Longest glide?

I was reviewing my log books the other day and was reminded of an amazing flight I took team flying with another glider. I was flying an ASW-24 and the other glider was a Janus C. There was limited signs of lift yet as we struggled North from the Glider port, most others turned back. We got to the only cu over the end of our local mountain range (30 miles from home). At this point with the only two remaining cu's in the sky one 15 or so miles away on top of another mountain range and the other about another 45 or more miles away on top of yet a third mountain range. All the other gliders wisely decided to head back home for local soaring. We (the Janus and in the ASW-24) crossed the pass and made it to the next thermal with only minimal lift between. Once we climbed up to cloud base (about 14,000 ft) the janus headed for the only other cu miles away. I would have never done this flight had I not had another glider to share the misery of a sure landout. I followed suit and at best glide we reached the furthest cu. We both took this to cloud base of 14,500. There was really no other lift or signs of lift so we set off at best glider for home. We flew 60 minutes in completely still air! Not really sure what struggles if any the Janus went through but after 60 minutes it was clear I would not make home without some help. I tucked into the nearest foothills and worked pretty hard for 30 minutes or so to get just enough altitude to dribble back home. When I landed and pushed back to the trailer the janus was already put away and her crew had left. But 60 minutes on glide in still air is my longest (and in a standard class glider). I have had longer final glides but it was because I knew I would hit much lift on the way home and could just dolphin in the lift..

Off the top of my head, I think ~49 miles is my longest.
I was doing general flying in our ASW-28 "OH", we had issues with the electrics (nav, radio's, etc.) but I had an analog vario and could look outside.
At one point, I managed to get a text off to my son (since the radio worked about 500'...)stating where I was and where I was headed (he was at the home airport) so at least they had a clue where to look at some point if need be.
I ended up over the Delaware water gap (at the NJ/PA border)and did my final climb (late in the day) over a forest fire to ~8500' MSL (home is ~520' MSL).
I turned towards home, did some "rough calculations" in my head and thought, "I'm basically final glide home, unless I hit sink."
I set a cruise speed a bit over best glide, set the trim & watched the terrain slide by at a rather slow pace.
When I was a few miles out, and was SURE I had the airport made, I sped up a bit..... landing long after anyone else that went away from the airport.

While I hit a "few bumps" on the way home, it was pretty flat. At least most of the terrain was landable with no issues..... if needed.

I have had near 100 miles in a Nimbus 3 out of Tonopah, NV

gkemp "NK"

Around 120 miles final glides few times from the Sierras to Byron. From 18K to see level in dead air.

Ramy

On Sunday, March 8, 2015 at 12:46:40 PM UTC-5, Ramy wrote:
Around 120 miles final glides few times from the Sierras to Byron. From 18K to see level in dead air.

Ramy
Ramy takes the prize!
Can't beat that! Except maybe going from 18k to below sea level? Anybody for a landing in Death Valley?

On Sun, 08 Mar 2015 15:29:15 -0700, herbkilian wrote:

On Sunday, March 8, 2015 at 12:46:40 PM UTC-5, Ramy wrote:
Around 120 miles final glides few times from the Sierras to Byron. From
18K to see level in dead air.

Ramy
Ramy takes the prize!
Can't beat that! Except maybe going from 18k to below sea level?
Anybody for a landing in Death Valley?

I flew a F1A towline model glider at the lowest point in Death Valley
with 60 seconds on the d/t timer and found a nice bump before launching.
It almost made it to MSL before the d/t popped and it came down. Does
that count?


--
martin@ | Martin Gregorie
gregorie. | Essex, UK
org |

Somewhere I have a see-you trace of a flight in France a couple of years
ago where the stats show a final phase of 3 hrs 56 minutes and a glide of
525k. It started at fl 190 and included following a couple of wave bars and
following ridge lines as we descended. Glider was Nimbus 4 and P1 Alain
Poulet.

I had one flight with two especially long glides in my Discus 2.
196km @ 85:1 (12000ft to 4000ft)
190km @ 260:1 (13500ft to 11000ft)

Not in wave, in thermals.

(http://www.onlinecontest.org/olc-2.0...htId=171034633)

On Monday, March 9, 2015 at 8:35:47 PM UTC+11, wrote:
I had one flight with two especially long glides in my Discus 2.
196km @ 85:1 (12000ft to 4000ft)
190km @ 260:1 (13500ft to 11000ft)

Not in wave, in thermals.

(http://www.onlinecontest.org/olc-2.0...htId=171034633)

Actually, going further back I found a couple of better ones.

224km @ 237:1 (13500ft to 10500ft).
145km @ -856:1 (7700ft to 8300ft).

In the venerable LS4!

(http://www.onlinecontest.org/olc-2.0...htId=169742621)

Turning was probably unnecessary at all on most of those days, but it's faster if you turn in the strong climbs and then cruise faster than slowing up and not turning at all. So it's a bit of a silly thing to judge your flying on really

On Monday, March 9, 2015 at 12:29:16 AM UTC+2, wrote:
On Sunday, March 8, 2015 at 12:46:40 PM UTC-5, Ramy wrote:
Around 120 miles final glides few times from the Sierras to Byron. From 18K to see level in dead air.

Ramy
Ramy takes the prize!
Can't beat that! Except maybe going from 18k to below sea level? Anybody for a landing in Death Valley?

No sure if this counts, but a couple of years ago I tried a final glide of just 35km (~20miles) from 2800' down to the lowest airfield anywhe Massada at 1230' *below sea level* :-)
It's not "Death Valley", but it is the "Dead Sea" ...
http://www.onlinecontest.org/olc-2.0...tId=1089616531

Uri
4X-GGG
PS: made a "save" and landed in Arad at 1950 above sea level