51,000 Kms-21 Countries! Mother & Daughter to Fly Around the Globe in 80 Days
Like every daughter wants to follow in her mother’s footsteps-but here in this case, the daughter wants to follow her mother flying around the globe for nearly 80 days covering a distance of 51,000 kms comprising of 21 countries. Meet Mysuru-based Audrey Deepika Maben and her daughter Amy Mehta who will fly around the planet on a motor glider, criss-crossing 51,000 km, in a motor glider, which is a first-of-its-kind sojourn.
Sources reveal that Capt Audrey Deepika Maben and Amy Mehta will fly around the planet in 80 days, criss-crossing over South East Asia, Japan, Russia, Alaska, North America, Iceland, Greenland, Europe, Iran and Pakistan before touching down in India. The jaunt will begin on 18 February 2017. The expedition — no woman has ever flown in a motor glider around the globe — is being undertaken to spread the message of women empowerment. it is learnt that Audrey, an alumni of Baldwin’s Girls High School and Jyoti Nivas in the city, has been flying since the age of 15 and is India’s first female micro-light flying instructor.
Speaking to media, Audrey had said that it would be a pure joy to be airborne and to see the world, and it is something that has never been done before hence it is very exciting. “What is also challenging is we will be circumnavigating across oceans and many cold countries,” Audrey added. Audrey holds the distinction of being the only woman to fly as pilot-in-command during the Air Race India 2003 where she covered a distance of 2,400 km in five days from Bengaluru to Nagpur.
The duo, mother and daughter have been practicing hard before embarking on what could be a lifetime challenge. Also narrating to media, Audrey had said, “The endurance of the motor glider is about four-and-half hours we would need fair weather to fly. We will be flying only daytime. Before embarking on the journey, we have had many drills. A nutrition plan has been worked out. Besides, I practice meditation, pranayama and yoga. One of the biggest challenges would be to fly non-stop for a duration of four-and-half hours before making a stop-over.
Also speaking, Audrey’s daughter Amy had said, “The journey would be “exciting and heart-racing”. I hope to be mama’s eyes and ears during the mission. Being a photography student, I would shoot photographs and would like to publish a book after the mission is over,”.
