Gil Souviron, the World Champion of long-distance glider flights

At the beginning of November, Gil Souviron, glider pilot won the world “OnLineContest”, in other words the Long-distance Glider World Championship. To win the supreme title, he made six very long-distance flights, including a flight of 1753.8 kilometers on March 17, 2021. “I was crewed with Baptiste Innocent. We made the round trip from PortBou to Pamplona twice and we even flew over the Mediterranean for eighty kilometers offshore before restarting the engine of our Stemme 12 type glider motorbike. This trip took us 12:50. in excellent conditions behind the barrier of the Pyrenees ”, recounts Gil Souviron passionate about these long-distance flights. the champion of long-distance glider flights

“To achieve such performances, La Llabanère aerodrome in Perpignan is perfect.

We very often have good clear weather and above all, we are very close to an exceptional spot just behind the Pyrenees.

Behind this barrier placed perpendicular to the prevailing wind, we have an updraft formation, a bit like the formation of a powerful wave to surf at sea. It is this current that allowed us to go up to the perpendicular of Pampelonne.

Next destination: Morocco?

And make the trip twice without losing altitude knowing that we are not authorized to fly above 6,000 meters continues Gil Souviron, passionate about motorized flying wings who converted five years ago into the power glider and long distance. .

“From Perpignan, you can still reach the Massif Central wave by crossing the reliefs above Saint-Pons-de-Thomières and thus it is possible to reach the Alps.

With his teammate, airline pilot Baptiste Innocent, he has no shortage of ideas for future distant destinations: La Coruña on the Atlantic coast and even Morocco if the conditions are very favorable.

Always from Perpignan.

And with the Pyrenees as an energy catalyst.

To become 2021 World Champion, Gil Souviron “jacked in” 8147 points with three exceptional flights above the 1400 point mark (1554 points for the famous historic flight of more than 1700 kilometers).

With a good margin ahead of vice-world champion Keith Essex (8029 points) and third Klaus Ohlmann (7735 points).