Round the world in 18 days

[Hagar]

Forget all the media hype about overpaid footballing "heroes". This is a real achievement. Needless to say it's been completely ignored by national newspapers & radio/TV news. I found a small article tucked away on page 7 of our local paper.

Simon Oliphant-Hope lives in my home town of Worthing & runs Eastern Atlantic Helicopters based at Shoreham Airport.



[quote]On June 4th 2004 Simon Oliphant-Hope and the Eastern Atlantic Team commenced an attempt to smash the Around the World 'World Speed Record' in a helicopter routing eastbound.
The Record is currently held by an American pilot named Ron Bower who completed the trip in 24

[Craig.]

thats a sign of true class.
Shame this hasnt been covered by any of the major news companies.

[Felix/FFDS]

In the grand scheme of aviation achievement, this may not be on a par with Alcock crossing the Atlantic, but bully for him!

On the other hand, seeing the route, why such a detour in the US?  Would that not have cut a few more days?

[Hagar]

[quote]On the other hand, seeing the route, why such a detour in the US?

[jrpilot]

Great news...but why did he make the path that he did....especially over the U.S.

[Hagar]

Great news...but why did he make the path that he did....especially over the U.S.

Your guess is as good as mine. Possibly something to do with sponsorship.

While wandering around at Shoreham earlier this month I took these shots. It's the record breaking helo. The guys in the hangar didn't seem too keen on me being there. I didn't realise I was photographing a little piece of history at the time. Pity I wasn't there to welcome him home.




PS. I just checked the site.

STOP PRESS.... THIS JUST IN

The times have been re-checked and the record has in fact been set in 17 DAYS, 14 HOURS, 2 MINUTES, and 27 SECONDS. This is truly a remarkable time!!!

[robbo1]

The last helicopter to do an around the world was a Bell 430, not a JetRanger.  N430Q, now owned by STAT MedEvac.   I hope that chopper had an autopilot...

[Hagar]

You're quite correct Robbo. It seems that Ron Bower still holds the record for the westbound route. His original 1994 record for the eastbound trip was in a Bell 206B-3 JetRanger III. http://www.bowerhelicopter.com/atw/around1.html

[GWSimulations]

Give me a Blackbird, and lessons on flying it, and I'd probably be round in 18 hours!

[DiveBomber89]

I'm guessing the path he made was to make 24000 miles. It looks like he hung around the higher latitudes during his flight.