IAF Round the World Expdn Reaches Matagami, Canada

New Delhi July 26 (UNI) Undeterred by delays due to inclement weather, the IAF 'Round the World' expedition has reached Matagami in Canada from Toronto on its move north towards the Atlantic Ocean prior to crossing into Greenland.

The expedition was supposed to rest in Toronto for two days, but given a 12-day delay caused by inclement weather, the intrepid duo of Wing Commanders Rahul Monga and Anil Kumar decided to move on after only a day in Toronto.

According to reports received here today, the pilots reached Toronto yesterday around 0445 hrs IST. They had had taken off from Providence near New York the previous day.

Earlier, the IAF duo had to stay put in Providence on Tuesday as drizzle and poor visibility thwarted any attempt to take off for Toronto.

They are already several days behind schedule -- thanks to extremely poor weather over China and Russia and also in Alaska.

The duo had planned to recover some of the lost days but bad weather seems to have put paid to such hopes a present. The fact that their aircraft is small and prone to elements does not make things simple.

Wing Cdrs Monga and Kumar had taken off from Hindan Air Base near here on June 1. In their 'Round the World' expedition, they are flying a German-designed, Ukraine-manufactured single engine, two-seater CTSW microlight airplane with a Rotax engine.

The IAF microlight expedition has been undertaken as part of the Platinum Jubilee celebrations of the Indian Air Force. The endeavour is also aimed at setting a new world record by competing in the 300Kg-weight category microlight of make 'CSTW Advance'.

UNI