August 22, 2008 — It’s one thing to break a record. But it’s quite another to do so by six days.
Earlier this month pilots Scott Kasprowicz and Steve Sheik set a new world speed record, flying around the world in a helicopter in only 11 days, seven hours and two minutes. The two broke the current record - 17 days, six hours and 14 minutes - by almost six days in their effort, dubbed “The Grand Adventure.”
With an average speed of 74 knots and regularly flying at 160 knots between refueling points, the two flew Kasprowicz's twin engine AgustaWestland helicopter over 18 countries, 24 time zones and 49 states and covered almost 21,000 nautical miles.
Kasprowicz and Sheik departed from New York LaGuardia Airport at 3:14 a.m. on Aug. 7. They traveled eastbound across the Atlantic into Europe via Greenland, traversed western and eastern Europe into Russia, crossed 11 time zones in Russia, then returned to North America over the Bering Strait and crossed the U.S. to return to New York City on Aug. 18.
"We are so glad to be back home. This has been the trip of a lifetime and is a remarkable achievement for all of us,” Kasprowicz said after landing. “ We had some challenging situations, especially in Russia and the planning and coordination at each control point was key to our success.”
Unlike previous flights to break the world helicopter speed record, Kasprowicz performed this mission in a factory-standard Grand.
The Washington Post reported that the trip took about a year to plan and Kasprowicz estimated that it cost him "several hundreds of thousands of dollars." He guessed that he and Sheik had slept an average of two hours a night and said they ate only four meals on the ground. The other meals, some no more than granola or trail mix, were consumed in the air.
According, Kasprowicz said the most remarkable part of the trip was the "condensed and compressed view of the world" he and Sheik got from touching down in so many landscapes and cultures. "It was the ultimate helicopter adventure."
The record of the flight will be submitted to the National Aeronautic Association for ratification.
Earlier in the flight, the two broke another record — a New York to London speed record — flying that portion of the trip in about 40 hours and breaking the old record by 35 hours.
|
|
Members of the Grand Adventure Team are reunited in New York after pilots Scott Kasprowicz and Steve Sheik completed their around the world flight in a helicopter in 11 days, 7 hours and 2 minutes. From left, are Harlan Hamlin, Kasprowicz, Sheik, Jessie Sheik, Donna Hickman and Jackie Ferko.
Scott Kasprowicz and his AgustraWestland Grand helicopter made history this month, setting two speed records, pending confirmation. Photo: PR Newswire Commercial Photo
Steve Sheik and Scott Kasprowicz in the Grand.
Photo by Verticalmag.com
|
News Archive | Air Shows & Events | KidVenture | Young Eagles Newsletter
EMAIL
STORY
PRINTER
FRIENDLY
Privacy Policy 