Freedom Flight

by Ricky de Agrela, Alan Honeyborne

Freedom Flight is the story of two ordinary men on an extraordinary adventure. In celebration of the centenary of powered flight and a decade of South African independence, pilots Alan Honeyborne and Ricky De Agrela took off, completely unsupported, from Cape Town on the December 16, 2003. Their to touch down on each continent of the world on the longest expedition ever flown in microlights. The expedition achieved several firsts for private aviation including flying through Yemen and Nepal and completing an unsupported microlight flight from South Africa to Australia. However, tragedy struck, first in China where Alan went down and later in Belize, when Alan’s replacement, Martin Walker, also sustained a fatal accident. Ricky overcame personal trauma and debilitating fear to fly alone from England through Europe, over the Mediterranean Sea, the Sahara Desert and the wildernesses of East and Southern Africa, to make it back to Cape Town. His accomplishment embodies the expedition’s vision of encouraging others to reach for the sky. The story of Ricky’s remarkable achievement is told in website updates and e-mail correspondence with maps detailing the 64,000-kilometre route.

192 pages, Paperback

First published January 11, 2007

Reviews

[Julian Walker · Rating 4 out of 5]

An incredibly matter-of-fact-tale of an epic flying adventure. With genuine surprise and drama, the story of this record-breaking flight, as it unfolds across five continents, draws on commentary and emails sent from the two microlight pilots, with humorous observations of customs, cultures and characters.

There were a couple of points that I had to re-read passages as their dramatic impact caught me completely unawares in the unfolding of their odyssey.

If you have ever even had the faintest day-dream of adventure, then this is definitely your book.

A thoroughly engrossing and amazing tale.

[Iain Spence · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read, plenty of adventure with an unexpected twist along the way.

[Ang · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jammed packed with great pictures, truly a modern life adventure. An easy read with a sad twist.