In a first-of its-kind expedition, Mysuru-based mother-daughter duo Audrey Maben and Amy Mehta will attempt to circumnavigate the globe in a record 80 days in a motor glider weighing below 1500 kg.
The duo are set to take off on February 18, 2018 and will be travelling through 25 countries, with about 54 pit stops across 40,000 km.
Their ride is a Pipistrel Sinus which they have named 'MAHI'. They are collaborating with Colours WE! Women Empower on this expedition and hope to raise funds through it to help train under-privileged girls who want to fly.
Audrey, a flying instructor and a mother-of-three believes that it’s not only about creating commercial pilots but also, through the WE Udaan Scholarship Fund, encourage hobby pilots like herself who want to take to the sky. Amy, 18, will accompany her mother and document their travels on various social media platforms.
"Safety is utmost priority and since a micro flight can endure a maximum of 1200 km a day or about 5-6 hrs we will not be air-borne for too many hours at a stretch. We plan on covering the northern hemisphere and will take the eastward route-- cutting through India, South East Asia, Japan, Russia and hopefully targeting Seattle, USA by the 1st of April and then onwards" Audrey said.
Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Women and Child Development, K Moses Chalai, told CNN-News18, "This was a shining example of the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao campaign…in our country with a skewed sex ratio of 918, initiatives like this, would indeed take women to new heights."
When asked about the challenges that could hinder the expedition, Audrey said that "unsuitable weather conditions could push them off-track" but they will try to complete the course safely. "Having been in the profession for 25 years challenges for women like peeing or menstruation have never acted as a hindrance," she said, adding that she isn't afraid of "Adult Diapers" that have come to her rescue many a times.
"Dream big and be courageous to do something about it- For when you give a woman wings, the whole flock flies," they said.
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