SLOVENIA: Slovenian biologist sets off on a two-month journey around the world in an ultra-light aircraft to measure black carbon levels in difficult-to-reach areas

Record ID: 858819

  • Title: SLOVENIA: Slovenian biologist sets off on a two-month journey around the world in an ultra-light aircraft to measure black carbon levels in difficult-to-reach areas
  • Date: 9th January 2012
  • Summary: BRNIK AIRPORT, SLOVENIA (JANUARY 8, 2011) (REUTERS) PILOT MATEVZ LENARCIC PASSING BY MEDIA IN AIRPORT BUILDING AIRPORT DEPARTURE SCREEN DETAIL OF DEPARTURE SCREEN, READING IN SLOVENIAN "FLIGHT AROUND THE WORLD" MAN PULLING AIRCRAFT ONTO RUNWAY PILOT MATEVZ LENARCIC GETTING IN COCKPIT MEDIA TAKING PICTURES OF AIRCRAFT AIRCRAFT ENGINE TURNING ON AIRCRAFT TAXIING TOWARDS RUNWAY ROWS OF PARKED PASSENGER PLANES AT AIRPORT AIRCRAFT TAKING OFF CAMERA OPERATOR FILMING TAKE OFF AIRCRAFT IN AIR PARKED AIRCRAFT AT AIRPORT
  • Embargoed: 24th January 2012 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Slovakia, Slovenia
  • City:
  • Country: Slovakia Slovenia
  • Topics: Quirky,People,Science,Light / Amusing / Unusual / Quirky,Transport
  • Reuters ID: LVAE7UHYQ7CWUSITYFFSQI64ZARR
  • Aspect Ratio:
  • Story Text: Slovenian biologist and environmentalist Matevz Lenarcic set off on a journey around the world on Sunday (January 8) in an ultra-light aircraft, departing from Brnik airport near Slovenia's capital Ljubljana.
    During his trip Lenarcic will visit 50 countries and record levels of air pollution in regions where very few measurements have been taken - such as Antarctica, Africa and over the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.
    The journey will take two months and span some 100,000 km across the Southern Hemisphere.
    Lenarcic also plans to take stunning pictures of 120 national parks along the way, in an effort to raise awareness of global pollution.
    The trip, which was originally scheduled to begin five days earlier, was delayed due to insurance problems and minor technical difficulties.
    Lenarcic will fly the Virus SW914 ultra-light single-engine aircraft produced by Slovenian company Pipistrel.
    The aircraft is a modified version of an earlier model which won awards in NASA-sponsored competitions for its exceptional fuel efficiency in 2007 and 2008, and is capable of operating in very high and very low temperatures.
    "The aeroplane is built around a production aeroplane called Virus SW100. We've given it a different engine and a completely different fuel system, these are the major differences. The empty weight of the aeroplane is 350 kg, maximum take off weight is 750 kg," Pipistrel's research and development engineer Tine Tomazic said.
    The aircraft is fitted with aerosol intakes designed to take in-flight samples of black carbon, the second most important agent of climate change.
    It will carry an instrument for measuring black carbon in the air by taking samples through an inlet under the wings. A tube will then carry the sample to the instrument in the cabin, which will then record its levels as Lenarcic flies through various regions of the world.
    Lenarcic also hopes to break records for the lightest aircraft and the least amount of fuel used to fly around the world.
    "This is a flight around the world with the lightest aircraft yet, which will use the least amount of fuel yet, which is very important in this time of economic crisis and environmental pollution," Lenarcic sad.
    The project is sponsored by the Slovenian Tourist Board, and Lenarcic will regularly post updates on a dedicated website.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2012. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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