Father and son fly glider in 45 loops to break record that went unchallenged for 20 years

A father and son flew 10,000 ft up into the sky to break a record that had stood for more than 20 years.

David Scutchings and his son Max (both Australia) achieved the most inside loops performed consecutively in a glider – a total of 45.

Above the skies of Gawler, South Australia, they obliterated the existing record of 24 that had been in place since 2001.

And to make it all the more special, they did it on 26 January – Australia Day.

The idea to break a record came about for Dave as he approached his 50^th birthday, and he’s incredibly proud to have earned the title alongside 16-year-old Max in a twin-seat DG-1000 glider.

Dave, who also shares a daughter with his wife Nat, has been flying gliders since he was 14.

Dave in the glider

After earning his pilot license, he joined the South Australia Police, where he has served as an officer for more than 30 years, flying the force’s helicopter for 12.

Max started gliding when he was about the same age and hopes to join the Air Force once he’s done with school.

He thinks breaking this record will show other kids they can achieve anything they set their mind to.

Max in the glider

Dave added: “Throughout my whole life I’ve been trying to set myself as a role model for young people, in particular my family, to show that goal setting, working hard, having discipline and really trying hard is the way to get what you want to achieve, and that’s what we did with this record.”

He also wants to show young people that aviation is “one of the best things you can do in your life”.

Preparation for their world record attempt was tough, with the father and son completing 12 months of planning and training.

The pair were taken 10,000 ft into the air by a tug plane, with Dave sat in the back of the glider and Max in the front.

While Dave controlled the glider, Max was in charge of counting the loops, watching the air space and checking the altimeter.

Their friends and family watched from the ground as they looped around and around in the glider.

Max landed the glider safely when they’d completed all their loops.

“There were probably about 40 or 50 people watching so there was a lot of pressure,” Max confessed.

“The most exciting part of the flight was the landing, coming down knowing we’d broken the record.”

Dave chipped in: “To achieve it on Australia Day in front of our friends and family is something I’ll never ever forget.

“We worked so hard and we put so much into it and it came off like clockwork and we are very excited.”

While they’re thrilled to have the record, Dave says he’d help anyone who wanted to attempt it so they could enjoy the same feeling of accomplishment.

They also raised money for SA Police Legacy, which provides financial, social and emotional assistance to South Australian police officers and their families during difficult times.

Raising money for charity is something Dave is passionate about, with one of his previous events raising a massive $1.6 million.