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Loudoun man breaks world travel record
Scott Kasprowicz, of Middleburg, set out to break a 17-day world travel record by three days. Instead he and co-pilot Steve Sheik, of Baltimore, beat the previous record set by a helicopter pilot by nearly six days.“We didn’t just beat the record, we shattered it, and that’s a great feeling,” Kasprowicz said.
He and his co-pilot arrived Aug. 18 at LaGuardia Airport in New York, where they had started their journey 11 days earlier.
Kasprowicz said a “combination of determination and adrenaline” kicked the team's trip into overdrive, causing the two to complete their flight faster than expected.
During their flights, Kasprowicz and Sheik flew more than 19,860 miles and visited more than 20 countries.
Along the way, the duo also broke the New York-to-London travel record.
The flight records from the trip had to be given to the National Aeronautics Association within seven days of their arrival back in New York for verification. Kasprowicz said it will take the association a few weeks to confirm the results.
The trip was challenged by difficulties clearing Russian airspace.
“We lost a full day in Russia,” Kasprowicz said, adding that the team was lucky it was just a day. “Flying in Russian airspace is difficult.”
Many of Russia's airports are open only from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and some don't have fueling stations. The team touched down more than 20 times in Russia to refuel, Kasprowicz said. When fuel was not available at the airport, it was flown in to meet the pilots.
The time lost in Russia was made up by flying longer hours, he said -- often as many as 18 to 20 hours a day.
“Grueling days,” he said. “The hardest part of the trip was the rigor."
Kasprowicz is founder and former CEO of Texel Corp. He also worked for Gov. Tim Kaine as the deputy secretary of transportation.
Before departing, Kasprowicz said, “In flying this mission, we'll make one small step toward the advancement of aviation.”
What’s next for the pilot?
“It’s kind of tough to top this one,” he said.
To view the team's travel log, visit Grandadventure08.com.
Contact the reporter at hhobbs@timespapers.com
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