Will Announce New Record Attempt At Heli-Expo 2008

Aero-News has learned a Northern Virginia businessman and helicopter pilot recently broke the international New York to Los Angeles transcontinental rotorcraft speed record at 07:21:30 pm EST on Saturday, February 16, 2008.

Scott Kasprowicz broke the New York to Los Angeles transcontinental speed record with an all-inclusive flight time of 15 hours, 09 minutes and 10 seconds. The previous record, set in 1985, was 19 hours, 00 minutes and 16 seconds.

"We're excited to have set the transcontinental record," said Kasprowicz upon arrival in Los Angeles. "There were many challenges to overcome in this flight including some rapidly changing weather conditions. The ground crews we encountered along the way were terrific. They got us in and out of our fuel stops in great time. We could not have done it with out them."

Kasprowicz, along with co-pilot Steve Sheik, made the record setting flight in helicopter N1US, Kasprowicz's standard factory outfitted, executive configuration AgustaWestland Grand helicopter. The record was validated, recorded and maintained by the National Aeronautics Association.

"The Grand performed perfectly," continued Kasprowicz. "N1US is a wonderful twin engine aircraft with superior speed, fuel economy and reliability. We look forward to many grand adventures and record setting flights in the future."

"We congratulate Scott Kasprowicz on his outstanding achievement in breaking the transcontinental speed record," said Lou Bartolotta, Executive Vice President of AgustaWestland for commercial sales for the Americas. "This record reflects the full extent and performance of the Grand and the capability, reliability, and exceptional quality of AgustaWestland's products. We are proud to have been a small part of this tremendous accomplishment."

Departing from Sheltair Aviation at New York's LaGuardia airport at 04:12:20 am EST, Kasprowicz traveled 2,139.8 nautical miles or 2,462.3 statute miles as he crossed the United States, making six fuel stops along the way. Because it is an international record, the official distance will be recorded as 3,962.8 kilometers.

Fuel stops made along the way included: Butler, Pa; Kokomo, IN; Kirksville, MO; Great Bend, KS; Alamosa, CO and Grand Canyon, AZ. With an average airspeed of approximately 141.3 knots, or 161.8 miles per hour, Kasprowicz arrived at Landmark Aviation at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) at 07:21:10 pm EST on Saturday, February 16. Kasprowicz reported 10-15 knot headwinds throughout the flight.

From Los Angeles Kasprowicz and Sheik will fly N1US to Houston to be formally recognized by AgustaWestland at the Helicopter Association International Heli-Expo 2008 tradeshow. At the Heli-Expo, Kasprowicz plans to officially announce his next world record speed attempt -- a less than 17-day around-the-world flight in helicopter N1US. The record attempt, which Kasprowicz has named The Grand Adventure, is scheduled to launch in summer 2008.

Kasprowicz, 55, is the founder and former CEO of Texel Corporation, a communications systems integration company headquartered in Reston, VA, which he sold in 1999. Kasprowicz is also the former Deputy Secretary of Transportation for the State of Virginia under Governor Tim Kaine. He took delivery of N1US in 2007.

FMI: www.naa.aero, www.rotor.com, www.agustawestland.com