Norman is flying to Nongprue central Thailand today

Norman is flying to Nongprue Airport, Pattaya central Thailand today where he will be hosted by the Flying Club and will meet some local media.

There are two additions to the website which you may find useful.

'The time where Norman is now' - On the front page of the website there is a link to an interactive map which gives you the time in different places in the world if you just click on the location. From this you will be able to learn what time it is where Norman is.  He is six hours ahead at present!

'Normans route map' - In the 'Pictures' section of the website there is a link to an enlargeable map of the route Norman is taking across the world. This does not provide location names but does give a sense of where he is in the world and may encourage people to take out their atlases.

This is based on suggestions from followers so enjoy.

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Norman has arrived in Bangkok, Thailand

Norman has arrived in Don Mueang Airport Bangkok, Thailand 10.31.21 AM (IST)

Flying to Bangkok / radio interview

Norman is flying to Bangkok, Thailand today. For those who did not get a chance to hear him speaking about highlights of the trip on a radio click on the link and you can listen and view a slideshow of photographs also http://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=EiUPNZFdejM 

Norman has landed in Myanmar / Listen to him on the radio

Norman has landed in Yangon, Myanmar 12.13.20 (IST). You can listen to Norman on the BBC radio programme 'Talkback' via the internet. It is transmitted today (27 April 2010) and it was recorded yesterday by phone from Chittagong, Bangladesh. The programme is on the air from 12.00 (IST) and here is the link http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b007cpt4 

Norman is flying to Myanmar / Norman's actual safety monitoring system

Norman is flying to Yangon in the Union of Myanmar / Burma today - hurray!

Numerous followers have expressed concern about Norman's safety when they see the SPOT tracker disappear. In fact the SPOT GPS system is not directly linked to Norman's safety monitoring. While he would activate the SOS facility on the SPOT machine if needs be, he is not solely relying on this system. The SPOT was chiefly set up so that people on the various electronic fora can follow Norman's progress.

The real safety system as McMurdo FAST Finder Plus (with GPS) personal location beacon (PLB) beloved of long distance sailors and the like (photo of actual machine above). This is attached to his lifejacket which he always wears while flying - even over the desert!. In the event of real emergency this is the system that would be first and foremost used. This then sends a signal from anywhere in the world via satellite to the in Royal Air Force (RAF) Aeronautical Rescue Co-ordination Centre, Kinloss, Scotland. In addition a group of volunteers from Sky Watch Civil Air Patrol are also monitoring Norman.

By the way Norman put new batteries in to the SPOT so that everybody can keep an eye on him!

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Norman plans to fly to the Union of Myanmar / Burma today

Norman was planning to fly to Yangon in the Union of Myanmar / Burma from Chittagong, Bangladesh today weather permitting. Because of delays yesterday his flying permission lapsed so he will not able to fly today. 


The distance to Yangon is about 430 miles / 690 kilometers and he expects it to take six hours all going well. The final part of this journey will involve crossing mountains, the Arakan Yom range, which is always a challenge in an open cockpit aircraft. It is hot and humid in Chittagong and there is at least a 50% chance of heavy rain so that is not entirely good news! It is fine weather there now.

From the Union of Myanmar / Burma he will fly on to Thailand and he plans to stop off at the following places:

• Bangkok 
• Samui Airport VTSM 
• Hat Yai International VTSS

Rained soaked autogyro in Chittagong - what to do next?

Norman had planned to fly to Mandalay or Yangon in the Union of Myanmar previously known as Burma today. This may be on hold because of thunderstorms in Chittagong, Bangladesh. Norman gives his input on this and more here. 

Below is a nice picture of the scene outside my Hotel this morning  in Chittagong, Bangladesh. A very active thunderstorm system has arrived and it’s raining hard - poor old Gyrox is at the airport sitting out in the open (I had tried to plead my case to get her put under cover last night but to no avail - the more I work with large airport administration the less I think they are actually concerned about the real needs of  aircraft and aviators. 

The fact that after all their delaying paperwork and endless phone calls to each other to check the fine nuances of an administrative detail (you know how it goes- is that the right code number on this yellow chitty or should it be the one on the pink sheet, sit down I better just check with my supervisor who has just nipped out - he’ll be back in a minute...would you like some Tea?) someone has to actually climb into an aircraft and actually fly the thing is furthest from their mind it seems.

the Aircraft has its lightweight cover but I doubt this rain will be kept out - it’s not a County Antrim Drizzle! Of more concern is the rotor head which will be getting a good wash but this is not ideal if the careful greasing work is being undone...

Will have to take a view later as to the possible routing (if any flying is possible today at all)  

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Norman has arrived at Chittagon, Bangladesh

Norman has arrived at Shah Amanat International Airport, Chittagon, Bangladesh - 10.24.50 am (IST)

Norman may have set the flight distance world record in India

Norman is flying to Shah Amanat International Chittagong Airport, Bangladesh today. This is a distance of 118 miles / 189 kilometers flying east. Norman flew into Kolkata, India, yesterday afternoon and in doing may have set a solo world distance record for an autogyro flight.  

"Norman Surplus being greated by the staff at Jamshedpur Airport, India before flying on to Kolkata (Cap. Karanveer Chauhan)

On arrival in Kolkata, he had flown 7,118 miles (11,455 kilometers) from his official departure point Larne N.Ireland. This is a longer distance than the previous record established in 2004 by the Global Eagle team who's "Total distance travelled since start: 10,480 km" / 6,511 miles. 

Norman disappears into a sea of onlookers!

He has also been nominated for another world record i.e. "Speed over a recognised course" - Larne, NI to Alexandria, Egypt - according to the Fédération Aéronautique International (FAI) who are overseeing his flight.  See FAI link for more records.fai.org/data?c=7 

Norman departs Jamshedpur for a date with history!

Photos by Cap. Karanveer Chauhan and Shalini Sharma.

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Norman arrived safely Kolkata, India.