Youngest Indian duo on a flying start to aviation records

And it doesn’t stop there. To commemorate India’s 50th year of Independence, their plan is backed by a cause. The duo aim to send across a message of national unity to all Indians across the globe and plan to land at Mumbai around August 15.

The around the world excursion doesn’t finish in the proverbial eight dollars. Himanshu explained: “We had worked out the initial strategy in January, but had no idea how to go ahead. We approached the FIP,a professional body of aviators involved in promoting flight safety in India, and suddenly things started moving.”

To raise the money, the pilots had to sacrifice their expensive imported motorcycles which fetched them around Rs four lakh. But compared to the estimated $ 35,000 required for the voyage, it was pittance.

Then began, for three months, a virtual scamper to various multinationals, and sports promotion companies to raise the money. “The boys virtually spent every minute to realise their dream. Mind you, it’s not an easy task, but their success will encourage many young people to take up flying as a profession,” says Capt Ayodh Kapoor of the FIP.

“After painstaking efforts to organize the voyage, finally help came from industrialist and avid aviator, Vijaypat Singhania, who donated a substantial amount for the venture. Our passage to the US has been handled entirely by Air-India,” Capt Pushkarna said. Air-India has also secured overflying permissions from all countries over which the duowill be flying.

But if raising the money was difficult, procuring the right aircraft initially seemed almost impossible. “Sharad Sanghi, the director of the Madhya Pradesh Flying Club at Indore, had bought outright the four-seater aircraft for us,” Capt Pushkarna added.

“I had done a solo flight across the Atlantic from the US to India in August 1996, but this is going to be real challenge. Since our adventure coincides with India’s 50 years of Independence, it’s even more significant for us,” he said. Asked if their parents were apprehensive about the venture, Capt Pushkarna said, “Not really, but I had to go to pray at Vaishnodevi at their behest.” For Shehzad, parting with the “bike purchased from hard earned money” was a little painful, but the very idea of taking up something so significant was too great to give up. In their upcoming feat Shehzad and Himanshu will be almost living in the cockpit for 21 days, flying the non-pressurized aircraft for a total of 45,000 kms — 10,000 of whichwill be over oceans! Unlike the modern-day aircraft, which are computerised and mostly remote-controlled, here they got to work manually. Some of the stretches will be as long as 10 hours of non-stop rigorous flying which is done only in sophisticated aircraft. And to top it all, the aircraft which they will be flying is single-engined, increasing the risk factor.

While Capt Khan is already in the US flying the aircraft from Seattle to New York, Capt Pushkarna is set to leave for US on Sunday. Khan’s mother will be leaving for New York to see them off, and Pushkarna’s parents will be there to receive them at the end of the voyage.

Route : NY – Portland – St.Johns – Santa Maria (Azores Islands) – Madrid – Brindisi (Italy) – Agwas (Egypt) – Djibouti – Muscat – Mumbai – Delhi – Calcutta – Bangkok – Hong Kong – Taipei – Seoul – Petrapolvosk (east Russia) – Nome (Alaska) – Anchorage across Canada and finally back to NY.