Speed Record Club

speed on wheels, water and wings

Just for the Record - August 2009

contents:
A New Flying Record

A New Flying Record

News has recently reached us of a new flying record which shows that there are still people out there who show strength of character and determination to beat the odds and succeed.

Sixty year old African pilot Chalkie (real name Charles) Stobbart planned to beat the 70 year old record set in 1939 by Alex Henshaw of flying in a single seater, single engined plane from London to South Africa and back. (Although, being South African, Chalkie was planning to fly from South Africa and back).

Chalkie’s attempt was to take many months of planning and expense - £8000 for flight planning alone - which was to be undertaken in his homebuilt Osprey GP4. The record to beat was 4 days, 10 hours and 16 minutes which Henshaw set in his Mew Gull. While a momentous flight of its day 70 years ago, it still holds as many challenges today. If it was that easy it wouldn’t have taken 70 years for someone to beat the record. It has to be born in mind that even today, as well as having to cope with extremes of weather conditions, there are airspace restrictions to contend with, unknown territory and little equipment to deal with emergencies.

Read Chalkie's fascinating story in FastFacts74.

For more information see www.henshaw-challenge.com