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.

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.

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).

How many hours to first solo

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.

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

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.

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.

What is happening with her solo flight?

It all seems to have gone quite.

Is she still flying?

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

https://www.thesun.co.uk/tvandshowbi...cer-diagnosis/

https://www.express.co.uk/celebrity-...ncer-diagnosis

Carol Vorderman postpones plan to fly solo around the world after the death of her mum - Mirror Online

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

SD