Frustrating wait for around-world pilot grounded in Shropshire
A pilot aiming to become the first person to circumnavigate the world in an autogyro may have to wait another four agonisingly long days to start the last leg of his epic solo journey.
Norman Surplus has already waited five years to complete his circumnavigation of the world, and was set to leave Shropshire today.
The 56-year-old is now just days away from setting off to finish the mission he started in 2015 due to unexpected last minute repairs, which have meant the team preparing his autogyro are now waiting on parts they have ordered in.
Norman landed at Sleap Airfield, north of Shrewsbury, on Monday night. Since then his aircraft, Roxy, has been given an intense service by the Gyro Copter Head Quarters (GCHQ) engineer.
Having flown his autogyro from his home town of Larne in Northern Ireland the Mediterranean Sea, through Saudi Arabia, India, China and Japan in 2010 during his initial attempt, he faced an impassable Russian border and started his trip again from America in 2015 – he now seeks to take advantage of the recently opened Russian air space to become the first person to circumnavigate the globe in an autogyro.
Stephen Pearce, flight instructor at GCHQ, said: "It was ambitious to prepare Roxy in the two days we had and as we've had to order some parts in it doesn't look like he'll be leaving today.
"He should be up and out within 72 hours. Our engineer, Graham Shackleton, has been working incredibly hard non-stop on the aircraft so once these parts come in and are fitted, Norman will will be ready to go and finish his journey."
