How to fly 1000km in a glider

What does it take to fly 1000km in a glider? In this video, I break down what it took to achieve this long-standing goal of mine.

Discover what flying sailplanes is really like. This is the story of a full glider flight, from take-off to landing, shown in time-lapse. It includes voice-over commentary, 3D visualizations, instrument overlays, statistical overlays, 360 video, and post-flight analysis.

Glider FAQ:
- How do gliders climb without an engine?: Gliders climb by circling in thermals, which are columns of warm, rising air. They can also climb in ridge and wave lift, which are created when wind blows across mountain ranges.
- How do you know where thermals are?: On days when there are cumulus (puffy) clouds, the thermals are under the clouds. The clouds are created by the thermals. On days without clouds, an instrument in the glider called a variometer (vario, for short) tells the pilot when the glider is in rising air. When you randomly enter a thermal, the vario will let you know that it's time to circle.
- How do you relieve yourself in a glider?: There are several options for men. One is to connect yourself to tube that goes into a bag, or through a hole in the bottom of the fuselage. The connection is made using a condom catheter. It has adhesive on the inside and an outlet at the end for connecting the tube. Another option is to use a plastic bag filled with a powder that turns into a gel on contact with liquid. This mitigates leaks or spills. A gatorade bottle works too. Or you can just wear a diaper, which is an option for women too.
- How do gliders initially get airborne?: A common way is to get towed up by a powered plane. You will often see that happening in the beginning of my videos. There is a rope connecting the glider to the tow plane, and the glider can release the rope once it gets high enough. Another way to launch a glider is by a winch on the ground, connected to a long cable that pulls the glider forward. The glider pulls up while it's moving forward to gain altitude. There are other ways, such as being towed by a car, or launched off a hill by a giant bungee cord.
- How much does it cost to fly gliders?: It can be more affordable than you think. You don't need to own your own glider. You can join a glider club where you pay reasonable monthly dues and you can fly their fleet of gliders. Monthly dues can be around $50-100 USD. You will typically have to pay for launches, which can range from $30-200 each. Sometimes the club can train you to get your glider license. If not, you'll have to pay for lessons, which can range from $5-15 thousand, depending on many factors. A decent starter glider can be found for around $20,000. Prices for new ones are in the low six figures.

[BenHirashima]

Glider FAQ:
- How do gliders climb without an engine?: Gliders climb by circling in thermals, which are columns of warm, rising air. They can also climb in ridge and wave lift, which are created when wind blows across mountain ranges.
- How do you know where thermals are?: On days when there are cumulus (puffy) clouds, the thermals are under the clouds. The clouds are created by the thermals. On days without clouds, an instrument in the glider called a variometer (vario, for short) tells the pilot when the glider is in rising air. When you randomly enter a thermal, the vario will let you know that it's time to circle.
- How do you relieve yourself in a glider?: There are several options for men. One is to connect yourself to tube that goes into a bag, or through a hole in the bottom of the fuselage. The connection is made using a condom catheter. It has adhesive on the inside and an outlet at the end for connecting the tube. Another option is to use a plastic bag filled with a powder that turns into a gel on contact with liquid. This mitigates leaks or spills. A gatorade bottle works too. Or you can just wear a diaper, which is an option for women too.
- How do gliders initially get airborne?: A common way is to get towed up by a powered plane. You will often see that happening in the beginning of my videos. There is a rope connecting the glider to the tow plane, and the glider can release the rope once it gets high enough. Another way to launch a glider is by a winch on the ground, connected to a long cable that pulls the glider forward. The glider pulls up while it's moving forward to gain altitude. There are other ways, such as being towed by a car, or launched off a hill by a giant bungee cord.
- How much does it cost to fly gliders?: It can be more affordable than you think. You don't need to own your own glider. You can join a glider club where you pay reasonable monthly dues and you can fly their fleet of gliders. Monthly dues can be around $50-100 USD. You will typically have to pay for launches, which can range from $30-200 each. Sometimes the club can train you to get your glider license. If not, you'll have to pay for lessons, which can range from $5-15 thousand, depending on many factors. A decent starter glider can be found for around $20, 000. Prices for new ones can be in the low six figures.

[danilooliveira]

I'll always be fascinated by the fact that there is so much energy in the air, that flying is mostly a matter of wingspan.

[Chris.Davies]

Kiwi friend Bill Walker once flew 1, 400km flight-to-goal, breaking the world record.
And he reached 8, 200 metres altitude in 1976.
He died in his glider, in Namibia, in 2014.
RIP Bill.

[faterlandas]

I want to go gliding so much after seeing this video.. I was gliding during my school years and I'm living 5 km away from that airfield now. Seeing gliders in the air all summer just calls me there :)

[teamedup]

As a paraglider this video was wild to me. Leave some kilometers for the rest of us! hahahaha

[losbexp]

This is just terrific. Pretty sustainable way to commute, I must say. A thousand kms... you can overpass Turkey and go straight to Greece if the glider had been launched from Georgian air space, just to put into perspective. Air and aerodynamics, much like water, can lift you. You can't see many people that are into such feats. While you are there, you are cloudwatching. Amazing achievement.

[asksteevs]

As an XC paraglider, this is so awesome. I mean I know on paper that ya'll have that massive 60:1+ L/D and hear about these big flights, but see the accelerated footage of you just blasting across these big blue holes that would just utterly shut me down is really something else. Love it.

[pppie]

Literal coolest shit. YouTube algorithm cooked hard on this

[girishbatavi]

YT algorithm led me to this.. maybe too many sailing videos. I knew about Glider but never saw a video on it. You have done a good job on commentary and visualizations/tech are integrated well. Keep up, Ben!

[johnperez]

Congrats Ben ‘ My hat is off to you. Next, a 1500km run

[Alex-eoof]

My wife has wanted to be a pilot since she was a little girl; I always promise her that we'll get a plane and get her signed up for lessons one day. Seeing this video made me realize I want to learn how to fly myself. What an amazing experience this must be

[MarkHuneycutt]

Makes me want to become a glider pilot! Epic glide ratios on that thing

[OrangePants]

You should retitle this one: "Orange Pants Said I Couldn't, So I Did"

[phantomsrage]

the fact that this is even remotely possible is insane to me

[gentoffire]

So cool. Man you live a totally different life. thank you for showing me yours.

[jeremymccloud]

I did my first solo in 2010 in a clapped out SG 2-33A. YouTube recommended this video out of the blue, but it is one of the most beautiful things I've ever seen. Thank you for taking the time to fly, film, and edit this absolute masterpiece. Fly safe

[ThermalWave]

Excellent video and storytelling, kept me hooked throughout! Thanks for that!

[CleoCat]

dude. that's so cool and amazing. the selfie-stick video shots were amazing, I'd like to see more of those. This would be a great premise for a video game and/or flight simulator to help train people on thermal lifts and finding them. Also, I clicked on the title because I thought you meant to took a glider to 1000km elevation, lol! I've been watching the SpaceX launch video, so my units of measure were a little off in my head lol.

[Wild_Dzik]

What a flight man ❤
Sending congratulations from Poland 🇵🇱
I watch all your videos on TV, keep doing it, feels great I really enjoy them 😎

[Vanikmobile]

Wow what a flight. I regret not pursuing my aviation calling. I flew RC airplanes with my dad as a kid, but unfortunately as an adult a flight simulator with a yolk was as far as I got. Thank you for sharing this video, I really enjoyed it.