Indian Air Force Round the World Microlight Expedition

Washington, DC
July 12, 2007 

As part of the Platinum Jubilee celebrations of the Indian Air Force which is completing 75 years on 8 October, 2007, a Round the World Microlight Expedition is being organized from June to August 2007 in a Microlight - CTSW Advance – with a maximum take-off weight of 500kg. One of the aims of the expedition is to better the existing world record of circumnavigating the world in weight category 300-500 kg. On this adventurous mission, the microlight has traversed over remote barren areas, open seas and is entirely self supported. The crew has been carrying out servicing and maintenance on their own. Please find here with the Images of the Aircraft and the planned itinerary (pdf file) of the expedition. The crew for the expedition are Wing Commander Rahul Monga and Wing Commander Anil Kumar.

2. The aircraft is operating under an IAF international call sign. The expedition is behind schedule due to inclement weather in China, Russia and Alaska. The aircraft crossed the Bering Sea and entered Nome, Alaska on 05 Jul 07 after flying through Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, China and Russia. The aircraft can be tracked live on the following web site www.websentinel.net [username : iaf_guest, password: !demotracker].

3. The POC at Embassy of India is Rakesh K Jolly, Air Commodore, Air Attaché, 2107 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008, Tel : (202)-939-7086/7087/7090, Fax: (202)-483-3976, rkjolly@indiagov.org. The crew are carrying a blackberry and the e-mail IDs are rahulmonga@gmail.com & bragss5@yahoo.co.uk