Minneapolis Pilot Sets Distance Paragliding Record

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- A pilot from Minneapolis said Wednesday he set a new state record for distance paragliding earlier this month.

His name is Thad Spencer, and he sent WCCO-TV some pictures of the record as proof. They show him paragliding from Cosmos to Waseca earlier this month.

Gallery: Thad Spencer's Record Setting Flight

That's a distance of nearly 93 miles in 4 hours and 35 minutes. It's a new record for the state of Minnesota, according to the United States Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association's web site. Spencer told WCCO-TV he flew about a mile high and stayed in the air with the help of warm air columns called thermals.

He was launched with the help of a tow system that was mounted on the back of a pickup truck.