IAF duo on microlight expedition cruise abroad

Guwahati, June 2 (UNI) Wing Commanders Rahul Monga and Anil Kumar cruised out of the country this afternoon after a one and half hour halt in Guwahati.

The two micro-light pilots are on a 'Round the World Micro-light Expedition' for a world record to become the fastest circumnavigation in a microlight aircraft.

The duo of Air Headquarters Adventure Cell took off from Delhi at 0800 hours yesterday and reached Bagdogra at 1700 hours via Allahabad.

Today, they reached Guwahati at 0700 hours and at 0830 hours they left for their first international destination to Mandalay in Myanmar.

Defence sources said they flew past Myanmar this afternoon.

The duo would cover a distance of about 40,000 km in 64 days flying through 81 destinations.

The current record for such a flight round the globe is in 80 days.

They would be the second Indians to attempt such a long distance flight on a microlight aircraft, that weighs only 300 kgs and is equipped with electronic flight instrumentation system, internal GPS, a satellite tracker and a VOR radio set for communication in air and with ground.

They are low performance aircrafts, basically meant for short haul adventure flights around an airdrome.

The first-of-its kind expedition is in keeping with the Platimum Jubilee celebration of the AIF this year.

UNI