By IANS
Washington : Out to set a new world record, two Indian Air Force (IAF) pilots on a round the world microlight expedition are making steady progress after being stuck for days at Anchorage, Alaska.
Wing Cdr Rahul Monga and Wing Cdr Anil Kumar landed their plane at a small village near Watson lake Canada Thursday evening as they headed towards Beaver Creek and then towards Whitehorse making a slight change in their route.
The new route is slightly longer, and slower, but the duo considered it better than remaining stuck in Anchorage till the weather clears as they had already lost 12 days in China and Russia that they were hoping to make up in the US. But low hanging clouds at Juneau and even Anchorage thwarted any attempt to take off dashing their hopes .
The aircraft crossed the Bering Sea and entered Nome, Alaska July 5 after flying through Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, China and Russia, the Indian embassy here said.
The expedition is attempting to beat the current world record of circumnavigating the globe in a single engine microlight aircraft in 99 days.
Flagged off from Hindon Air Base near Delhi June 1, the expedition is part of the platinum jubilee celebrations of the IAF which is completing 75 years Oct 8, 2007.
On this adventurous mission, the microlight has traversed over remote barren areas, open seas and is entirely self supported. The crew has been carrying out servicing and maintenance on their own.