Thunder Bay pilot breaks five gliding records in Manitoba

A glider pilot from Thunder Bay broke five speed and distance records in Manitoba this summer.

A glider pilot from Ontario had a record-breaking summer in Manitoba.

Tom Weiher from Thunder Bay, Ont., set five provincial records during flights in Manitoba throughout the spring and summer at the Winnipeg Gliding Club.

“I’ve never flown further, I’ve never flown higher, never flown longer,” Weiher said during a recent interview. “These were some of the best flights ever in my over 50 years of flying.”

Weiher’s father was one of the original members of the Lakehead Gliding Club in Thunder Bay, and he became hooked on the hobby at a young age. He joined the Winnipeg Gliding Club, located near Starbuck, six years ago to keep active in his hobby.

Weiher’s first record was set on May 25, breaking a speed record on a 300-kilometre triangle route that had stood since 1980. Weiher recorded a speed of 93.2 kilometres/hour, smashing the previous record of 75.7 km/h.

He set two records on May 26 for speed and distance around a 500-kilometre triangle, flying 525 kilometres and hitting a speed of 92.4 km/h. The previous record was 75.1 km/h. His fourth record was for a 200-kilometre triangle flight, recording a speed of 78.5 km/h. The previous record was set in 1970 with a speed of 57.9 km/h.

Finally, Weiher set a speed record for a 100-kilometre flight, recording a speed of 106.3 kilometres/hour on Aug. 31.

“When you set a goal for yourself, your flying takes on a different perspective,” he said. “You have something that you’re trying to achieve, and you’re using all your skills and your know-how to try to do it. And it is so much fun. I just had a blast this year doing it.”

Mike Maskell, the president of the Winnipeg Gliding Club, said Weiher’s records have inspired him and other pilots to achieve personal bests.

“This year was phenomenal,” he said. “I’ve heard from other club members as well that they’re enthused as well. We’re looking at 2026 as maybe being another record-breaking year, and it’s been a long time coming.”

“I’m trying to encourage the other pilots in our club to join me in this, because it’s so much fun, and they are achievable,” Weiher said.

More information on the Winnipeg Gliding Club can be found online.

-With files from CTV’s Will Reimer