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Middleburg helicopter pilot hopes to break around-the-world record
In 1872 Jule's Verne's character Phileas Fogg, a wealthy and determined bachelor, bet his fortune that he could journey “Around the World in 80 Days.”This July, Middleburg resident and businessman Scott Kasprowicz is betting he can do it in 14.
He and copilot Steve Sheik, of Baltimore, will travel more than 19,860 miles around the world in a helicopter, attempting to beat by three days a previous record set by a fellow helicopter pilot.
“It's an exciting mission,” said Kasprowicz, who has been flying since his teens. “In flying this mission, we'll make one small step toward the advancement of aviation.”
Unlike other helicopter record setters, he said, he is not using a beefed-up modified helicopter but rather a factory-stock one.
Kasprowicz, who is the founder and former CEO of Texel Corporation, said this will show that regular helicopters can make long-distance trips just like the fancy ones.
He and Sheik anticipate departing from New York July 16, if the weather is right.
They will fly eastbound across the Atlantic Ocean, through Europe and Russia to Alaska and Canada, and back to New York.
The duo must fly across every meridian on the globe and cannot travel into the poles, which would give them a time and distance advantage.
“Principally, I will be doing the flying and Steve will be doing the flight plan and navigating,” Kasprowicz said.
He said splitting the workload this way is a strategy the duo formulated when in February they broke the trans-America record for fastest trip by helicopter set in 1985.
For their global record attempt, the pilots will fly about 12 to 13 hours a day during the 14-day trip, resting only at night. They will make more than 70 stops to refuel, but Kasprowicz said to remain on schedule, each stop can only last about 30 minutes.
They will fly at an average altitude of 5,000 feet, but will have to fly at an altitude of 12,000 feet to pass over Greenland's icecap.
“The trip has its risks,” Kasprowicz said. “It's obviously unusual to fly 14 days in a row.”
Preparations for the flight are ongoing, he said. The team is still working to get permission to fly and refuel in Russia.
But as far as packing goes, there isn't too much to do.
The duo is packing light –carrying emergency food and supplies -- so they don't weigh down the helicopter and slow their flight time, Kasprowicz said.
However, the team made room for some of their favorite tunes. Kasprowicz said he's packing his iPod, which houses more than 2,000 of his favorite classic rock, classic music and country songs.
Music is always a good way to pass the time, he said, but “even with those long hours, there's still a lot to do.”
He and Sheik will radio in their location to a command center in Atlanta. They will also have a phone on the plane to make calls home to their families.
The team is working to set up a Web site so that those interested in following their progress can check online to see how they're doing.
As for why he wants to set the record, Kasprowicz said: “I'm a goals guy. I ran my company being goals-oriented. I live goal-oriented.”
Contact the reporter at hhobbs@timespapers.com
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