SOUTHEND: World record attempt launched from airport

Did you hear a VERY low plane go over your house or flat in the early hours of Tuesday morning (31 Aug)?

It certainly woke me up, and had me worried for the safety of the pilot and those on board.  I didn’t get up in time to see the aircraft, but what sounded like a plane in distress was anything but.

The aircraft was – in fact – beginning a world record attempt to fly from London to Cape Town in South Africa and back again, solo in a single engined 200 hp propeller driven aeroplane.  It’s a distance of just under 12,000 miles.

It’s been done twice before – once in 1939 by Alex Henshaw and again – last year – by Charles Stobbart in a record 3 days, 15 hours and 17 minutes.

But wanting to break that record is Steve Noujaim, who took off from Southend Airport at 4.38am on Tuesday morning.

It’s already been a long journey for Steve.  In 1981 he read “The Flight of the Mew Gull”, Henshaw’s book about his early life and in particular the Cape flight. This amazing story got him thinking, and in 2001 he and his wife Anna decided to build an aeroplane to attempt the challenge flight.

Henshaw′s challenge is very specific. It does not relate to the records as such. It relates to his own flight, there and back in less time than he did it in a 200hp single engined propellor driven aircraft, solo, by whatever means.

Steve’s day job is a long haul airline Captain. For relaxation Steve teaches Aerobatics and displays warbirds.  Suffice to say this man is into his planes.

At the time of writing (0830 Sep 1st), Steve had made it to Brazzaville in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and is 18 minutes ahead of schedule.

We’re tracking Steve’s progress – and hope to bring you some good news regarding the world record.  If you’d like to follow Steve in real time, then click this link.  If you’re inspired by his efforts, you can sponsor him here.