PARAPLEGIC microlight pilot Dave Sykes had a dramatic landing in Pakistan on the latest stage of his epic flight from York to Australia.
Dave, a member of York Flying Club, reached Gwadar just before noon on Monday – but his arrival was anything but smooth.
Mike Poole, from York Flying Club, has kept in contact with Dave during his trip.
He said: “I received a text from Dave yesterday evening on his arrival in Gwadar, seems it was quite an event. He’s had no internet access and said there was in fact very little at all bar dust and sand.”
The text read: “You’ve never seen anything like it, it was 25-knot gusting with sand.
“I landed and the wind took me off into a ditch then pinned me in with the wing.
“Twenty of the airport staff came to rescue me and got it into the fire station. I’m absolutely covered in dust.
“Just been taken to my hotel at high speed in a taxi with blacked-out windows, escorted by a truck carrying four armed guards with machine guns.”
Mike said: “He was held up at Doha for quite a time following the failure of his transponder last Monday. His new transponder arrived on Thursday and required him to perform a ‘transplant’.
“By the time the transponder was fitted and working it was too late to leave Doha on Thursday. Friday saw him make an early start for the two-and-a-half hour sea crossing to Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates.”
He then spent some time with Dave Lynch, an ex-York Flying Club member who is living there.
Dave rested on Saturday, before he set off to Muscat in Oman on Sunday, where he was assisted during his stay in Muscat by Oman Air.
Philippe Georgiou, chief officer of corporate affairs for the company, said: “Dave’s courage and strength of character are a true reflection of the pioneering spirit of aviation, so it is particularly fitting that Oman Air is able to support him.”
Dave set off from York on April 28, aiming to travel 21,809km and take in 20 countries on his way to Australia, to raise money for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance.
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