New world record in a weight-shift microlight!

On Saturday 14 September 2019, Colin Fargher, a weight-shift microlight pilot, together with his son Louis, broke the world distance record for a two-seat weight-shift microlight. They crossed France from east to west without landing.

Preparing the flight

Colin Fargher is a weight-shift microlight pilot at the Vesoul ULM club (LFQW).

Several routes were studied. The one chosen takes off from Vesoul and heads for Quélarn Plobannalec Lesconil, a microlight strip (BaseULM) in the Finistère (LF2923). The flight plan was also prepared with, among others, passages over Orléans, Blois, Tours, Rennes, and finally Lorient, then arrival at Quélarn.

As well as preparing the navigation, they also had to make sure that the empty weight of the aircraft was approved for this type of record. The empty aircraft (without fuel or accessories) weighs about 220 kilos, and twice that when fully loaded.

The weighings were done the day before departure, under the eyes of the official judges.

The flight

Colin and Louis Fargher took off at around 7.30am. Thanks to GPS beacons supplied by the FFPLUM, the whole flight could be followed from the ground by their family. Other observers were also able to follow them live and so share the moment they reached their goal.

The crew landed in Brittany at around 3.20pm, welcomed by a new official judge.

The flight, which lasted more than 7h40 over a distance of 782 km, was ratified in early April by the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI). It really is a new world record!

Colin is currently working on new projects, which we will be sure to keep you informed about.