Flying around the world for a cure

Oshkosh – Aug. 4, 2008 — One week. Seven days. One hundred sixty-eight hours. In that little time, CarolAnn Garratt and Carol Foy will fly over 22 countries, making only seven short stops, in an effort to set a new around-the-world record for single engine aircraft and raise $1 million for ALS research. Garratt and Foy know it isn’t going to be easy, but their research has showed them it is possible. The two talked about their trip and accepted donations during EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2008. If they are to make only seven two-hour stops on their trip it means that will have to eat, sleep and go to the bathroom on the plane. “It comes down to being creative,” said Foy, a past winner of the Air Race Classic. They’ll mainly eat nutrition bars and stay hydrated drinking water or sports drinks. They’ll take turns sleeping in the seats, although they don’t recline much. Garratt has flown around the world in a Mooney before and wrote about that seven-month trip in a book, “Upon Silver Wings.” The two will also write a book documenting this trip and preparations. Garratt said she was actually planning for a three-year around-the-world trip when she came up with the idea of the seven-day one. “I’m taking care of my 85-year-old dad,” she explained. “I’d never be able to do it and leave him for three yeas, but I could put him in assisted living for seven days.” So she started doing some research, figuring out the best way across the Pacific, teamed up with Foy, and together the two refined the route and logistics. In early December, they’ll depart from San Diego, and head to Hawaii, Guam, Thailand, Oman, a stop in Africa, Cape Verde, and back to Orlando, Foy said. The longest leg is will be 3,300 nautical miles from Cape Verde to Orlando. Individuals, groups and businesses can sponsor a mile of their trip for $10 or a stop for $5,000. For more information or to donate, visit www.alsworldflight.com. Already more than $116,000 has been pledged.

Carol Foy, left, and CarolAnn Garratt will fly around the world in hopes of setting a world record for single engine aircraft and raising $1 million for ALS research. Photo by Phil Weston.

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