Matevz Lenarcic To Circumnavigate in Microlight Motorglider

This time, perhaps internationally-renowned photographer Matevz Lenarcic will fulfil his dream of flying around the world. Last Fall, you may remember, Canadian bureaucrats decided that what he was planning (and what he had already accomplished) was just too dangerous, and so capriciously stopped his quest to fly around the world in a CH-701 at the border.

This time, he's trying a new airplane, a Pipistrel Sinus 912 Motorglider, and his route still includes Canada (which, like last year, has granted its permission before the flight). He says, "The flight will travel over Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria, Turkey, Armenia, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, China, Korea, Japan, Russia, Alaska, Canada, United States, Denmark, Iceland, Great Britain, France, Germany, Austria; and it will end where it started, in Slovenia."

If the "actual global political situation" doesn't improve, he has, "another flight path that will lead us over Italy, Greece, Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia, Djibouti into Yemen, Oman, Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Taiwan, Japan, Russia, United States, Canada, Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Guyana, Surinam, French Guyana, Brasil, Cap Vert Islands, Senegal, Mauritania, Western Sahara, Morocco, Spain, France, Italy -- and then back to Slovenia."

Either way, this 'Sport Pilot-eligible' machine will show the world the capabilities of modern light aircraft, when piloted by a prepared, skillful pilot and backed by a dedicated and intelligent team.

The 28:1 glide ratio of the Sinus will help Lenarcic stretch mid-day overland legs; the Rotax 912, sipping gas up front, will obviate the need for specialized ground support. His preparation will help him brave "wild and hostile forests, ...the rough terrain of Alaska and Canada and ...freezing Arctic seas," as well as, "...the weather, winds, his own fears, and illusions that sometimes can cause panic and irrational behavior."

His adventure last year showed remarkable judgment, preparation, and planning. (The only "irrational behavior" on the trip came from Ottawa.) This year, with a host of sponsors and his additional experience behind him, the motorglider looks destined to be the vehicle that will do it.

So different from the CH701 (right): the Sinus is everything last year's STOL bird isn't. With so much of the terrain truly hostile, one might think that the tough CH701's ability to land on the head of a pin might be just the ticket; the motorglider, though, has an entirely different focus: long legs. Lenarcic proved last year that the Zenair could have done the job. This year, with an entirely different concept, he may very well prove something else: that he's one versatile pilot. Maybe also the neglected (at least in the USA) capabilities of motorgliders will come into better focus in the GA and Sport community.

Michael Coates (the Pipistrel distributor in Australia) told us, "Mr. Matevz Lenarcic in a specially-prepared Sinus Ultralight Motorglider is due to depart on his round the world journey. The first leg of the journey will lead the pilot and his aircraft from Ajdovscina - Slovenia (Pipistrel's hometown), to Istanbul - Turkey, a total of some 1900 km." He added, "Matevz's departure will be accompanied by some 30 Sinus and Virus aircraft from all around Europe."

The remarkable Mr. Lenarcic's website is full of interesting details, gorgeous photos, and aviation insights.

FMI: www.rtvslo.si/protisoncu/index.php