OC Alexander Quessy Flight 100
In celebration of the 100th anniversary of the Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund, Alexander Quessy (OC 2015) will attempt to become the youngest Briton to solo circumnavigate the globe by air.
At just 21 years old, he will travel 24,000 nautical miles and 25 countries in 25 days to raise money for RAFBF.
Alexander is currently in his final year studying for a Masters of Aerospace Engineering at Bristol University. Whilst at Caterham, he commanded the Combined Cadet Force in his final year. He began his initial flight training at age 16 at Biggin Hill and has subsequently completed, amongst other pilot licences, his commercial pilot licence and flight instructors certificate. On weekends and during university holidays he is employed as a private pilot and aerobatic instructor at Gloucester airport. After graduation, he hopes to pursue a career in flight test and evaluation with an aerospace firm in the UK. He has decided to attempt the global solo circumnavigation flight between the end of his degree and his graduation, in order to coincide with Benevolent Fund centennial celebrations.
Rules of Circumnavigation
There are strict rules that must be followed in order to join the elite club of circumnavigators. Your route must:
– begin & end at the same location
– cover at least the equatorial distance (21,638 nautical miles)
– cross the equator at least twice
– not reverse course
– traverse through at least one antipode (a pair of locations directly opposite to each other on the globe).
These are not easy to achieve in practice. The antipode of most of Europe and the Middle East is the South Pacific, an area difficult to transit in an aircraft with limited fuel reserves.
The purpose of FLIGHT100 is to raise money for the RAFBF
This fund is the RAF’s leading welfare charity with a proud tradition of looking after its own. It serves current and former members of the RAF as well as their partners and dependent children providing a range of support aimed at serving and former RAF personnel and their dependants. This includes welfare breaks, grants to help with financial difficulty and getting about inside and outside the home, specialist advice on benefits and support with care needs, as well as support for young people. Click here to donate.
You can follow Alex’s progress via the following social media:
