Circumnavigating New Zealand in a Gyrocopter!

[ardypilot]

End in sight for gyrocopter circumnavigation attempt

A Taupo man who is circumnavigating New Zealand's coastline in a gyrocopter is hoping to finish the last leg of his journey today.

Weather permitting, Sid Lane, who is hoping to raise thousands of dollars for cancer charities through his mission, hopes he will be able to reach his starting point of Taupo this evening.

The retired clothing manufacturer embarked on his mission to travel the 5500km of coast in the small, open-air helicopter on Waitangi Day.

Yesterday he left from New Plymouth and went to Kaitaia, around Cape Reinga, into Kerikeri and then to Auckland.

He was in Auckland's North Shore this morning, waiting for the weather to clear.

"It's raining up here and low cloud so I could be held up for a couple of hours."

If the weather clears he would fly to Tauranga and then on to Taupo.

"I have in my head that you get around the world in 80 days so I need to get around New Zealand in eight," Mr Lane said.

If he makes it to Taupo today, he would have reached his goal.

"I really don't want anything to go wrong on the last leg," he said.

Mr Lane was diagnosed with throat cancer last April and was only given the all clear after six months of chemotherapy and radiation treatment.

An event called the Flying Proms was on in Taupo, and a reception was being planned for his arrival.

"I really want to get back and show these people that even when you have had cancer there are things that you can get out and do in life.

"And you have to keep your head high and look ahead and stay positive," said Mr Lane, who has been flying gyrocopters for 40 years.

Anyone who wants to donate towards the journey can do so at any branch of Westpac bank, which has set up a trust for the purpose.

[Ian Warren]

Well .. hmm , Gyro-copter , anyway be a challenge to d the same , FS9/FSX , be pleasing to see it in as much photo real we can get

[happytraveller]

By coincidence, I was just reading on the net about somebody who flew around the world in a Mooney. Sometimes it is nice to dream......

The link is:-

http://www.around-the-world-2007.com/

smooth landings.