Werner Luidolt flying cross-country

‘The best conditions in years’

‘Look how far we’ve come!’ says Werner Luidolt, after flying two 300km flights 33 years apart

21 July, 2025, by Ed Ewing

Every great idea starts with a spark – and sometimes, that spark leads to a 300km flight. Flying isn’t just about covering distance. It’s about stories, moments, memories – and the people you share them with. So come along for a ride through the skies, as we blend a bit of the past with what’s now possible in modern XC paragliding.

Yes – I flew over 300km with a paraglider. To be precise: 321.75km at an average of 34.59km/h on a sleek EN-C two-liner, the Nova Codex. You might be expecting a classic flight report – instead, here’s a throwback and a glimpse into how far our sport has come.

Back in the day

Back in the 1990s, hitting 300km in a glider – especially in something like a single-seater Ka-8 – was a huge deal. That wooden school glider from the 1950s had a glide ratio of around 25 at 80km/h and almost no avionics: just an airspeed indicator, altimeter, and a jittery needle variometer. Communication? One fixed channel. Navigation? Maps.

We recorded flights with cameras and old-school barographs. Weather updates...

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