KevinFromTexas
07-24-2008, 06:12 AM
From the Austin American-Statesman
http://www.statesman.com/news/content/news/stories/local/07/24/0724gliding.html
WORLD RECORD FLIGHT
Sky-high: Man sets world record for glider planes
Former Austinite traveled 615 miles from Zapata County to near Lubbock during two-week global pilot event in South Texas.
By Regina Dennis
AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Gary Osoba set a world record by traveling more than 600 miles nonstop across Texas, using less than one tank of gas.
Sort of.
The 55-year-old set the record for the longest freestyle flight in an ultralight glider plane, traveling 615 miles from the Zapata County Airport, near the Mexico border, to just north of Lorenzo, near Lubbock in West Texas. The glider has no engine; the only gas used on Osoba's flight was by a small airplane that pulled the glider into the air to produce momentum.
The nine-hour flight began Saturday morning. Once in the air, Osoba released a rope that connected the two aircraft and proceeded to navigate the skies by following rising columns of warm air.
"We do what the hawks do," Osoba said, sitting at a Starbucks in North Austin. Osoba was in town visiting friends before traveling to pick up his glider from Lorenzo. "We locate thermals, circle around in them to rise up from the energy, then glide to the next one, circle around again, and keep going."
Osoba, who was born in Austin and lives in Wichita, Kan., is the founder of the World Record Encampment, a two- to four-week event at the Zapata airport each summer that brings together pilots from across the world who attempt to set distance and speed records in hang gliders, paragliders and glider planes. The event this year started July 16 and ends Wednesday.
Two of the current world records for distances traveled in glider planes were set at Zapata, according to the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale, an organization that verifies and tracks world records in air sports and recreation. Osoba's flight would replace the 390-mile record set at the airport in 2004 by Italian pilot Leonardo R. Benetti-Longhini.
"There's no better place to do it than in Texas," said Osoba, who added that he had attempted world record flights out of Kansas, California, Nevada, Colorado and New Mexico. He said he studied the wind patterns near Zapata and found that the warm temperatures, frequent thermal columns and strong winds were ideal for long flights.
Osoba said organizing the World Record Encampment costs about $20,000 a year, which covers launch preparation, lodging and support costs for 10 pilots. The pilots each pay a fee of $350 to $700. Zapata County contributed about $5,000 for the event this year. Osoba said he raises the rest.
Zapata County Judge Rosalva Guerra said the Commissioners Court is considering a budget proposal that would set aside the money from the county's motel and tax fund for the event each year.
"We want them to continue to come to Zapata County because (the World Record Encampment) has promoted us on the Internet and all over the world," Guerra said.
Charles Avaritt, Zapata County Airport manager, said the event brings a lot of excitement and increased tourism to the area each summer. He said visitors from England, Poland and Australia come year-round to the town to hang glide from the airport.
"It's a rather unique thing for a little community like ours to have," he said. "It's phenomenal just seeing what Gary did in setting this all up."
In addition to organizing the World Record Encampment, Osoba is president of a nonprofit foundation that conducts aeronautical research, studying the performance and environmental impact of alternative aircraft.
Osoba said his interest in flying developed from his love of birds as a child. He began learning to fly different aircraft as a teenager and eventually mastered hang gliders, hot air balloons, light glider planes, regular airplanes and helicopters.
"Of all of them, gliders are my favorite," he said. "It's the purest form of flying, and you're using the natural energy in the environment. It's the most birdlike flight."
http://www.statesman.com/news/content/news/stories/local/07/24/0724gliding.html
WORLD RECORD FLIGHT
Sky-high: Man sets world record for glider planes
Former Austinite traveled 615 miles from Zapata County to near Lubbock during two-week global pilot event in South Texas.
By Regina Dennis
AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Gary Osoba set a world record by traveling more than 600 miles nonstop across Texas, using less than one tank of gas.
Sort of.
The 55-year-old set the record for the longest freestyle flight in an ultralight glider plane, traveling 615 miles from the Zapata County Airport, near the Mexico border, to just north of Lorenzo, near Lubbock in West Texas. The glider has no engine; the only gas used on Osoba's flight was by a small airplane that pulled the glider into the air to produce momentum.
The nine-hour flight began Saturday morning. Once in the air, Osoba released a rope that connected the two aircraft and proceeded to navigate the skies by following rising columns of warm air.
"We do what the hawks do," Osoba said, sitting at a Starbucks in North Austin. Osoba was in town visiting friends before traveling to pick up his glider from Lorenzo. "We locate thermals, circle around in them to rise up from the energy, then glide to the next one, circle around again, and keep going."
Osoba, who was born in Austin and lives in Wichita, Kan., is the founder of the World Record Encampment, a two- to four-week event at the Zapata airport each summer that brings together pilots from across the world who attempt to set distance and speed records in hang gliders, paragliders and glider planes. The event this year started July 16 and ends Wednesday.
Two of the current world records for distances traveled in glider planes were set at Zapata, according to the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale, an organization that verifies and tracks world records in air sports and recreation. Osoba's flight would replace the 390-mile record set at the airport in 2004 by Italian pilot Leonardo R. Benetti-Longhini.
"There's no better place to do it than in Texas," said Osoba, who added that he had attempted world record flights out of Kansas, California, Nevada, Colorado and New Mexico. He said he studied the wind patterns near Zapata and found that the warm temperatures, frequent thermal columns and strong winds were ideal for long flights.
Osoba said organizing the World Record Encampment costs about $20,000 a year, which covers launch preparation, lodging and support costs for 10 pilots. The pilots each pay a fee of $350 to $700. Zapata County contributed about $5,000 for the event this year. Osoba said he raises the rest.
Zapata County Judge Rosalva Guerra said the Commissioners Court is considering a budget proposal that would set aside the money from the county's motel and tax fund for the event each year.
"We want them to continue to come to Zapata County because (the World Record Encampment) has promoted us on the Internet and all over the world," Guerra said.
Charles Avaritt, Zapata County Airport manager, said the event brings a lot of excitement and increased tourism to the area each summer. He said visitors from England, Poland and Australia come year-round to the town to hang glide from the airport.
"It's a rather unique thing for a little community like ours to have," he said. "It's phenomenal just seeing what Gary did in setting this all up."
In addition to organizing the World Record Encampment, Osoba is president of a nonprofit foundation that conducts aeronautical research, studying the performance and environmental impact of alternative aircraft.
Osoba said his interest in flying developed from his love of birds as a child. He began learning to fly different aircraft as a teenager and eventually mastered hang gliders, hot air balloons, light glider planes, regular airplanes and helicopters.
"Of all of them, gliders are my favorite," he said. "It's the purest form of flying, and you're using the natural energy in the environment. It's the most birdlike flight."
