Australian Man Plans to Hang Glide Across Texas

By THC Staff | June 24, 2016

 

One Australian man hopes to hang glide across the big Texas sky from Zapata to Lorenzo in a 475-mile-long flight. Jonny Durand is a known “extreme hang glider” from Australia who first learned to fly at 9 years old. He already has a few world records under his belt, but this particular flight would beat out the distance world record made by Dustin Martin in July 2012.

Durand is planning for the flight time to last 11 hours! He must be hoisted into the sky to begin since Zapata, Texas has flat land. From there, tailwinds arriving from the Gulf of Mexico will push Durand forward in his journey. He will search for thermals to help him gain and maintain altitude, much a like a bird. Durand told USA Today that he likens finding thermals to “surfing blindfolded, trying to catch a wave.” These “waves” can take him from 300 feet above ground and up to 10,000 feet.

As of Thursday, June 23rd, 2016, Durand hasn’t been able to get the flight off correctly due to weather. As he said on his Facebook page, “Unfortunately the clouds dried up here again I found half a thermal and glided to the ground.” Fingers crossed for better gliding weather for Jonny soon!