11 June 2024
Record-setting three times round-the-world helicopter pilot Peter Wilson is off again!
This time Peter will be flying with Brazilian pilot Andre de Freitas, and they’ll be setting off in a Robinson R66 helicopter from Jaguaruna, Santa Catarina, Brazil on 18 June.
“[It’s] five years since I flew around Latin America,” said Peter, who set his current world record with fellow Brit Matthew Gallagher in 2017.
“I have another adventure by helicopter with a purpose!
“Andre de Freitas and I are about to circumnavigate through antipodes. Our frantic preparations culminate in take-off in an R66 tail PS-ICE from Jaguaruna (SBJA), Santa Catarina, Brazil on the 18th of June.”
Antipodes are points on the Earth directly opposite each other. If you draw a line from one geographical location, straight through the centre of the Earth, to another location, those two places would be antipodes. Examples are Hong Kong and La Quiaca in Argentina.
“Andre de Freitas aims to make the first circumnavigation of the world in a helicopter by a Brazilian general aviation pilot,” continued Peter.
The flight is expected to travel through 35 countries, cover 31,000nm and take 100 days which would beat Peter’s existing record by 21 days.
Compare Peter’s 2024 route of 35 countries and 31,000nm in 100 days with his 2017 route
The 2024 route:
The antipodes are: Bichura (UIUA), Russia followed by El Calafate (SWAC), Argentina.
The start/ finish point of the trip will be at the closest controlled airport to the small one that bears the name of Andre’s grandfather, a famous Federal Deputy in his time in Santa Catarina, namely Diomicio Freitas.
