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World gyrocopter adventurer nears finish mark Adventurer circumnavigates the world in gyrocopter
(about 5 hours later)
A man attempting to become the first person to fly solo around the world in an open-cockpit gyrocopter is set to finish his challenge later. An adventurer has become the first person to fly solo around the world in an open-cockpit gyrocopter.
James Ketchell, 37, from Hampshire, has covered 24,000 nautical miles over 175 days since starting his challenge in March.James Ketchell, 37, from Hampshire, has covered 24,000 nautical miles over 175 days since starting his challenge in March.
The adventurer, who is due to land in Basingstoke on Sunday, said the experience had been "magical". The adventurer, who landed in Basingstoke on Sunday afternoon, said the experience had been "magical".
His flight path took him over Europe, Asia, and North America. His flight path took him over Europe, Asia, and North America, during 122 separate flights.
Describing the experience Mr Ketchell said: "It's all a massive blur to be honest, the fact that I have literally flown around the world, it hasn't sunk in, it's probably going to take quite a while to. It feels really good, it's been magical."Describing the experience Mr Ketchell said: "It's all a massive blur to be honest, the fact that I have literally flown around the world, it hasn't sunk in, it's probably going to take quite a while to. It feels really good, it's been magical."
The MAGNI M16C gyrocopter travels at 70 knots with a range of just 700 nautical miles. The UK Scouting Ambassador flew a MAGNI M16C gyrocopter, which travels at 70 knots with a range of just 700 nautical miles, and has a cockpit open to the weather.
He added: "As soon as you get up in that little gyro and you start flying over remote Russia, Siberia, Greenland, it blows your mind just how big this planet it is and you can feel quite small. He compared it to "flying a motorbike in the sky".
"The wildlife has been incredible, I have seen massive black bears running around in Siberia, seen whales, you name it. He was almost struck by lightning at one point but said crossing the Atlantic Ocean from Greenland to Iceland had been his hairiest moment.
"I have been flying 20ft off the ground, it was just incredible and there is no other aircraft that you can do that, it's magical, you can really immerse yourself in the surroundings, you can smell the water, the seaweed on the beach, if you could bottle that experience you would make a fortune." "The weather had deteriorated quite badly - almost zero visibility - and you need to be able to see when your flying," he said.
But the adventurer said the greatest challenge had been maintaining high levels of concentration and being exposed to the weather - describing it as "flying a motorbike in the sky". "I was able to get through it, but if not I would had to have ditched into the Atlantic Ocean."
The motivational speaker said he had only learnt to fly gyrocopters two years ago, so people thought he was "a maniac".
The challenge follows his previous "ultimate global triathlon" which saw him row across the Atlantic Ocean in 2010, climb Everest in 2011 and cycle 28,969 km around the world in 2013.The challenge follows his previous "ultimate global triathlon" which saw him row across the Atlantic Ocean in 2010, climb Everest in 2011 and cycle 28,969 km around the world in 2013.
He has raised more than £10,000 for charities. Asked what is next, Mr Ketchell said that no human being had ever circumnavigated the earth by air, land - and sea.
The challenge has raised more than £10,000 for charities.