Though flying a microlight around the world is no small feat yet besides the challenges of Nature there are may more ,those created by Man were the most troublesome . Like all ventures of its kind Flight for Life has too been beset by problems .These ranged from the delay in shipment of the kit by the US based manufacturer and failed promises of the microlight 's performance and additional design features ,to seeking sponsors and obtaining clearances .Airborne Innovations of Texas ,USA the kit manufacturer had to be threatened with a law suite after it failed to deliver the kit as per the contract ,only then was an incomplete kit sent .However the team working in close collaboration and with active support of the original manufacturer CFM Aircraft and RCS Aviation both UK based companies had the microlight ready for its first flight in first week of june ,2001.

Crossing Karakoram Mountains :

This will be the first challenge that the pilots will face . The craggy peaks of the Karakorum Range in south central Asia reach an average elevation of 6,600 meters (22,000 feet), making this one of the highest mountain ranges in the world. The highest peak, K2, soars to 8,611 meters (28,251 feet) above sea level, making it the second highest peak in the world. Known for its extremes, the range is covered with some of the world's largest glaciers .It'll be a first ever attempt by a 2 seater microlight aircraft to fly across this formidable mountain range. The route envisages crossing the 15800 feet high Khunjerab pass along the Karakoram Highway ( also know as the Silk Highway ) to Kashgar 300miles away into China . Facing the extreme conditions and with no ground support it is here that mountain flying skills together with psychological stamina of the pilots will be under severe test , not to mention the microlight which will also be at the extreme limits of its performance .

Eastern Siberia

The flight through the Siberian Tundra and crossing of the Bering Straits between Siberia and Alaska will yet be another formidable challenge . The pilots will have to brave the vast and desolate expanses which cover northeastern third of Asia .There are few airports and towns spread great distances apart with scarce aviation facilities and difficult to get suitable fuel .The unpredictable weather conditions further compounds the difficulties . However Siberia is the stepping stone for entry into the American Continent across the freezing Bering sea as the first major sea crossing of almost 200 miles.

North Atlantic & Greenland Ice Cap

The route across the sparce & harsh Nothern Canada terminates at the spring board of Broughton Island for the second major water crossing across the freezing Davis Strait to Sondrestorm in Greenland. This massive frozen land consists of an interior ice-covered plateau surrounded by a mountainous, generally ice-free rim (only in summers). The route traces across the width of Greenland over the almost 9500 feet high ice cap to Kuluusk 400 miles away on the east coast . It is at times difficult to keep orientation due to the continous and featureless ice cap providing frequent white out conditions . Any emergency landing here without quick rescue is life threatening . From Kuluusk in Greenland to Reykjavic in Iceland is the longest leg , 450 miles over freezing waters and the notoriously unpreditcable weather of North Atlantic makes it singularly ,the most challenging leg of the entire adventure. A slight head wind can drastically reduce the precious range of the microlight . Therefore the pilots will rely on accurate weather forecasts and meticulous planning before jumping across the North Atlantic.