Glider pilot flies to the Matterhorn!

Follow along with Alpine glider pilot Christopher Fleming as he flies -- without an engine -- to the most famous mountain in the world.
Music by Scott Buckley - released under CC-BY 4.0. - www.scottbuckley.com.au
All rights reserved © 2022 Christopher Fleming
The content of this video is for entertainment and informational purposes only. Under no circumstances should one attempt to fly a glider in the mountains without first receiving flight instruction in mountain soaring. One should never operate a glider beyond one’s own capabilities. Fayence Soaring and any of the pilots, instructors, or guests featured in our videos will not be held liable or responsible for any of the content featured on our videos. The following content shall be considered “Use at your own risk.” Always fly responsibly and safely.
#aviation #airplane #gliding #Matterhorn #soaring #glider #fayencesoaring #mountains

[@gliderpilot8882]

One of the best soaring cross country videos I have seen. Thank you.

[@mattmichael6792]

Extremely beautiful AND instructive

[@doc-nobody-glider]

wonderfull footage of alpine soaring spots

[@tillluthereau2868]

Magnifique, les images la musique et les commentaires au top, merci pour le partage. Bon vol

[@tonimor9721]

Anyone who has never experienced the pure sublime pleasure of glider flight would still have enjoyed this superb production it brought back some fantastic memories of much more modest flying and now long retired but thanks for that Christopher it brought tears to my eyes .

[@coliasphicomone2136]

Le vario qui couine dans du trois mètres, oufti quelle chanson. Merci d'avoir partagé !

[@markwilliamson2795]

OUTSTANDING ! And not in a field somewhere.......The best I have ever seen all around ...

[@ahdwar]

What a beautiful video!! Music, scenery, commentary, and editing - all top notch! I got chills looking at that majestic and infamous mountain. That is high risk, high reward flying without a doubt. The suspense is palpable during those low altitude passes, making me glad to watch from my desk, but also secretly wishing I was in the cockpit with you. Thank you for making it.

[@wolfganglohrie6820]

Thank you for giving the chance to be part of this experience ……exciting and entertaining…

[@taliyol41]

Name of the song is 'Adrift Among Infinite Stars'

[@francishook8767]

Fantastic flight. Thanks for the video sharing it with us earthbound folks.

[@macalacalan1175]

Absolutely beautiful - at once both sublime and breathtaking. Your impressive mastery of soaring, skilful filming and editing and sensitive choice of music combine to achieve a cinematographic delight … that just get better and better. The subtle commentary and crossovers to instrumentation are icing on the cake. It’s a sheer pleasure to be able to enjoy your experiences - albeit vicariously. Thank you.

[@Dbsabzbzb]

This was s like a dream, no need to battle the elements and endure the life threatening challenges of wind, cold and the shackles of gravity to view these majestic scenes, simply adorn yourself with a fantastic flying machine and command those very elements to induce nature to surrender her beauty. The flexing of the wings are as if a Maestro is conducting a symphony...simply wonderful...

[@FayenceSoaring]

Thank you for your very kind words! Be sure to share with your mountain climbing friends!

[@LaughMuBai]

Absolutely epic! It must have felt good finding that strong thermal in the valley. The Matterhorn was breath-takingly spectacular! I take it you made it safely back to Fayence...

[@tba8621]

Un grand merci pour le partage, pour le paysage, le vol, les éléments tactiques et de sécurité, le pilotage. C'est magnifique. Il serait intéressant de fournir un plan de vol et une météo approximative des même conditions pour le simulateur de vol Condor2. Et, la musique est tout aussi belle que ce vol. CG !

[@andrewmacdonald1904]

When you got to the Matterhorn it brought back some amazing memories of skiing down the backside in 1972 to the Aosta Valley and Italy, to Breuil-Cervinia, an amazing run that went for miles and miles. This flight was incredible.

[@ingleman.6529]

The Matterhorn is iconic. This video is mesmerising and unbelievably beautiful. So calming. Enchanting. Thanks for sharing. Thanks for taking me to a place I have dreamed of and will never go. Now I see it in all it's glory. Stunning footage. Thank you.

[@AlanMydland-fq2vs]

that was a awesome ride to the top

[@12345fowler]

It's so iconic that everybody wants to fly near it. Countless videos out there, gliders being the usual suspects, but you have also a Learjet doing a roll with the Cervin as a background, which was one during a ferry flight. Also every swiss military pilots when flying solo missions just want to make a pass at the Cervin, the infamous "Cervin face climb" where they basically come at the base of it's most iconic face, then pull up until the summit and doing a half roll on top of it, descend the other side inverted for a bit and re-establishing level flight by another half-loop.

[@michaelrussell5346]

As somebody who’s gliding experience had been mainly over flat terrain and only a rare visit or two to mountain soaring, I am ( many years later) very jealous but totally impressed by this video and also your thoughts and planning decisions that you presented during the flight. Cheers from an Aviation Tragic Down Under👍🇦🇺🇫🇷 .

[@torekvalheim7207]

Simply amazing. I have been passenger in a glider in Slovenia twice, and being up there is such an incredible feeling. I really enjoyed this flight. Merci 🙂

[@quetzalocean]

Great flight !!! Thanks for sharing !!!!....

[@cloudchaser9287]

Fantastic how you integrated the instruments and explanations!

[@oliknowles7645]

@20:50 Matterhorn in full. An epic video. Matterhorn is so beautiful it doesn't look real. You are in a vehicle that weights a few hundred pounds; it has no engine. Yet you, soar to and encircle a magnificent mountain peak. A lovely video. Hope you make many more.

[@giuliofornaciari9095]

As an hopeful, would-be cross-pilot, I am in awe at the pilot's skill and cold-blooded decisions.... highly inspiring and wonderful!

[@bobshapka2902]

Stunning vid; thanks for sharing 🫶🏻

[@Simon-ry1lw]

I've just watched this again and still get goosebumps, thanks so much for sharing

[@stewartcampbell8618]

I've been flying gliders for nearly 30 years and the most impressive glding video I have seen. Majestic, risky, spectacular flying. Well done bonnie laddie.

[@FayenceSoaring]

Thank you for your very kind words. It is for viewers like you that I make these videos.

[@sportevolutionclusone7200]

WOW.....REALLY REALLY FANTASTIC, THANK YOU SO MUCH

[@josephinebennington7247]

Phew! Formidable. C’etais some ride.

[@bigbadflyer]

Everything about that was stunning. Thank you so much for allowing us to fly along with you

[@berzerk1450]

Just marvelous. My father had a PPL in the 1970s, but was very busy building up his own enterprise, especially at weekends he had to work and meet with customers, so he hardly had time to fly. When I was 14, I also learned to fly a glider in the "Bavarian Forest" in Arnbruck EDNB. I had a great respect for the gentle hills of this low mountain range, so I know what it means to glide in the Alps.

[@ArjanHarre]

Beautiful ... thank you for making this and letting us come along with you.

[@richardwontner9108]

absolutely awesome video never seen Matterhorn close up stunning and a testament to a fine pilot thank you. Richard in UK

[@albijohnson]

Incredible! liked and subscribed

[@christopheblanchi4777]

Simply the best soaring videos I have ever seen. As a glider pilot, this level of soaring is inspiring. This is nothing short of a dream flight and while the blue conditions made looking for thermals harder, the resulting views are simply stunning.

[@FayenceSoaring]

Wow, thank you!

[@pixelum2023]

Superbe vidéo ! Excellent montage et très belle musique ! Bravo ! J'ai adoré !

[@florent2899]

Fabuleux ! Moi qui m'apprête à reprendre le vol à voile après 25 ans d'arrêt, et en montagne, j'en ai eu des frissons...Excellentes prises de vue et cadrage, et montage au top avec des vues très intéressantes des instruments et de la navigation. Les commentaires sur le cheminement et les points de dégagement sont aussi particulièrement instructifs. Merci beaucoup pour cette superbe vidéo !

[@alexjband]

20:50 there is traffic. Beautiful cinematography. This is the exact kind of content I enjoy the most, and what gets me excited about soaring. Taking a lesson tomorrow.

[@FayenceSoaring]

Thank you very much!

[@anttiautere3663]

Absolutely ... oujeah .. art, dynamics, and everything! I'll fly your route on the Condor 2 -simulator with a virtual reality headset soon (using the very new Pimax Crystal VR mask).

[@SparrowHawkPilot]

Hearing my EDS pulse allows me to feel like I'm flying with you. What an amazing flight,

[@ZootSuitCooter]

WOW, that was beautiful! Watched it twice. Thanks for sharing.

[@ZootSuitCooter]

OK, I just watched it a 3rd time. Learned to fly at 16, A&P license at 21. Now I'm old, retired and bored. LOL Looking at gliders and ultralights.

[@NevContractor1]

So spectacular, simply breath taking. What a skill, using the power of the sun to soar like a bird.

[@12345fowler]

This is a masterpiece video about sailing. So well done.

[@kimcarson2645]

I have watched this video again . . . like a movie to catch what I may have missed . . . breathtaking and contagious . . . I want to fly!

[@tonyfromaus7855]

Not a pilot but I loved it. Every video editing thing you did was perfect. The transitions, multi views, text explanations, sound bleed in etc are all contributing to the perfect glide video. I’ve watched a bunch and never seen it done better. I could understand your task, the route, what was happening much more than any video I’ve seen before. Thanks so much for sharing this beautiful glide.

[@PulkVideo]

Very, very nice! What an incredible nice day for even more incredible soaring! Well done! I flew from Aosta many, many years and it is always a delight to fly round the Matterhorn. Thanks fro sharing.....

[@mavicmeister29]

I second My brother Richards’ comment. Beautifully cinematic, what a brilliant pilot! Scenery outstanding too. Regards, Ron

[@patrikhodel]

What a great flight and video... Thank you, happy landing!

[@BillPalmer]

Beautiful as always. Love the strategic notes (MC, alternates, glide planning, etc )

[@mfprice9]

Happy Birthday FC, and absolutely beautiful video! Not sure when or how without getting divorced but one day hope to follow you out of Fayence. 👍

[@DR-999]

This is as close to being an eagle as is humanly possible. Incredible knowledge of your environment and application of skills to complete this incredible flight....magnificent in every way !!

[@Theworldofhanggliding]

Your videos certainly intensify my idea to "dip my feet in gliding": majestic wing, majestic scenery, great production and lovely soundtrack. And: those glide ratios are simply unbelievable. One might say an Atos is the "Nimeta of the hang gliding world", and yet: when I see your 'looking straight ahead' shots, every single time I'm thinking "Heavens, where is he going to go ?!". I suppose this is the difference between 1:20 and 1:70 😆

[@akgyrator]

OMG this puts chills up and down my spine. I built many flyable models when I was a kid and ended falling in love with airplanes. I went through 1 year of A.+P. Worked for three years building skis for Blackhawk's, Chinook's, Apache's and Kiowa's and rigging for many types of small aircraft in Alaska. I ♥ Airplanes. I also learned to rebuild alternator generators and biffy pumps Ewwww. Gliders are my favorite. So elegant and pretty. I went up twice in Schweinfurt Germany in the 80's.

[@catmar1944]

Fabulous, thanks for taking me on your journey to the magnificent Matterhorn, i did two glider flights (trials i guess you would call them) at London Gliding Club (Dunstable) back many years ago, really enjoyed the experience, however married with four young children i could not afford further lessons, but at least i can say i did it, so thanks again for your video, loved every bit of it.

[@Skinflaps_Meatslapper]

Really cool to see another glider making its way around the Matterhorn (a friend?). Helps to put the size of the mountain into perspective.

[@chouk1474]

Wonderful flight, shooting and 360° video editing ! Love your tutorial comments as well. Good you flew the Grand-Paradis park across to the Valpelline valley before the park raised the prohibited airspace to 4500m. From now-on, watch out now fellow glider pilots...

[@FayenceSoaring]

Yes, the Grand-Paradis is frustrating us!

[@gilles-m8f]

Bonjour, je m' éclate à regarder des vidéos de vols sans moteur et celle-ci est la plus belle qu' il m' a été donné de voir. Les images sont fabuleuses, les séquences à bord remarquables, le montage parfait et la musique sympa . Bravo à toi et grand merci pour ce témoignage...

[@veronicaroach3667]

Wow - thank you, I will never do this or climb any of those peaks, so to see it all from your view is really lovely !

[@heikojutte9510]

Toller Flug, super video! Bin in den 80/90ziger Jahren in Fayence geflogen, weniger weit aber auch schön - La mure, Barcelonette, Mte Viso schöne Erinnerungen!

[@Sara_PY]

Fantastic, Chris! I've been waiting for a new video from you - and this one does not disappoint! I think it's your best yet. Thank you!

[@TommyOlsson]

Amazing, just love this flight. What a view on that impressive mountain. Thanks!

[@intenttobe]

Matterhorn is the coolest looking mountain in the world with Alpamayo coming in at a very close second. Amazing you get to be able to experience this perspective of something so incredibly beautiful

[@alaingre5438]

Lors d'un championnat de France de Delta au Lachens en 1991 j'avais entendu dire que dans "les grands jours" les planeurs arrivaient à "tourner" le cervin dans la journée au départ de Faience mais c'était rester entre mythe et réalité jusqu'à ce que je tombe sur cette vidéo. Merci - PS je peux dire que 30 ans plus tard l'on ressent toujours du plaisir à centrer un thermique et de l'émotion mèlé à une certaine tention à survoler les montages et cela même si c'est par pilote interposé.

[@jeanmarieholzmann2068]

Oui, les possibilités de "hors terrain " me semblent plutôt maigre...

[@gsbrunk]

Totally awesome!

[@flightofthefelix8820]

Sublime flying and exquisite filming Chris - an inspiration to those of us who wish to progress to such flights. Thank you!!!

[@935MARKUS]

Merci beaucoup, thanks a lot for for sharing your wonderful flight with us. You've literealy soared above beauty and offered a dream view of that mythical mountain. Congrats for the images and the music and of course for your gliding skills !

[@wesk123]

This superb. One of the best glider videos out there for 'feeling' the flight. Great flying and filming skills. Bloody well done

[@GlideYNRG]

Beautiful. Something I'd love to attempt one day, be a lovely change from our flat land flying. ❤

[@stephanvonorlow640]

Danke sehr, Christopher, Du lässt uns an tollen Erlebnissen teilhaben. Für viele von uns, die diese Erfahrung nicht mitbringen, ist es die Gelegenheit zu sehen, wie es gehen könnte. Mir wird bei Deinen Aufnahmen immer wieder klar, wieviel Erfahrung es braucht, um sich sicher in dieser Region bewegen zu können. Zuschauen reicht mir in diesem Falle sehr. Der Simulator ermöglicht es, die visuelle Sicht zu erleben, nicht jedoch eine realistische Aufwinderfahrung zu machen. Herzlichst, Stephan

[@peterfynn]

An absolutely beautiful video - thank you so much! I see another sailplane appearing at 21:42 below you and to your starboard bow (nose). It appears she/he transitioned the small saddle in the mountain. Subscribed and clicked on the bell. A master pilot - Thanks again.

[@droworldnow6600]

Bravo Chris, thanks so much for putting this together. Being an editor myself I know what it takes to make a seamless project and you do it professionally well. Beautiful music, great commentary absolutely gorgeous soaring and footage. I'm hungrily waiting for the next one that you put together

[@simonjz05]

Gee.. thanks. Now I need to go fly in Fayence! Another addition to my bucket list.

[@devendrapurushe94]

Being an old glider pilot felt enchanted at my age of 78. Being with you on this daring flight, i feel so happy. Having been to Switzerland and to Mt Titlis etc i feel so enchanted circumventing Matterhorn...❤❤❤

[@drabsinwa180]

Ablosutely awe inspiring. Thank you for taking the time share such a special adventure and present it so beautifully.

[@claysholar3483]

What a place to go. And the most exciting way to get there. The commentary really makes it.

[@chrisstephenson869]

Fantastic vlog thanks for the ride!

[@1975scrabble]

Incredible. Thanks for taking the time to put this together!

[@thomaskolb8785]

That was an epic flight and a beautiful video. Thank you!

[@Maya06530]

Magnifique et impressionnant !!! Je suis admiratif devant un tel vol, merci pour ce superbe voyage en vidéo !

[@trevorstuart3674]

Beautiful, awe inspiring, one of the best gliding videos I’ve seen. Actually watched the whole thing without fast forwarding! Good use of 360 camera, so much better than fixed lenses. Like the editing, commentary and the blending of Oudie and SeeYou images.

[@yplas]

Magnifique vidéo Chris, un peu de nostalgie en voyant ces images ......le retour en thermique bleu et vent sud est mérite une autre vidéo!! Pégase echo tango.

[@ferdagio]

I loved every second of this, thankyou for such an inspiring and informative video. Congratulations

[@kimcarson2645]

Amazing footage . . thank you for sharing these wonderful views

[@mauriziotorrani9412]

Vol merveilleu, et production de la video encore mieux: bravo!

[@andreaslehmann6733]

As always a very special video showing the tranquility of sailplane flying. Thank you for sharing this inspiring experience! The flight traverses the "La Motte du Caire " region which is my favorite in the flightsim I'm playing. It is beautiful to see the real thing.

[@CumulusProduction]

Beautiful video, with a dreamed glider, in wonderful landscapes! Good Job!

[@realpokski]

Very interesting and beautiful video! I hope to one day reach Matterhorn myself. Last year I made it to Maurienne about the same location as you, and would like to see how you continued on from there, as that is my next challenge. But unfortunately you cut from there to Matterhorn. Hopefully in some other video you can show how to make it on from Maurienne :-)

[@guypeasley]

Great flight and scenery. And in the blue. I was interested to see there was another glider at the Matterhorn when you got there. Never alone in the skies.

[@FayenceSoaring]

Soaring in the mountains in blue skies is easier than in the flatlands. In fact, glider pilots who received their initial training in the mountains are nervous about flying in the flatlands!

[@brucemcfadden8778]

Very professional as usual Chris. This was an exciting trip. Your explanations to help us better understand the situation were much appreciated. I have done this in Condor only. I enjoyed seeing it done for real. Please keep these videos coming. Bruce McFadden LIG

[@johnfoster1201]

Beautiful flight. I love the commentary, and to see what your thought process is during the flight. Thanks for sharing.

[@michelstiz2591]

Superbe video, de belles images, des commentaires permettant de bien suivre le vol... En finalité le Cervin l'un des sommets les plus beaux des alpes...

[@walterweiss2507]

Stunning in every way. Thank you so much. Well done.

[@Skyforger62]

Superb video!! What an EPIC experience. As a solo student pilot, this is such an inspiration!

[@dinosantarossa5280]

I have neither the skill or nerve to complete a flight like this. Thank you for taking us along with you, simply amazing.

[@anthonywatkins2783]

Beautiful and stunning, very relaxing to watch. 👌👍

[@philipperobert-gorsse8084]

Superbe ! Un vrai plaisir de vivre ce vol avec cette video tellement bien montée . Merci

[@alexislafois7896]

C'est magnifique!! le passage du Cervin se passe effectivement de commentaire, c'est vraiment à couper le souffle. Au debut de l'approche du Cervin, on peut apercevoir, en contre bas sur la droite, un autre planeur faire le retour, cela donne une idée des dimensions impressionnantes de ce paysage....

[@aaln1aaln132]

Wonderful video. It seems sacrilegious to ask if you considered going round the Matterhorn twice? It is such a beautiful mountain I watched the final part twice. And to be honest I would have watched all the way back too. Many Thanks for sharing your talent.

[@FayenceSoaring]

Actually, the airmass on the north face of the Matterhorn is always descending, and I lost considerable altitude while filming it. It was worth it though, but only once!

[@thenightowl76]

This is absolutely incredible. Well done!

[@KR-tv7cw]

Sehr, sehr schön und ruhig.

[@nixl3518]

Thank you for a fantastic video! The serenity of the ride, the views the soundtrack and the commentary could not have been done better! I wish I could stick my head through the glass screen and be in the cockpit with you!