A UK based company is sponsoring the first England to Australia flight by single-engine piston helicopter

The founders of the UK Speed company - Tim Gilbert and Martin Rutty - are aiming to be the first pilots to fly a single-engined piston helicopter from UK to Australia

Tim and Martin will fly a Robinson R44 registration G-OAUS. It is being fitted with extra fuel tanks using Formula 1 fireproof technology

Click HERE to view the Speed company web page with links to the London/Sydney flight

Their trip, to start in September of this year and due to arrive at Archerfield in December '99, will mark the 60th anniversary of the pioneering flight along the same route in a four engine Vickers Vimi bi-plane bomber used by the brothers Keith and Ross Smith just after the end of WW1

Images from the past week

A three tailed Twin Pioneer looking for the lost "Ekka" Tourist