, because two crew members are always better

than one.

Notable US General Soaring Records

Record Category US Pilot, State, World

Record Ship Record

Distance to Goal 801 mi Karl Striedieck 1,319 mi

PA

ASW 27

Free 903 mi Michael Koerner 1,402 mi

Distance CA

Kestrel

Declared 1,023 mi Thomas Knauff 1,395 mi

Out-and-Return PA

Nimbus 3

Free 3-turnpoints 1,322 mi Boettger/Bennett 1,870 mi

NV

Duo Discus

Triangle Distance 847 mi McMaster, Sey- 866 mi

15 m mour, Striedieck

PA

ASW 20

Declared 623 mi Daniel Sazhin 623 mi

3-turnpoints PA

13.5 m SGS 1-26

Absolute 49,009 ft Robert Harris 74,334 ft

Altitude CA

Single-Place G-102

Out-and-Return 107 mph James Payne 158 mph

Speed 1,000 km CA

ASW 27

Triangle Speed 98 mph Keith Essex 105 mph

1,000 km NV

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