Millions Against Malaria globetrotters score major kudos

Victorian circumnavigators Ken Evers and Tim Pryse have received recognition from home and abroad for their 2010 round-the-world flight in a GippsAero GA8-TC 320 Airvan.

As we previously reported here, in mid-2010 Evers and Pryse flew the very capable Airvan around the world to raise awareness of, and funds for, the battle against malaria, while also celebrating the Centenary of Australian aviation. The pair completed their epic 61-day, 28,000 nautical mile journey to 16 countries when they touched down at Bendigo Airport on July 8.

Now, the Paris-based Federation Aeronautique Internationale (FAI), the world’s governing body for air sports and aeronautical world records, has awarded them both an FAI Circumnavigator Badge, which can only be earned by pilots who successfully complete a circumnavigation in accordance with FAI rules.

In addition, Earthrounders, the register of all successful flights around the world, has also officially recognised and listed the flight of the Airvan (registered VH-BYI) as a successful flight around the world. The flight made the Airvan the first Australian designed and manufactured single engine aircraft to complete a circumnavigation.

And locally, the Royal Federation of Aero Clubs of Australia (RFACA) has just awarded both pilots the Des Kelly Special Achievement Award, which is named in honour of WWII RAAF Spitfire pilot Desmond Percy Kelly AM and recognises pilots who achieve an outstanding performance in the air.

“Des was always a great achiever and it is most appropriate that this award be named after him,” RFACA President Marj Davis said in announcing the award at the RFACA’s recent AGM in Newcastle. “Des would be particularly proud of Ken and Tim’s achievement as the Airvan aircraft they flew was designed and built on Latrobe Regional Airport.

“Des was unquestionably the driving force behind the establishment of Latrobe Regional Airport, which is now the home base of GippsAero, manufacturers of the Airvan. Coincidentally Des, as President of the Latrobe Valley Aero Club, gave GippsAero’s co-founding Director and concept designer of the GA8 Airvan, Peter Furlong, his first aviation job.”

Naturally, as Australian aviators we too couldn’t be prouder of both Evers and Pryse and GippsAero and their Airvan.