U.S. Pilots Set Record

Pilots Scott Kasprowicz and Steve Sheik returned to New York's LaGuardia Airport early yesterday, capturing the record for traveling around-the-world by helicopter with SIX days to spare. "The Grand Adventure," 23,000 mi over varieties of terrain and multiple countries and time zones, unofficially took 11 days, seven hours and one minute. The mark was submitted to the National Aeronautical Association, a non-profit group that oversees and certifies aviation records in the U.S., which is expected to take a few days to confirm. The helicopter was an unmodified version of an AgustaWestland 109 Grand. Ron Bower and John Williams, with a Bell 430, set the record in 1996. The team flew around the world in 17 days, 6 hours, 14 minutes and 25 seconds. Bower, an R&W author, flew with the Kasprowicz/Sheik team on the final leg of the current historic journey. For related news