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Long-standing record broken at Highland gliding club

The gliders shaking hands with the previous club record holder. Moritz Korn, Nick Norman and Bill Longstaff
The gliders shaking hands with the previous club record holder. Moritz Korn, Nick Norman and Bill Longstaff

A pilot duo have reached new heights and broken a long-standing record at a Highland gliding club.

Nick Norman and Moritz Korn, who are members of the Cairngorm Gliding Club at Feshiebridge, reached 28,534ft during a flight over the Cairngorms.

It beats the previous record of about 27,000ft, set 25 years ago by club member Bill Longstaff. When the pilots landed Mr Longstaff was one of the first to congratulate the pair and shake their hands.

The British Gliding Association (BGA) said that while it was not a new UK record, it was the highest gain to be achieved for several years.

Mr Norman and Mr Korn had sought permission from air traffic control before making their climb from about 3,200ft to 28,500ft.

The pilots took advantage of a climatic condition known as a mountain wave.

Mr Norman said: “A mountain wave is a fairly common condition but not at that sort of height. It’s a bit like surfing in a standing wave.

“Although we had not set out to break the record, it was exhilarating to be up there – but tempered with a feeling of being alone and vulnerable with 90mph wind, temperature of -40 degrees celsius and just a few breaths away from hypoxia should the oxygen supply fail. I was glad of Moritz’s company.

“When we got back down there was much excitement. Everyone is able to watch what is happening in the air from the clubhouse and knew straight away, and Bill Longstaff came rushing out with the handshakes.”

The two pilots set the new record on May 5, in what is the gliding club’s 50th year. The pair had earlier flown to Aboyne in Aberdeenshire and were returning to Feshiebridge via Corgarff when they encountered the weather condition.

The long-standing UK record height for a glider is about 37,000ft.

Cairngorm Gliding Club made headlines in 2011 when it was used for filming a scene in Batman film, The Dark Knight Rises.

Stuntmen and a film crew made parachute jumps over the airstrip at Feshie Bridge for a scene involving an elaborate escape from a jet aircraft.