John o Groats to Lands End and back to John o Groats in 1 day

In 2005 Chris Copple flying an Ikarus C42 and Mark Jackson flying a flexwing Pegasus Quik took off from Wick Airport at 3.40am and headed North to John o Groats then turned and headed South.

They landed at Barton at 8.15am where the aircraft were refueled. Taking off again and heading South they cross the Bristol Channel at Porthcawl at 9000 feet before heading South West and descending towards Lands End and landing at St Just airfield near Lands End at 12.15pm.

The aircraft were refuelled again and then headed back to Barton and landing at 16.00. The aircraft were refuelled again and then heading North towards John o Groats. After turning again at John o Groats they headed South landing at Wick Airport at 20.15 in the evening.

Total flight time was 16 hours and approximately 1200 miles were covered in 1 day.

John o Groats to Lands End non stop

In 2007 Chris Copple took off from Barton at 06.00 in a Flight Design CTSW and headed North to Wick Airport.

After landing at 09.00 the aircraft was refuelled to full fuel.

His estimated time of arrival for St Just airfield near Lands End was 16.00

Departing Wick Airport at 10.00 he then flew non stop to Lands End and landed at St Just airfield at 16.01, just 1 minute out from his ETA.

After refueling the aircraft he departed Lands End at 17.00 and arrived back at Barton at 19.20.

Distance covered was 1200 miles.

 

Barton to Aarhus (Denmark)

In 2009 Chris flying a CTSW and a friend flying a CTLS took off from Barton at 8am and flew to Headcorn in Kent landing at 10am.

With the aircraft refueled they took off from Headcorn at 11am and flew across the English Channel towards Cap Gris-Nez on the French coast and then turned North East and flew through France, Belguim, Holland, Germany and Denmark before landing at Aahrus Airport after flying for 6 hours and 40 minutes non-stop.

The return trip was made the following day, taking off at 6am and with a tailwind the return trip to Headcorn took 4 hours and 50 minutes.

Taking off again from Headcorn the return to Barton took 2 hours and 15 minutes.

 

Barton to Roskilde (Copenhagen, Denmark)

In June 2010 Chris and Mary flew a CTSW microlight to Roskilde near Copenhagen.

Taking off at 8.15 they flew down to the South coast and crossed the English Channel to Cap Gris Nez. Flying North East the plan was to fly into Midden Zeeland in the Netherlands, but low cloud near Ostende forced them to turn back and divert into Calais.

After waiting for an hour the weather improved and taking off again they flew for 1 hour and landed at Midden Zeeland where the aircraft was refueled.

After departing Midden Zeeland they flew through Germany towards Denmark and landed at Roskilde near Copenhagen.

The next day they departed Roskilde and flew down through Germany and Holland into Midden Zeeland.

After refueling again they departed at 16.00 and flew past Ostende and Calais and then crossed the coast heading towards the west of Dover.

After heading North they flew over Stapleford and between Luton and Stanstead airports and landing at Barton at 19.00.