Kiwi and American break Gliding Record

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Coming across the finish

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Steve Fosset / Terry Delore

Gliding New Zealand Press Release 18/07/07

Kiwi Terry Delore and American Entrepreneur break longest standing Gliding Record

Kiwi glider pilot Terry Delore and American pilot entrepreneur Steve Fossett have claimed the gliding world speed record over 1250 kilometers with a blistering average speed of 149.23kph. After 27 attempts and 18,000kilometers of flying the duo broke longest standing gliding world speed record set in the mid eighties.

The record was achieved over the Nevada desert out of Ely using the blue thermals coming off the arid surface of the ground and peaks. “At long last success! . . . We found our selves hummin along in blue thermals for the long bottom leg over the lonely desert, hard yakka with no clouds for light years. “ said Delore. “The big glitch for us was a large cell parked on the top and last turn, this shifted just far enough off to work in our favour and create a run down the last leg to home.
We found ourselves well ahead of time so we flew conservatively to the finish and crossed the finish 26ft above the minimum!”

Together Delore and Fossett have claimed more world records than any other team, and as a New Zealand sportsman, Delore is among the highest achieving for world and national records in his field of any Kiwi.

ENDS

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