Scott Kasprowicz and Steve Sheik set a new world record in August 2008 flying 20,000 nautical miles crossing every meridian on the globe faster than anyone in a helicopter has before. The Grand Adventure set the new record in 11 days, 7 hours and 2 minutes smashing the existing record by almost 6 days.
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10 Fast Facts
- It’s been over 10 years since the current record was set
- The current record stands at 17 days, 6 hours, 14 minutes, 25 seconds
- The total distance is 20,000 nautical miles, or just over 23,000 statute miles, a distance equivalent to the circumference of the earth at the Tropic of Cancer
- The flight is prohibited from crossing into either polar region in order to save time and distance
- The flight necessitates two ocean crossings
- Unlike previous flights, no additional (after-market) fuel-tanks have been added to the aircraft
- Unlike previous flights, There have been no or mission-specific modifications made to the aircraft to improve performance
- Unlike previous flights, the aircraft will operate under its normal rating, and not as an experimental aircraft
- Large airports can not be utilized as high-traffic airports would preclude landing, refueling and take-off being accomplished in the minimum possible time
- The aircraft’s tail number is N1US: “N” meaning that the aircraft is registered as an American aircraft, with the call letters 1US. Kasprowicz was able to purchase the very special tail number from another pilot who had just immediately scooped the recently released designation, “1US” having been held for over 30 years from the U.S. Sugar Corporation!
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