These are known as absolute records and represent the most difficult kind of record to break. World records are recognized with a special FAI award called the De la Vaulx Medal which is automatically awarded to the holders of recognised absolute World records set during the previous year.

The ridiculous thing is that CIMA has deliberately elected NOT to implement this award for microlight and paramotor records, so anyone who achieves the outstanding feat of breaking an absolute World record goes unrecognized when they could be. If you think this is stupid, lobby your CIMA delegate to get it changed.

Fastest (Horizontal speed)
UK record Performance 187 Km/h (101 Kt) Date 14 Apr 2002 Pilot Julian Harris (GBR) Co-pilot Robert Sharp Aircraft Jabiru UL, registration G-ENRE Location Isle of Sheppey, Kent, UK Initial claim received: 15 April 2002, Detailed claim received: 25 April 2002, Ratified as a UK record 11 June 2002, Ratified as a World record 23 July 2002. Class AL2T : Movable Aerodynamic Control / Landplane / Flown with two persons / Thermal engine Record Speed over a closed circuit of 100 km Min. 188.87 Km/h (102 Kt) to beat this record.	World record Performance 282.4 Km/h (153 Kt) Date 23 Dec 2011 Pilot Eric De Barberin-Barberini (FRA) Co-pilot Isabelle Bernabeu Aircraft Shark Engine Rotax 912 Location Cuers-Pierrefeu (France) Class AL2T : Movable Aerodynamic Control / Landplane / Flown with two persons / Thermal engine Record Speed over a closed circuit of 100 km Min. 285.23 Km/h (155 Kt) to beat this record.
Furthest (Distance)
UK record Performance 896.79 Km (485 Nm) Date 30 Sep 1987 Pilot Brian Milton and Peter Davis (GBR) Aircraft 2 CFM Shadows Location Southampton, Hampshire to Kirkwall, Orkney (UK) Class AL1T : Movable Aerodynamic Control / Landplane / Flown solo / Thermal engine Record Distance in a straight line Min. 905.76 Km (490 Nm) to beat this record.	World record Performance 1369 Km (740 Nm) Date 6 Sep 1988 Pilot Bernard D'otreppe (BEL) Aircraft Aviasud Engineering Albatros Engine 1 Rotax 377 Location Fréjus La Palud (France) Class AL1T : Movable Aerodynamic Control / Landplane / Flown solo / Thermal engine Record Distance in a straight line Min. 1382.69 Km (747 Nm) to beat this record.
Highest (Altitude)
UK record Performance 7684m (25206 Ft) Date 16 Mar 1984 Pilot Bob Calvert (GBR) Aircraft Puma Sprint / Robin 3 Cyl Location Peasington (UK) Class WL1T : Weight-shift Control / Landplane / Flown solo / Thermal engine Record Altitude Min. 7915m (25962 Ft) to beat this record.	World record Performance 9720m (31885 Ft) Date 18 Sep 1994 Pilot Serge Zin (FRA) Aircraft Air Création Norgil Engine 1 Rotax 582 Location Saint-Auban (France) Class WL1T : Weight-shift Control / Landplane / Flown solo / Thermal engine Record Altitude Min. 10012m (32842 Ft) to beat this record.

World records courtesy FAI. See the FAI website for the definitive list of World records, this listing last checked 8 Feb 2013. World record claims pending ratification are NOT included here.