IAF pilots set off for a world record

Two intrepid IAF pilots, Wing Commanders Anil Kumar and Rahul Monga Friday set off from here in a bid to break the world record for fastest circumnavigation of the globe in a Micro-light aircraft. Post dawn the pilots, who will attempt to cover a distance of about 40,000 kms in 64 days flying through 81 destinations, were flagged off on their adventure by the Air Chief Fali Homi Major from the Hindon airbase.

The current world record for such a flight round the globe is 80 days.

They will be the second Indians to attempt such a long distance microlight flying. In 1988, aviator tycoon Vijaypat Singhania had created a record for flying from London to Ahmedabad in 22 days.



Wing Commander Rahul Monga poses with the German-designed, Ukraine-manufactured single engine, two-seater CTSW microlight airplane.

"We are making the bid to bring the world record back in the name of India", the two IAF pilots told newsmen before embarking upon their flying odyssey being undertaken as part of forces Platinum Jubilee celebrations.

Monga and Kumar, flying in a German manufactured CTSW advance microlight are planning to set a new world fastest time in going round the globe in 300-500 weight category.

Their microlight weighing just 300 kgs has a range of 1,400 kms with a flying ceiling of 14,000 feet. A glass cockpit flying machine, the microlight is equipped with electronic flight instrumentation system, internal GPS, a satellite tracker and a VOR radio set for communications in air and with ground.