Lone Slovenian pilot completes global flight
Apr 19, 2012, 4:25 PM
LJUBLJANA, Slovenia (AP) – A Slovenian pilot has completed a unique two-month, 62,000-mile (99,774-kilometer) journey around the globe in a fuel-saving ultralight plane.
Matevz Lenarcic, a biologist and nature protectionist, flew from Slovenia to Africa, North and South America, then to Australia and Asia, over Mount Everest and India and than back home on Thursday.
The Slovenian-made Virus-SW914 ultra light plane can fly 2,485 miles (3,999 kilometers) with 92 gallons (348 liters) of fuel.
Lenarcic says, “The world is not as big and indestructible as it seems. It is worth seeing it in all its diversity.”
Lenarcic is reportedly the first to fly around the world in an ultralight plane without a co-pilot and without any ground support.
(Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)