<p>Two Indian pilots, including one from the city, took part in a Guinness World Record creating event recently. </p>.<p>James Sumith Lobo and Wing Commander (retired) Ashok Mehta took part in the first ever open-air fly-in, in which hobby pilots from all over the world took to the skies on the same day, October 10. <br /><br />The Indian pilots participated in the World Ultralight Fly-In (WUFI) in their attempt to set a Guinness World Record for the first worldwide ultralight and open air synchronized flying event. The event, put together by Dayton Ultralights with the help of members of Experimental Aircraft Association, in Moraine, Ohio, USA, was open to all pilots who fly light sport aircrafts.<br /><br />“The limitations of these aircraft mean, it is unlikely all of us around the world will ever get to fly together. But we can all fly the same sky, on the same day everywhere on planet Earth, making this the first virtual worldwide flying,” said Belgium’s Koen Van de Kerckhove, WUFI creator, in a press note issued here.<br /><br />Since not all pilots could be in the same place at the same time, a concerted effort to synchronize flights with the use of social media and online ZeeMaps were used. To participate, pilots flew their aircraft and submitted a dated photograph with their name, location, and type of aircraft. The initial flights started in Australia around 5 pm on October 9, Ohio time.</p>.<p>Unlike most flying events, this one did not sport massive turbojets or planes with 200 seat cabins. But rather, only unique, imaginative lightweight aircraft considered to be LSA took part, WUFI co-creator Bill Esker said, in the press note.<br /><br />Prominent Belgium and US ultralight pilots were initial coordinators, with global orchestration in conjunction with Dayton Ultralights and members of flying clubs around the world. According to Paul Lindamood, director of Dayton Ultralights and WUFI, pilots from 19 countries signed up to participate.<br /><br /> “Some of the most fascinating flying machines ever invented shared the same sky, same day, all across the world this October. Even though over 700 pilots had registered for the event, a recounting of those who actually flew on the day is around 500,” he said.<br /><br />Speaking to Deccan Herald, James Sumith Lobo, a resident of Rajiv Nagar, said, he along with his instructor Wg Cdr Mehta took off from the Mysuru Airport at Mandakalli in their X-AIR (Microlight) two-seater and flew for over an hour and landed at the same airport.<br /><br />An aviation enthusiast, member of Bengaluru Aerosports and also Mysuru Aerosports, Lobo said he has plans to do a similar Limca record by gathering all Indian pilots on Republic Day or Independence Day.<br /></p>
<p>Two Indian pilots, including one from the city, took part in a Guinness World Record creating event recently. </p>.<p>James Sumith Lobo and Wing Commander (retired) Ashok Mehta took part in the first ever open-air fly-in, in which hobby pilots from all over the world took to the skies on the same day, October 10. <br /><br />The Indian pilots participated in the World Ultralight Fly-In (WUFI) in their attempt to set a Guinness World Record for the first worldwide ultralight and open air synchronized flying event. The event, put together by Dayton Ultralights with the help of members of Experimental Aircraft Association, in Moraine, Ohio, USA, was open to all pilots who fly light sport aircrafts.<br /><br />“The limitations of these aircraft mean, it is unlikely all of us around the world will ever get to fly together. But we can all fly the same sky, on the same day everywhere on planet Earth, making this the first virtual worldwide flying,” said Belgium’s Koen Van de Kerckhove, WUFI creator, in a press note issued here.<br /><br />Since not all pilots could be in the same place at the same time, a concerted effort to synchronize flights with the use of social media and online ZeeMaps were used. To participate, pilots flew their aircraft and submitted a dated photograph with their name, location, and type of aircraft. The initial flights started in Australia around 5 pm on October 9, Ohio time.</p>.<p>Unlike most flying events, this one did not sport massive turbojets or planes with 200 seat cabins. But rather, only unique, imaginative lightweight aircraft considered to be LSA took part, WUFI co-creator Bill Esker said, in the press note.<br /><br />Prominent Belgium and US ultralight pilots were initial coordinators, with global orchestration in conjunction with Dayton Ultralights and members of flying clubs around the world. According to Paul Lindamood, director of Dayton Ultralights and WUFI, pilots from 19 countries signed up to participate.<br /><br /> “Some of the most fascinating flying machines ever invented shared the same sky, same day, all across the world this October. Even though over 700 pilots had registered for the event, a recounting of those who actually flew on the day is around 500,” he said.<br /><br />Speaking to Deccan Herald, James Sumith Lobo, a resident of Rajiv Nagar, said, he along with his instructor Wg Cdr Mehta took off from the Mysuru Airport at Mandakalli in their X-AIR (Microlight) two-seater and flew for over an hour and landed at the same airport.<br /><br />An aviation enthusiast, member of Bengaluru Aerosports and also Mysuru Aerosports, Lobo said he has plans to do a similar Limca record by gathering all Indian pilots on Republic Day or Independence Day.<br /></p>