Wed, Oct 14, 2009
This Year's Honorees Fastest Around The World In A Stock
Helicopter
AgustaWestland congratulates pilots
Scott Kasprowicz and Steve Sheik, on being named the 2009
recipients of the De la Vaulx Medal, presented by the
Fédération Aéronautique Internationale, during
a ceremony in Korea on Thursday, October 8th.
In 2008, the crew set a new around the world speed record with
their AgustaWestland Grand helicopter. The record-breaking flight
was achieved in only 11 days 7 hours and 5 minutes, breaking the
old record by almost 6 days. The FAI ratified the record in early
2009.
Departing New York at 0314 on August 7, 2008, the crew traveled
eastbound covering 20,888 nautical miles and maintaining an average
speed of 85 mph, which includes time for refueling, rest and
maintenance. The duo maintained an impressive average speed of 150
knots over the ground while covering 21 countries, 24 time zones
and 49 states before arriving back in New York on August 18. During
the historic flight, the crew set a New York to London speed
record, flying that leg of the trip in just over 40 hours and
breaking the old record by 35 hours. Unlike previous flights to
break the world helicopter speed record, Kasprowicz and Sheik
performed this mission in a factory-standard executive configured
AgustaWestland Grand helicopter. No mission specific modifications
or additional fuel tanks were added to improve the aircraft's
performance.
The De la Vaulx Medal was established in 1933 in the name of
Comte de la Vaulx, who was the founder of the FAI. The Medal is
given to aviators who have achieved an absolute world aviation
record in the previous year. Past recipients include Yuri Gagarin,
the first man in space, and Neil Armstrong, the first man on the
moon.
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