Slovenian pilot completes global ultralight flight

[April 20, 2012]  LJUBLJANA, Slovenia (AP) -- A Slovenian pilot has completed a 62,000-mile (99,774-kilometer) journey around the globe in a fuel-saving ultralight plane.

Matevz Lenarcic, a biologist and conservationist, started flying Jan. 8 from Slovenia. His route took him to Africa, then North and South America, onto Australia and Asia, over Mount Everest -- the world's highest mountain -- across India and back home on Thursday.

The Slovenian-made Virus-SW914 ultralight plane can fly 2,485 miles (3,999 kilometers) on only 92 gallons (348 liters) of fuel.

"The world is not as big and indestructible as it seems. It is worth seeing it in all its diversity," Lenarcic said.

He claims to be the first to fly around the world in an ultralight plane without a co-pilot or any ground support.

[Associated Press]

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