Turning charity on its head
Next year, Joel Haski will be attempting to break the world record for the longest inverted flight by flying upside-down from Perth to Sydney.
WHEN Joel Haski isn’t performing death-defying air stunts or using his expertise to thrill adrenaline addicts on adventure flights, he is an advanced and competition aerobatics instructor at Red Baron.
But next year, he’ll be attempting to break the world record for the longest inverted flight by flying upside-down from Perth to Sydney.
As if that weren’t enough, he is doing the 4000km, 15-hour flight in an effort to raise money and awareness for Wings for Kids, a charity that provides flying experiences for children with illnesses and -disabilities.
“I wanted a challenge that was seemingly impossible and that nobody had ever attempted,” Haski told The AJN. “I was looking to break a world record, and this will set the record for the longest-distance inverted flight.”
But unlike the current -record-holder, Haski will take off and land the plane upside down; the aircraft will be modified so that there is landing gear on the top and bottom of the plane.
“A US pilot did it during an airshow in the ’80s,” Haski said -casually, “So I know it can be done.”
With more than 5000 aerobatic flight hours under his belt, and experience flying upside down for stretches of 25 minutes, it seems that Haski will be in his element. He even consulted a doctor who told him that “there is no serious risk” to his attempt.
“It seem seems just crazy enough to be fun,” he said. “We’re trying to cross an entire continent here. It will be an endurance challenge as much as anything.”
But there are risks to the attempt, Haski conceded, including engineering and physiological challenges, not to mention the weather.
“It’s going to happen. There’s technical hurdles to get over, but I promise that it will happen.”
Haski plans to complete the trip by the end of 2017, but will not set a definite date until he has secured a major sponsor. He is also hoping to team up with someone like Telstra, so that this attempt can be -live-streamed to make it as “interactive and engaging” as possible.
Haski said that the stunt will be a great way for raising awareness of Wings for Kids, because “everyone will remember that crazy guy that flew upside down”.
For more information, visit www.wings4kidz.org.au.
YAEL BRENDER
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