AN INTREPID pilot smashed a world record after visiting 16 countries in one day.
Mike Roberts, who owns Take Flight Aviation school at Wellesbourne Airfield, recently took on the challenge along with commercial pilot Nicholas Rogers.
The duo flew some 1,750 miles across Europe in 24 hours beginning in Denmark and ending in France, before dropping in to countries including Sweden, Germany and Poland for around half an hour each to refuel, as well as crossing the Alps at 11,000 ft.
He also touched down in Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Slovenia, Italy, Austria, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Netherlands and Belgium.
They had 24 hours to complete the task with a flight time of almost 14 hours.
The current world record stands at 11 countries and the pair are waiting for Guinness World Records to verify their new record.
Mr Roberts said “The response to our challenge was so positive and it was amazing to see people waiting to greet us at from 4am in the morning in Sweden.
“So many of the countries we visited have amazing facilities for handling general aviation and I hope it will be a model that Stratford District Council follow at Wellesbourne”.
The team hope to further raise awareness of the Save Wellesbourne Airfield campaign.
The council is in the process of a compulsory purchase of the airfield to maintain its aviation use, and two of the remaining businesses, including Take Flight, are taking action in the Court of Appeal to secure their tenancies.
Visit www.SaveWellesbourneAirfield.com for more details.
