In February, a woman and her daughter are taking off in a motor glider to circumnavigate the world. They plan to do it in 80 days. Their expedition was announced at the Jakkur aerodrome here on Wednesday.
Audrey Maben (41), who started flying gliders in Jakkur as a 15-year-old NCC cadet, is the first woman microlight aircraft instructor in the country. She now lives in Mysuru. She also set a record as the only woman ultralight pilot in the Air Race India in 2003.
Nineteen-year-old Amy has flown beside her mother since she was a child. She is excited to be on this mission.
"I will be my mother's eyes and ears during the journey. I will look after social media and post about our journey," she said.
Amy is a photography student and is taking special leave to be on this expedition. She hopes to bring out a photography book at the end of the trip.
To circumnavigate the earth, an aircraft has to cover at least 37,000 km. A team is planning the route for Audrey and Amy. The journey will be limited to the northern hemisphere and will go over 21 countries, flying eastwards.
"I am also preparing my children and family for this trip because everybody perceives it as a risk. But I say the roads are much more dangerous than the skies," Audrey said.
She hopes to empower young girls and women by showing them that they can fly.
The journey is conceptualised by Social Access Communications as part of its campaign 'WE! Women Empower' and is supported by a private TV channel and the Central ministry of women and child development.
The campaign includes a crowdfunding drive to scholarships to support underprivileged girls who want to fly.
BoX
Pit stop every four hours
Audrey and Amy are travelling in a Sinus Pipistrel 912 engine ultralight motor glider, imported from Slovenia
Since the aircraft has an endurance of 4.5 hours in good weather, they will not fly more than about four hours at a stretch
Audrey will fly only during the day as she has not been cleared for night flying
She is now on a nutrition programme, while simultaneously undergoing strength and endurance training for the physically and mentally demanding journey
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