WHEN A STEMME OPENS NEW HORIZON

 Months of patience. Careful preparation. Endless weather analysis. The willingness to wait for that rare moment when the atmosphere, the mountains and the forecast finally align.

Henri's feedback also highlights something often overlooked in long-distance soaring: the importance of teamwork. During nearly thirteen hours in the air, Gil and Henri continuously shared observations, decisions and workload. While one focused on flying the aircraft, the other anticipated the next phase of the flight, analysing weather developments, navigation options and aircraft configuration. The side-by-side cockpit became much more than a comfort feature, it became a genuine tool for communication, efficiency and performance.

The Stemme concept naturally played its part in this adventure. Not because the engine performs the flight, but because it provides freedom. Freedom to launch independently, freedom to position the aircraft precisely where the conditions are developing, freedom to operate far from home and freedom to turn ambitious ideas into realistic projects.

Yet, as Henri reminds us, once the engine is shut down, the flight is conducted with the mindset of a pure glider pilot. The soaring begins, and the atmosphere becomes the only source of energy.

The images from these flights capture far more than kilometres flown. They capture sunrise above the clouds, the vastness of the Pyrenees, the beauty of mountain wave conditions and the simple pleasure of sharing such an adventure together.

As Henri wrote after these flights:

Thanks to our Stemmes for opening these horizons

Perhaps that is the best way to describe what these flights were really about ?

Congratulations again to Gil Souviron and Henri Castanet for this inspiring adventure and for sharing it with the soaring community.