Flying High

Having Climbed Everest and rowed across the Atlantic, a Basingstoke adventurer took to the air for his latest challenge

“I ’ve always wanted to fly, ever since I was young,” proclaims Hampshire’s own adventurer James Ketchell. “Even after I’d managed to successfully complete other challenges like Everest and rowing the Atlantic, I didn’t know if I would be able do it. I assumed learning to fly was for the super intelligent and super rich. I thought I might fall short of the grade.”

Cycling around the globe, a solo row across the Atlantic and reaching the summit of the world’s highest mountain, this Basingstoke boy has managed to overcome all obstacles in his path so far. He landed at Popham Airfield five months ago after successfully circumnavigating the globe in a gyrocopter – proof that there is no such word as ‘can’t’.

“I went along to Popham Airfield to meet Steve Boxall, who runs The Gyrocopter Experience. During my trial flight I decided I was definitely going to learn how to fly one.” Anyone who has seen a gyrocopter might worry about sturdiness and the fact it’s open to the elements, so why opt for a gyro at all? “Well no-one had ever flown around the world in one,” says James. “It is the last great aviation record, plus I wanted to do something a little bit different. Plenty of people have flown around the world in helicopters and fixed-wing planes, but there’s been no successful trip in a gyro.”