Record-breaking aviator lands at Perth Airport

Jun 24 2011 by Andrew Welsh, Perthshire Advertiser Friday

A RECORD breaking American aviator flew into Perth Airport this week during a stop-over on a round-the-world flight.

CarolAnn Garratt holds the record for the fastest round the world flight in a single-engined light aircraft, which she completed in her Mooney M20J in December 2008 with her co-pilot Carol Foy.

The pair surpassed all previous efforts when they flew across the globe in just eight days, 12 hours, 18 minutes and 53 seconds.

That flight was completed in eight stages at an average speed, including refuelling stops and rest periods, of 115.35mph, beating the previous record of 54.6 mph.

The two women were airborne for a total of 158 hours.

Previously, CarolAnn had completed a solo round-the world flight and is currently on her third circumnavigation, again flying on her own, and she stopped off at Perth Airport as a guest of the Scottish Aero Club.

Her current trip is being undertaken at a relatively leisurely pace as she plans to visit numerous countries before arriving back in the United States next March.

Ms Garratt has undertaken the flights to raise awareness and research funds for motor neurone disease and has raised more than $500,000.

She gave a talk about her adventures to the club’s members at the Scone airfield and signed copies of her book, ‘Upon Silver Wings II’.

Ms Garratt, who learned to fly in 1978 and completed her commercial pilot’s licence in 1996, distributed packets of cornflower seeds, which symbolise the Motor Neurone Disease Scotland organisation.