Colin Bodill
Encyclopedia
Colin Bodill is an adventurer and pilot
from Nottingham
, England
.
Colin has won the UK microlight championships several times and became the World Champion in 1995. In 1998 he set a new World Speed Record for flying an open-cockpit aircraft from London
to Sydney
.
In 2000 Colin along with British helicopter pilot Jennifer Murray
formed the NOW Challenge - a microlight versus helicopter race around the globe in support of the charity Operation Smile. The flight was sponsored by NOW (Network of the World) and Tommy Hilfiger. Colin became the first person to circumnavigate the globe solo in a weight-shift microlight (a Mainair Blade 912). It was on this flight that he had his first helicopter lesson and went on to set another world record from London to Sydney in a helicopter (2001).
Colin and Jennifer launched another record attempt, to be the first to fly a helicopter around the world from Pole to Pole, in October 2003 in support of the WWF. On the 20th December, only 58 days into their journey and two days after reaching the South Pole, they crashed in whiteout conditions. Both Colin and Jennifer were seriously injured.
Colin is a BMAA test pilot and inspector, microlight instructor and a CAA Examiner.
– The Royal Aero Clubs highest award
1998 Air League Award
1998 Colibri Diamond Award
2000 Colibri Diamond Award
Aviator
An aviator is a person who flies an aircraft. The first recorded use of the term was in 1887, as a variation of 'aviation', from the Latin avis , coined in 1863 by G. de la Landelle in Aviation Ou Navigation Aérienne...
from Nottingham
Nottingham
Nottingham is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England. It is located in the ceremonial county of Nottinghamshire and represents one of eight members of the English Core Cities Group...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
Colin has won the UK microlight championships several times and became the World Champion in 1995. In 1998 he set a new World Speed Record for flying an open-cockpit aircraft from London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
to Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
.
In 2000 Colin along with British helicopter pilot Jennifer Murray
Jennifer Murray
Jennifer Murray circumnavigated the globe aboard a Robinson R44 helicopter the distance of 36,000 miles in 97 days in 1997, earning her the current Guinness World Record for the first helicopter circumnavigation by a woman.- Awards & Honours :* Rhode Island Aviation Hall of Fame Inductee 2005* The...
formed the NOW Challenge - a microlight versus helicopter race around the globe in support of the charity Operation Smile. The flight was sponsored by NOW (Network of the World) and Tommy Hilfiger. Colin became the first person to circumnavigate the globe solo in a weight-shift microlight (a Mainair Blade 912). It was on this flight that he had his first helicopter lesson and went on to set another world record from London to Sydney in a helicopter (2001).
Colin and Jennifer launched another record attempt, to be the first to fly a helicopter around the world from Pole to Pole, in October 2003 in support of the WWF. On the 20th December, only 58 days into their journey and two days after reaching the South Pole, they crashed in whiteout conditions. Both Colin and Jennifer were seriously injured.
Colin is a BMAA test pilot and inspector, microlight instructor and a CAA Examiner.
Awards
2001 Britannia TrophyBritannia Trophy
The Britannia Trophy is a British award presented by the Royal Aero Club for aviators accomplishing the most meritorious performance in aviaton during the previous year....
– The Royal Aero Clubs highest award
1998 Air League Award
1998 Colibri Diamond Award
2000 Colibri Diamond Award