Swiss Aviators Complete Around-the-World LSA Flight

Leinfelden-Echterdingen, Germany –June 28, 2010 —Two pilots in light-sport aircraft have finished their around-the-world flight, meant to celebrate 100 years of aviation in Europe. Yannick Bovier, 37, and Francisco Agullo, 41, departed Sion, Switzerland on April 30 in twin Flight Design CTs. After 51 days, the pair returned safely on June 19 after crossing two oceans, confronting sluggish bureaucrats for overfly permission, battling fatigue and loneliness, and performing routine maintenance that comes with so many hours logged. “Our biggest victory is not to have accomplished our dream but to have made, with this flight, other people dream and to have brought them something, an inspiration, an idea, a reflection, a will to take action, to surpass oneself, the proof it is possible,” Bovier wrote in their online logbook that details their trip. Starting on April 30, the duo leaped the Atlantic to Brazil by May 8 and then crossed the Caribbean to Miami, Florida, by May 13. After crossing the States, Bovier and Agullo made two very long flights to cross the Pacific on June 3. The pair wrote, “[We flew over] 15,877 kilometers (about 10,000 miles) of water… in 76 hours.” The arduous passage across the planet’s largest ocean brought several interesting experiences, including landing on an atoll on the Pacific Marshall Island of Majuro. The ocean crossings were noteworthy but obtaining permission to overfly some Middle Eastern countries brought difficulties of another sort. But Bovier and Agullo are airline pilots and had familiarity in dealing with aviation authorities in many countries. Teams at home also helped with permits and logistical efforts, as well as weather reports. The twin CT aircraft were modified to carry 120 gallons of fuel for their 17-hour flight legs over water. A factory-stock CTLS carries 35 gallons of auto gas or 100LL, giving it a range of more than 800 nautical miles.

Yannick Bovier and Francisco Agullo completed their around the world trip in twin Flight Design CTs on June 19. Photo credit: www.azimut270.ch/en/logbook.html Yannick Bovier and Francisco Agullo get ready to make their final landing in their around-the-world adventure. Photo credit: www.azimut270.ch/en/logbook.html

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