Carol Vorderman to fly round world solo.

[coldair]

Carol Vorderman is planning a round the world solo flight ;

BBC News - Carol Vorderman: 'Why I'm flying solo round the world' (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-23342449)


Carol Vorderman is planning to fly around the world solo, following the flight path of doomed aviator Amelia Earhart.
The flight, which is 29,000-miles in length, will include overnight stops in Cuba, Mexico, Sudan, Malaysia and Pakistan.
The television presenter, 52, hopes to complete the trip that Earthart never finished - Amelia mysteriously disappeared whilst flying over the Pacific in 1937.
Speaking to BBC Radio 5 live's Breakfast (http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b036xbjb), she said, "It's something I've always wanted to do since I was about 12... but back in the day the RAF didn't take women pilots".


I wish her good luck and pleasant WX for her flight. Always found Carol a stunning girl but only just heard that she is a pilot too.

Let's hope that we are able to follow the flight on the internet thingie ;-)

Good luck Carol xxx



p.s. I wonder if she is a member of Pprune ?

[Dash8driver1312]

Bon chance. But...what will she fly the attempt in?

[piperarcher]

I think I read recently she is still training for her PPL, though her partner is a Red Arrows pilot so that will no doubt be very helpful, if not only for the planning and logistics of such a long flight which is a far cry from your average QXC.

I believe she is training in a Cirrus, so a glass cockpit with all the automated controls and FIKI is going to make the journey so much more do-able but unless she gets an IR and builds up some considerable experience - I think its very brave, even if she does have a top team behind her (which I presume she will have, and there would no doubt be plenty of people willing to offer a celebrity such help).

[PompeyPaul]

No need for her to fly solo. I will happily fly with her.

[Lagentium]

Go on lass! I wish her all the best, the last time I saw her clambering out of an aircraft I'm sure it was a DA40, although I stand to be corrected as I was concentrating on not knocking over the fuel pumps,seeing her wouldn't have sufficed as an excuse I'm sure!!

Cheers, Jim :ok:

[wb9999]

Go on lass! I wish her all the best, the last time I saw her clambering out of an aircraft I'm sure it was a DA40, although I stand to be corrected as I was concentrating on not knocking over the fuel pumps,seeing her wouldn't have sufficed as an excuse I'm sure!!

You are probably correct Jim, as she does own a DA40.

[chevvron]

52? Yeah and the rest; it would mean when I watched her interviewing Reg Turnill in Farnborough Tower in about 1977 she would have been about 16.

[spekesoftly]

52? Yeah and the rest; it would mean when I watched her interviewing Reg Turnill in Farnborough Tower in about 1977 she would have been about 16.

Carol Vorderman was born on the 24 December 1960, so perhaps you're thinking of a different interviewer?

[cumulusrider]

I wouldnt fancy those overnight stops. They might have been safer in Amelias day.

[chevvron]

She was certainly on a Southern TV (programme called 'How' with Jack Hargreaves and Fred Dineage) late 70s/early 80s.

[spekesoftly]

She was certainly on a Southern TV (programme called 'How' with Jack Hargreaves and Fred Dineage) late 70s/early 80s.

Carol Vorderman was at Cambridge Uni from 1978 - 1981. She was a co-presenter on 'How 2', but that was 1990 - 1996.

[wb9999]

She was certainly on a Southern TV (programme called 'How' with Jack Hargreaves and Fred Dineage) late 70s/early 80s.

I have no idea who you've mistaken for her, but Wikipedia doesn't mention her being involved on How (How (TV series) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/How_(TV_series)). Her first TV appearance was on Countdown in November 1982 - the first programme on Channel 4. She was a junior civil engineer before that.

[Dave Barnshaw]

Da40 that she owns.:D

[Whopity]

Considering she has not yet flown solo, its rather an ambitious project!

[Leeds-flyboy]

According to this;

Love is in the air as Carol Vorderman flies to plane show with wingman at her side | Showbiz | News | Daily Express (http://www.express.co.uk/news/showbiz/415569/Love-is-in-the-air-as-Carol-Vorderman-flies-to-plane-show-with-wingman-at-her-side)

She does co-own a DA40.

LFB.

[BLEED-AIR]

Vorderman certainly owns a DA40 former G-OCCS now registered G-SPTT :ok:

[Pace]

I could see it as a very lucrative television series "around the world with Carol V"
She would be made to look as if she was on her own but no doubt surrounded by a flotilla of camera aircraft in front on the sides and behind :ok:

Pace

[Pull what]

Considering she has not yet flown solo, its rather an ambitious project!

Could be the longest qualifying cross country on record.

Not much of an achievement though with a support aircraft following you.

[piperboy84]

I wonder if she needs someone to cycle her flaps and check her compression before she sets off

[paddylaz]

I don't get it...are you saying you don't believe it or you're unhappy with it?

I've seen her at Waltham a couple of times in a da40 which I assume is hers. She's fairly wealthy.

[Lone_Ranger]

You know what............I also remember her appearing in the "How" show.
..............could it be that wiki doesn't know everything?........well whatever next

[UV]

G-SPTT ...GINFO, so thats her real name then???

[Heliport]

She was a presenter on How 2 from 1990-96.

Pictures & Photos from How 2 - IMDb (http://www.imdb.com/rg/s/1/media/rm1504353280/tt0180358)

[BLEED-AIR]

Explanation Carol Vorderman Christian Name Carol Jean Married and Divorced Patrick King 1990 - 2000 two children still carry the King surname Katie and Cameron. Just a rouse to throw the public off the trail :D

[StrateandLevel]

It doesn't explain anything, aircraft ownership proves nothing! The OP stated:I wish her good luck and pleasant WX for her flight. Always found Carol a stunning girl but only just heard that she is a pilot too.
Of course she is not a pilot yet, just a wannabee with a desire to follow the flight path of doomed aviator Amelia Earhart; maybe that requires a little more consideration!

[RTN11]

I have no idea who you've mistaken for her, but Wikipedia doesn't mention her being involved on How (How (TV series) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Her first TV appearance was on Countdown in November 1982 - the first programme on Channel 4. She was a junior civil engineer before that.

Well, if it's not on wiki then it can't possibly of happened! :ugh:

Good luck to her, sounds like a great adventure.

Also, she is definitely mentioned as one of the presenters of how 2, so perhaps you just need to brush up on your reading skills

How 2 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/How_2)

[wb9999]

RTN11, my comment was about who presented the programme made by Southern Television in 1977 in response to Chevvron's comment. Your comment is about a different programme name (How 2 was a revival and not a continuation of How), made by a different production company, in a different decade and does nothing to explain who Chevvron may have mistaken for Carol Vorderman:ugh:

[skua]

Trying to run before you can walk comes to mind...

Who told her it would be a good idea to try to control an aircraft wearing enormous wedges? - see pics in
Carol Vorderman flies into RAF Fairford for the Royal Air Tattoo...as she prepares for ambitious 29,000 mile solo flight around the world | Mail Online (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2366658/Carol-Vorderman-flies-RAF-Fairford-Royal-Air-Tattoo--prepares-ambitious-29-000-mile-solo-flight-world.html)

[cats_five]

You sure she didn't change shoes before getting out of the aircraft?

[Mike744]

Maybe they'll be a fashion line in hi-viz jackets to be photogenic for the rag trade?

[MadamBreakneck]

Well, as Eve Jackson was planning to fly solo around the word in a microlight with under 70 hours logged, I don't see why Ms Vorderman shouldn't plan something similar in a much more suitable aircraft for the job. In the end she only :-) got to Australia.
Eve Jackson - YouTube

MB

[Whopity]

You sure she didn't change shoes before getting out of the aircraft?No need, she was legally a passenger!

[Ryan5252]

Daredevil Carol Vorderman begins her flying countdown in a live tv first | presscentre (http://www.itv.com/presscentre/press-releases/daredevil-carol-vorderman-begins-her-flying-countdown-live-tv-first)

Ugh, just came across this vomit inducing tripe!

Daredevil Carol Vorderman begins her flying countdown in a live tv first

- Kicks off World Record plans with her first solo flight on This Morning.
- Carol admits it will be a 'nervous moment' as she reaches 1000ft.
- Determined to get full commercial pilot licence to complete around the world mission.


I may be missing something, but why is she a dare-devil? And, why does she need a 'full commercial pilot licence' to fly solo around the world?

Finally, what height does she normally fly dual circuits at?
Personally my most nervous moment was when the wheels lifted off the ground and I realized I was by myself. 1000' looked exactly the same.

(Away to throw up)

[riverrock83]

Could someone be paying her to do the round-the-world trip? In which case it might be aerial work...

[Katamarino]

It's all very well everyone getting worked up about a rich celebrity going off on a round-the-world jolly, but there's another lady doing something far more worthy who should be getting this kind of attention. Obstetric surgeon Dr Webster is using a C182 to visit ~25 countries through Africa to provide medical training to gynecologists and midwives throughout the region, as well as donate equipment in the training locations. The flight has currently made it from the UK as far as Guinea Bissau and is planned to continue to Cape Town.

Flight for Every Mother (http://www.ffem.info)

[piperarcher]

I'd say an IR and the training experiences she will pick up doing it would be far more useful than a CPL.

[Lone_Ranger]

It's all very well everyone getting worked up about a rich celebrity going off on a round-the-world jolly, but there's another lady doing something far more worthy who should be getting this kind of attention. Obstetric surgeon Dr Webster is using a C182 to visit ~25 countries through Africa to provide medical training to gynecologists and midwives throughout the region, as well as donate equipment in the training locations. The flight has currently made it from the UK as far as Guinea Bissau and is planned to continue to Cape Town.

If your Only motivation was to train gynecologists and midwives in 25 African countries, do you seriously think you would choose to do it using a C182?

I suspect the lady seeks the adventure of the undertaking as much as she desires to help the needy Africans, nothing wrong with that of course.

[Bob Upanddown]

At this point, it seems that the purpose of Ms V's flight is self-publicity.
We may learn more on the TV show featuring her first solo but I doubt it.....

If you choose to do some good work on your travels, that's way higher on my scale of worthy causes that simply flying around the world as a publicity stunt just to raise your celebrity status.

Mind you, she is a good looking woman for her age.

[2close]

First solo looked good - it looked like a nice, stable approach and a well controlled landing.

I'd have been well happy if that was one of my student's first solo.

Well done Carol! :)

[Scott C]

Carol Vorderman flying solo on This Morning video: Watch as Carol squeals with delight making live TV history | Mail Online (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2398784/Carol-Vorderman-flying-solo-This-Morning-video-Watch-Carol-squeals-delight-making-live-TV-history.html)

[Ryan5252]

Obviously a massive PR stunt. Still though, has to be said, everyone is nervous enough on first solo but I can only imagine what it would be like on approach knowing that every move I made was live on national television. Well done.

[150commuter]

She's a very experienced live TV presenter going back to the birth of Channel 4 so knowing the cameras were there wouldn't have fazed her. They interviewed her about an hour before the flight but between then and the actual solo she did the usual several circuits with her instructor. She did nothing more for the cameras till after the flight. I thought her instructor during the sortie and Carol afterwards said all the things we need saying to encourage more people to take up flying so good luck to her, we need more female PPLs (and CPLs) It certainly brought back memories of my own first solo though my instructor sprang it on me which was probably just as well.
Interesting discussion after the flight about whether she'll use a single or a twin for the round the world attempt.

[Ebbie 2003]

On the comment about air work - yes, I am thinking someone else will directly or indirectly be footing the bill.

This would explain the "full commercial licence" reference in one of the interviews - she'll need a commercial licence.

This will no doubt bring aviation to the attention of people in the UK - a good thing - but I do think that a stunt like this, especially if "cost based superlatives" are mentioned may not encourage people to take up flying if it is made to look, in all regards, something only available to wealthy people.

On a sour note - if she does get the record of fastest solo to circumnavigation - it will be a testament to funding/sponsorship rather than any innate ability or risk taking.

That said it is still a "thing" and more power to her.

I would be far more impressed by someone doing some "flying hippy/mid-life thing" getting their PPL and pointing a plane east and away on their own, especially if unplanned - sorting the permits etc along the way.

Personally, my first trip after getting my licence was (after over a year of no flying - couple of hours BFR and getting checked out in the plane I bought) New Jersey to Barbados dodging hurricanes - a great lark - no support airplane and no TV cameras (only snapped a few photos).

[ivatt]

How many hours to first solo

[englishal]

I would be far more impressed by someone doing some "flying hippy/mid-life thing" getting their PPL and pointing a plane east and away on their own, especially if unplanned - sorting the permits etc along the way.
Happens all the time, though is not publicized. I know people who have flown transatlantic, people who have flown to Australia etc....Ferry pilots do it all the time as well.

To be fair to Carol V though, a flight from New Jersey to Barbados is not in the same league. It is a fairly straight forward flight with most of it being in US airspace.

[Pace]

Eng

My dream would be to take a month and fly Florida down all the islands scuba diving and flying and as many islands as I could manage with two to three day stopovers!
One thing I was told is that you cannot just hire and go as many of the Caribbean islands are no go areas regarding insurance ??

Pace

[Parson]

Well, I suppose if you're a multi-millionaire, have plenty of spare time and an ex-Red Arrows boyfriend who is willing to hold your hand, then why not buy a plane, get your license and fly round the world.

Doesn't float my boat - have much more time for the likes of Jon Johanson.

[Ebbie 2003]

Englishgal - you clearly need a geography lesson.

Many people confuse Barbados with the Bahamas and consequenly think it's just off the Florida coast - in fact think a thousand miles plus SE of Miami over open water with no effective search and rescue and hundreds of miles between hospitable airports.

So no, not largely in US airspace - other than the part down to Miami - it's starting the trip with the prospect of the over water in a newly purchased thirty year old single with 15 minutes post-PPL - that's the fun part - I did practice over water on the way down to North Perry, my jumping off point, by flying well off the coastline of the Carolinas and Georgia.

The point I was making was that people do extraordinary things with airplanes all the time and without back up teams and massive budgets.

As it happens I need to bring a couple of planes down this coming winter - I did my trip in hurrican season in the summer. So if anyone fancies the idea of making the trip on the basis of a $1/hr dry rental (no commercial needed) do drop me a line and maybe you too can have the trip of a lifetime, rack up twenty hours of real flying - all of course sans TV crew and support crew. There will be two PA38s - fly to Miami, pick up the planes and take your time getting down here - it can be done in two days but taking a week flyinga couple of hours a day is much more fun - once in Barbados stay at my place on the beach then fly back to London - how's that for an adventure:)

Anyone up for it do drop me a line.

Pace - see my previous post - if you're serious lets me know; would help to have an FAA PPL - US reg planes but they may be on export papers, not too sure yet.

As to insurance - the airplane needs the minimium ICAO cover, which they do. To be safe financially the pilots should have renter insurance - as it happens the standard Avemco renter policy cover takes in the whole of the Caribbean ending about fifteen miles south of Barbados, so only islands not covered are Trinidad and Tobago. In any case we will include whoever wants to make the trip on our list of named insured persons to avoid the potential for subrogation.

Plus if anyone is up for a flying holiday out of Barbados I rent out my US registered IFR PA28-181for US$200/hr wet (no landing fees in Barbados) - the whole of the Eastern Caribbean is at your feet - if you have an FAA licence no hassle to the other islands. Also have some Barbados reg (a Tomahawk and an Arrow) but there is a need to convert to a Barbados licence to fly them between the islands.

[Mike Flynn]

What is happening with her solo flight?

It all seems to have gone quite.

Is she still flying?

[Saab Dastard]

Jay,

Carol has postponed indefinitely / cancelled her round the world flight due to her mother's ill-health and subsequent death.

Carol Vorderman Gives Update On Solo Round-The-World Flight Plans After Mum's Terminal Cancer Diagnosis (http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/carol-vorderman-solo-flight-mum-cancer_uk_58e73d77e4b058f0a02dd87b)

https://www.thesun.co.uk/tvandshowbiz/3219580/carol-vorderman-cancels-plans-to-fly-solo-around-the-world-after-mums-shock-cancer-diagnosis/

https://www.express.co.uk/celebrity-news/786128/Carol-Vorderman-cancels-her-solo-flight-around-the-world-after-mother-s-cancer-diagnosis

Carol Vorderman postpones plan to fly solo around the world after the death of her mum - Mirror Online (http://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/carol-vorderman-postpones-plan-fly-10730429)

If and when she does attempt the round the world flight we can re-open this thread.

SD