Matevž Lenarčič to fly around the world again

Januar 2012

After spending seven years on the solid ground, the biologist, pilot and photographer Matevž Lenarčič has decided to greet the sky once more. As part of the project he calls GreenLight WorldFlight he plans to fly solo around the world, this time from East to West. While you read this article, Matevž is probably waving to the world from his small, green ultralight Pipistrel, which is very fuel-efficient and environmentally friendly.

Airplane Pipistrel Virus-SW. Foto: Vojko Strahovnik

Lenarčič is trying to cover over 90,000 kilometers solo, flying over 60 countries

Photo. Danaja Kek

On January 8th, Matevž Lenarčič has started his 100.000 kilometers long world flight. Flying around the world in a small aircraft makes great sense to Matevž Lenarčič. Low above the ground and feeling that the planet is rotating beneath the plane, but high enough for the Earth to reveal all its secrets – secrets which the pilot will capture in photographs. Most of the photos will be of water, or the results of its activity. Due to different physical states, quality and distribution, almost a third of the human population has limited or even no daily access to healthy sources of drinking water. Matevž is certain that with a little willingness, the right behaviour, sensitivity and solidarity, all of us on this planet could have enough water and food.

The GreenLight WorldFlight presents a series of challenges to both pilot and manufacturer. The aircraft must be able to fly in high temperatures, polar cold and at very high altitudes. In addition, fuel consumption must be very economical, as some legs of the journey are over 4,000 km and the amount of fuel on such a small aircraft is very limited. Lenarčič is trying to cover over 90,000 kilometers solo, flying over 60 countries. He will make stops on all seven continents and cross the Equator six times. His route will take him over Everest, Aconcagua, Kilimanjaro and the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian oceans. In the days prior to the lift-off, Matjaž was explaining how much work and immense effort everyone involved has put in:

“Pipistrel is working hard to complete a unique ‘Round The World’ version of their Virus-SW. Each major modification brings hundreds of small ones which is extremely time consuming. But the departure is around the corner and I am a regular visitor in the factory trying to speedup the impossible. Days are becoming shorter and shorter and work is sometimes overwhelming… Sorting out fuel problems, permissions, lack of money, looking for sponsors...."

With lower fuel consumption and less pollution

Lenarčič before the fly. Photo: Danaja Kek

Despite the immense effort, all will be worth it. The GreenLight WorldFlight project will prove that it is possible to make such a flight differently – with lower fuel consumption and less pollution. In addition, all those involved in the project will be able to show how light aircraft can be used to collect significant scientific climate data, as the aircraft will be carrying a device developed by the Aerosol company which measures the concentration of atmospheric aerosol - black dust in the air - which has not been done before. The results will contribute to understanding the greenhouse effect. The Jožef Stefan Institute is also involved in the project, studying the effects of extreme temperature and hypoxic environment on the body.

Slovenia - a small, but bold country, focused on development, advanced technology and green

Many partners are contributing to the success of the project, mostly volunteers. Because we want the story of small, light and green Slovenia to be heard all around the world, the project is also being supported by the Government Communication Office. Darijan Košir, Director of GCO, said of the project:

“The Government Communication Office, which I head and which represents the Government in promoting the country abroad, had no doubt about whether to support the project GreenLight WorldFlight of Matjaž Lenarčič – the response was immediately and always YES. The decision was not based on whether we should invest money in advertising the national brand on the plane that Matevž Lenarčič plans to fly around the world. No – from the first moment on, we could see that there is a story in the project which symbolises the exceptionality of Slovenia and its people in all elements, a story through which one can communicate abroad everything about Slovenia we have always wished to: that we have top individuals whose top product, based on top knowledge from the same country – which the Pipistrel aircraft definitely is – who on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the country, can carry a message to the world about Slovenia as a small, but bold country that is focused on development, advanced technology and green in all the meanings the colour has come to symbolise recently. Green was incorporated years ago into the Slovenian national brand. Therefore, we are very proud that we can participate in the project and that we can be part of this exceptional story, which we believe will attract a lot of attention in in the media at home and abroad.”

Follow the story via his blog

Matevž Lenarčič and his team will keep the public informed of his progress via his blog. The project’s website also features photographs and a system that enables live monitoring of the progress of the flight. You can visit their homepage at www.worldgreenflight.com .

The ‘slovenia.si team’ wishes Matevž a steady and exciting flight and promises to follow his story closely.