Fastest coast to coast round trip -world record
set by US pilots
[April
19] SAN DIEGO, CA, USA--Johan Nurmi and co-pilots Charles
Martin, Dane Larsen and Travis Reid ("World Record Helicopetr
Team") , just broke the world speed record for making
a coast to coast round trip in a Robinson R44 Raven helicopter.
Photo: The world record helicopter team.
The four-member crew flew coast to coast round-trip in 70
hours, breaking the previously held record by more than 18
hours.
The four-man crew made the trip in 70 hours,
breaking the old record set by Canyon Laker Paul Chennette
by over 18 hours. The trip included 20 fuel/food stops and
several unexpected delays.
The flight distance was about 4,000 nautical
miles, or about a fifth of the distance around the globe,
Nurmi said.
The team’s landing at Brown Field was heralded
by banners, balloons and cheers by friends and family.
The previous world record for the flight is 88 hours
and 43 minutes.
Family and friends had been able to view the team’s
progress through a tracking system connected to Dane’s cell
phone. Their position, altitude, speed and heading were posted
every few minutes on a tracking website.
This showed their path on a hybrid (satellite/street)
style map (Google Earth), which could be viewed from far away
to very close-up. The team’s path was monitored by people
around the world.
Currently, Dane is looking for sponsors
to support him on another record flight attempt.
The
World Record Helicopter Team, which was founded by
Nurmi, is planning to circumnavigate the world in a helicopter.
They hope to break the speed record and at the same time draw
attention to the Christian Foundation for Starving Children.
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