October 18, 2005

From: Steve Wood
          Adventure of Flight
          http://adventureofflight.org

Steve Wood, the first British pilot to fly around the four corners of America in a homebuilt aircraft, plans a record setting solo round the world flight promoting British American trade, travel, culture and the Royal International Air Tattoo supported charity Flying Scholarships for the Disabled.

No British pilot has flown around the world in a homebuilt airplane, and Wood aims to join an elite group as only 10 pilots of other nationalities have flown homebuilt aircraft around the world in the 102 years since the Wright Brothers first flight.

Virtually all flights are made in certified aircraft. Compared to airline flights, the figures are miniscule - just 69 solo circumnavigation flights in any type of aircraft and 121 flights in single engine aircraft, of which only 10 have been homebuilt.

A member of the British American Business Council and the International Fellowship of Flying Rotarians, Wood will be promoting Britain as he travels the world. During Wood’s attempt to establish a new FAI round the world flight record from New York to New York, British American links will be promoted at 12 US cities which have BABC chapters.

Photo courtesy of AOPA

Adventure of Flight - http://adventureofflight.org - Wood’s world flight program, also has the aim of raising $1m for Flying Scholarships for the Disabled. Wood is following in the flight path of Polly Vacher MBE, the record setting aviatrix and Wood’s mentor, who has flown two fund raising world flights for FSD.

Spirit of Endeavour, Wood’s homebuilt aircraft, took him 7 years to build. The name is to honor the memory of fellow Yorkshireman Capt James Cook, the world’s greatest navigator, and his famous ship Endeavour. Amongst young and old alike, Wood’s airplane is also affectionately known as ‘GOOFY’ from its unique registration, N-600FY.

Wood wants to encourage British American business support for the flight and has advertising space available on Spirit of Endeavour, the world flight airplane and on the Adventure of Flight web site.

Contact information - Steve Wood - email sprucepilot@aol.com

Editors Notes:

Contact Info: Steve Wood - email sprucepilot@aol.com

Tel: UK: +44- (0)1423 509777 / (0)775 287 4205 – USA: +1-386-760-1674

The record setting round the world flight from New York to New York will be an attempt to bring a new FAI world record to Britain – see: http://www.fai.org/records

Wood’s solo ‘four corners’ flight around America was made in July 2005 and covered 10000 miles in just 10 flying days (43.8% of the minimum FAI round the world flight distance) - see: http://fourcornersflight.com

Spirit of Endeavour is a homebuilt GlaStar aircraft registration N-600FY, affectionately known as ‘GOOFY’ as the ‘6’ in the registration is often mistaken for a ‘G’. Disney memorabilia  and co-pilot ‘Goofy’ add to this illusion.

Information about UK and US charities Flying Scholarships for the Disabled can be found by following the links on the Adventure of Flight web site - http://adventureofflight.org

Round the world flight statistics from the Earthrounders web site - http://earthrounders.com

Polly Vacher MBE – record setting aviatrix, see: http://worldwings.org