After an almost 30 year interruption of the Bulgarian gliding scene and sporting activity , this year begins with a new Bulgarian national record.

On new years day 01.01.2019 Ivelin Kalushkov managed to beat the Bulgarian national record for FAI triangle and free triangle distance from 533 to 555 kilometers. The flight is also valid for a record in free distance out and return with a distance of 341 km.

The flight was done in a Rolladen-Schneider LS7 with registration VH-XJY in the Lake Keepit region in Australia.

This time of the year is characterized with the longest daylight available in the Southern Hemisphere. The relatively strong conditions allow for flights of more than 750 km. The flight has been done in relatively strong and consistent conditions at least in the first 2/3. Last 1/3 of the flight was done in strong Easterly headwinds coming from decaying thunderstorms. FLight statistics and OLC can be seen here.

This is the first improved national record in the last 30 years. After gliding in Bulgaria was almost destroyed with the shutdown of the Organization for Cooperation with the Defense and the government funding, today we’re seeing a new development of sporting gliding activity in Bulgaria.

On fire!

Ivelin didn’t stop there tough and on 04.01.2019 managed to beat another record – “3 point open distance” – 563 km. The flight was declared as a 600 km distance, but unfortunately rain 25 km before final caused an outlanding.

Despite that – all declared point were valid. This is also a new personal record for Ivo. Flight statistic can be seen here.

Since the flights are not done in Bulgaria, they qualify only for National records. We’re hoping to see some of the Bulgarian records improved this year as well. The oldest records currently are form the distant 1966. With the quick development of gliding in the last few years we are expecting quick changes in the tables with the records and personal bests!

Good luck to all record chasers – fly high and far!