Central Australia Glider Sets 1,266 km (787 mile) Record

David Jansen has made aviation history in Central Australia, completing a 1,266 kilometre (787 mile) engine-free flight from Alice Springs to Balaklava in South Australia on January 24, setting a new continental distance record for a single glider flight between two separate locations.

Launching from Bond Springs Airstrip with the Alice Springs Gliding Club, Jansen and copilot Grant Anderson flew for 10 hours across the vast inland landscape, relying solely on atmospheric lift to stay aloft. The achievement was part of a broader Red Centre campaign in Central Australia that saw Jansen claim seven continental records and 36 aviation records overall.

The record-breaking flight surpassed Jansen’s previous 1,250 kilometre (777 mile) attempt in 2015, when he narrowly missed the benchmark. Favorable weather conditions this time allowed the pair to track north toward Narwietooma, then south toward Jamestown before extending the journey to Balaklava.

Alice Springs, sitting about 2,400 feet above sea level, is regarded as a global hotspot for long-distance gliding. Intense summer heat over the arid terrain generates strong thermals, rising columns of warm air that act as natural elevators. In peak conditions, cloud bases can reach 16,000 feet or higher, significantly improving glide performance and cross-country speed.

Gliders are typically launched by winch to around 1,500 feet above ground before pilots search for thermals to climb higher. Cruising speeds usually range between 100 and 180 kilometres per hour (62 to 112 miles per hour), though they can exceed 300km/h (186mph) in optimal conditions.

While the world gliding distance record exceeds 3,000 kilometres (about 1,864 miles) in mountainous wave conditions such as those found in Argentina, continental records provide a more accessible benchmark for pilots flying in varied terrains.

David Jansen is an Australian competitive glider pilot renowned for his record-setting long-distance flights and contributions to the sport of gliding. He is best known for achieving several national and world gliding records that have highlighted Australia’s vast and challenging soaring conditions.

Jansen is now preparing to compete at the 41st World Gliding Championships in Częstochowa, Poland, later this year. His Central Australia campaign has reinforced the Red Centre’s reputation for offering some of the clearest airspace, strongest thermals and best cross-country soaring conditions in the world.

Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, abc.net.au