Former CEO Seeks to Set New Helicopter Speed Record

The Grand Adventure will cover more than 20,046 nautical miles across 15 countries.

NEW YORK -- Pilot Scott Kasprowicz departed New York at approximately 3:00 a.m. Thursday in an attempt to set a new speed record for an around-the-world helicopter flight; the goal is to complete the trip in less than 14 days. The record-setting flight dubbed "The Grand Adventure" is being attempted in Kasprowicz's twin engine, factory standard, executive configured AgustaWestland Grand helicopter.

"In order to succeed in a trip like this, you need an aircraft like the Grand that has above average fuel efficiency and exceptional reliability," says Kasprowicz, who is the former CEO of Texel Corporation. "What will make this record setting flight even more meaningful is the fact that we will make the trip in a factory standard aircraft that has not been specially outfitted or modified for this kind of application."

Unlike previous flights to break the world helicopter speed record, no additional fuel tanks or mission specific modifications have been added to the AgustaWestland Grand aircraft to improve performance.

The Grand Adventure will cover more than 20,046 nautical miles, 15 countries, 24 time zones, 30 states and make 65 fuel stops. The crew will travel eastbound across the Atlantic into Europe via Greenland, traverse western and eastern Europe into Russia, cross 14 time zones in Russia, return to North America over the Bering Strait and cross the U.S. and return to New York City.

"Scott and Steve's confidence to break the world speed record with the Grand confirms the superior reliability and speed this aircraft offers. The Grand's unequalled features continue to achieve greater and greater success," says Lou Bartolotta, AgustaWestland's executive vice president of commercial sales for the Americas. "We wish them a safe journey on this challenging mission and look forward to seeing them back in New York in less than two weeks."

During his 14-day journey, Kasprowicz, who is also the former Deputy Secretary of Transportation of Virginia, and his co-pilot Steve Sheik will also attempt two other world record flights -- Washington, D.C. to New York and New York to London. In February, Kasprowicz and Sheik broke the speed record for the fastest transcontinental helicopter flight from New York to Los Angeles. The record-breaking flight was achieved in just 15 hours, 9 minutes and 10 seconds, resorting to only six fuel stops and covering 2,139.8 nautical miles.

During his journey Kasprowicz's aircraft must cross every meridian on the globe but is prohibited from traveling into the poles due to time and distance advantages. To track the journey online through TracPlus, visit

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