Another Around the World Flight

India – September 14, 2007 – Nearly 25,165 miles around the world in a light sport aircraft. All in 79 days. Two Indian Air Force officers completed a VFR (or “Visual Flight Rules”) circumnavigation of the globe in a Flight Design CTsw on Aug. 19, marking the 75th anniversary of the Indian Air Force. And they set a world speed record, too. Wing Commanders Rahul Monga and Anil Kumar, who normally fly helicopters and fighter jets, visited 19 countries in their goodwill tour. They flew in their Light Sport Aircraft through China, Russia, North America, Europe, and the Middle East before returning to Delhi, India, where they started on June 1. In all countries Monga and Kumar greeted local air force units. While the two mainly flew together, Monga flew solo across the North Atlantic so he could carry more fuel; Kumar took a commercial flight from Canada to the United Kingdom. They had hoped to finish the trip in 64 days, but poor weather, including monsoons in China, caused delays. They spent six days holed up in Anchorage, Alaska, and another four days waiting for the weather to improve in Germany. But they had to overcome more than weather. “We had to train ourselves to handle all kinds of problems,” Kumar told the Times of India. “…We were sitting in the cockpit for nine -10 hours, moving from culture to culture, time zone to time zone. I think we are fortunate that we could cope up in all such situations.” The best part of the trip, Kumar said, was the response they received in other countries. “It's very nice because you are looked at with respect from the Air Force of other nations. That gives you a big satisfaction." The two pilots said landing the CT is different than the fighter jets they usually fly. Since the aircraft weighs less than 1,100 pounds on takeoff and is highly susceptible to wind gusts, the plane "lands like a drunken dinosaur," according to an IAF release. One of the first aircraft certified under the U.S. LSA standards, the CT is currently the best-selling LSA in the United States with 20 percent of the market-share.		Indian Air Force Wing Commanders Wing Commanders Anil Kumar (left) and Rahul Monga and the Flight Design CTsw they successfully flew around the world. The pair completed their flight last month. The Flight Design CTsw Kumar and Monga flew around the world in celebration of the Indian Air Force’s 75th anniversary.
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		Indian Air Force Follow links for flight details and history Flight Design Aircraft Light Sport Aircraft

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