On April 12, 2015, Michael Smith boarded his small craft hoping to fly solo 6,900 kilometers from Melbourne, Australia to Southampton, England in no more than eight weeks. Upon succeeding in that goal, he chose to lengthen his adventurous flight. Read on now, to learn how he would go on to actually set a new world record.
Michael Smith Has Unbelievable Trip When He Flies Solo Around The World
1. The Beginning
Smith, a registered pilot who holds dual Australian and British citizenship, is based in Melbourne, Australia. He is not a professional pilot. Once a designer of cinema equipment, he owns a chain of movie theatres.
When his sons decided to take time off before continuing their formal education, Smith finally focused on the idea to fly from Australia to England. He’d thought about it for years and it took one year to plan. The planning actually took longer than the trip itself.
2. Inspiration
Smith was inspired by older aircraft; especially by the Imperial Airways’ flying boat service. Launched in 1938, the service flew from Sydney, Australia to Southampton, England. It included a total of nine overnight stops, by way of the Middle East, aboard a unique “four-engine Short Empire flying boat.” Smith told the press that a passenger would pack his “dinner suit” since you would enjoy a formal dinner each night.
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