Glider Record Attempt: First 1000 km FAI Triangle in Colorado - With Detailed Commentary

Video Description

On June 4, 2022 I launch from Boulder, Colorado with a daunting goal: to become the first pilot to ever complete a declared 1000 km FAI triangle in Colorado. My biggest declared triangle to date was 750 km and it took me seven unsuccessful attempts before it finally worked on the 8th try. This is the very first time I am trying for a 1000 km triangle. What are the odds of success? There are many reasons that this would become one of my most memorable glider flights: I recall the difficulties I had to “connect” with the clouds after the start. The clouds looked great but there I was close to the ground, fighting to stay aloft. Then there is this moment on the second leg where I arrived in the lee of a major mountain range with a massive headwind and blue skies above. Turning around would have ended my attempt right there. Next came the crossing of the Colorado River and the plunge into a different airmass. Shortly thereafter I encountered my biggest nemesis on this flight: a massive cirrus layer rapidly moving into my task area. Over the next two hours I was caught in a constant race against these high clouds trying to kill the thermals. My thermals! When I thought I had finally put the cirrus behind me, virga obscured the approach to my last turnpoint. Should I keep going, make a massive detour, or throw in the towel? And how do I get across the Continental Divide standing massively between me and my last turnpoint, and also between me and getting home. And then there is the issue of thermals dying as the day comes to an end. There were very few moments to relax. Instead: decisions, decisions, decisions. Mentally draining and causing mistakes. I tried to be honest about those, too. The flight lasted more than 9 hours and this video got to be very long. I hope you’ll watch and enjoy it anyway. But even if you don’t, I am glad I put the effort in as a memory for myself. And not just to myself. I have dedicated this video to the life of my flying friend Shmulik Dimenstein. This was the very last time Shmulik and I flew together and the very last time we spoke to one another. Only five days after this flight, Shmulik died in a tragic glider accident next to his home airfield at Riflle, Colorado. Shmulik was an excellent pilot who got caught in an unexpected, devastating microburst. I wrote about Shmulik’s accident here: https://chessintheair.com/invisible-microburst-kills-expert-glider-pilot/ Shmulik’s death clouded my memory of this flight for a while. That’s one reason it took me so long to turn it into a video. But I’m glad I finally did. You can find much more information about this flight on my website: https://chessintheair.com/epic-first-ever-1000km-declared-fai-triangle-in-colorado/ My report also includes the detailed weather forecast for this day, how I studied it, and also the things I failed to notice. Every flight, successful or not, is an opportunity to learn. And this flight offers many lessons. If you like this video, here’s more that you may find interesting: To watch my other soaring videos: https://www.youtube.com/@ChessInTheAir/videos To check out my website: https://chessintheair.com/ To follow me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChessInTheAir/ All music in the video is from Epidemic Sound. I tried to pick tracks that capture my ever changing mental states throughout the flight. Enjoy!