HAI Member Sets New Speed Record
Monday October 3rd 2011 - HAI
Team pilots included founder and Chief Pilot Johan Nurmi, an HAI
member; Second-in-Command Travis Reid, and co-pilots Miguel Krishnan and
Jerry Peck. The teams mission is to set new World Speed Records, and
raise money for charity. This years race was in support of Loma Linda
Medical Centers Childrens Hospital where team pilot Dr. Krishnan works
as a pediatric otorhinolaryngoloist and surgeon. The goal was to raise
$1 million. According to Nurmi, as they planned the race, an extraordinary amount
of time was spent considering the issue of weather. They chose their
departure date based on a three-day, mostly clear-weather window between
California and Georgia: on Sat., Sept. 17, there were good flying
conditions over most of the NAA-recognized course. Departing from Brown,
the team headed east, parallel with the Mexican border, towards Eloy,
Ariz., for the first of what would be 16 fuel stops along their route. They hoped the mild weather would hold and, for most of the time, it
did. However, as they neared Abilene, Texas, they had to contend with
heavy rain, strong high winds and a mesoscale convective complex
thunderstorm that extended over significant parts of Texas and caused
multiple-hour delays. Their high-tech gear made the difficult weather
bearable, and included noise cancelling Zulu headsets provided by one of
their sponsors, Lightspeed Aviation, as well as night vision goggles
and helmet courtesy of a second sponsor, Night Optics USA, Inc. Even
with the latest and best equipment, Nurmi said it was tough going. He
emphasized the teams resilience and skill, and said they were
determined to stay positive and rely on their experience, as well as
their confidence in the R44. When they were not fighting the weather, the hardy team hurried
through fuel stops, quickly searched for bathrooms and vending machines,
and called home if time permitted before taking off again. They
appreciated the many good people who helped them along the way,
including thoughtful and generous police officers at Eloy Airport in
Phoenix, Ariz. who gave them Gatorade, water and candy bars from their
PD car trunks cooler because no food was available. They occasionally
fought fatigue, but with a crew of four they were able to nap during
rotations to the back seats. Nurmi, a 12,000-hour pilot/CFI and multiple world record holder, is
also vice president and co-owner of USA Academy of Aviation in Murrieta
Calif. In addition to instruction in R22s and R44s, the flight school,
where all team members have trained, is co-owned by Nurmis wife, Monica
Bergenstrom, also a highly experienced rotorcraft pilot and CFI. The
Academy organizes the record-setting helicopter race team which always
combines its flights with fundraising for charity. On Mon. evening, Sept. 19, 2011, just after setting down at Brown
Field, they learned they had set a new world speed record. When asked
how they felt, they all said they felt great, and are already looking
forward to finding a special person with a large turbine helicopter, who
would like to participate in their next event: an around the world
race! They hope that person will also help them pay for fuel! The World
Record Helicopter Team is ready and eager for their next adventure and
flight for charity. *Official time pending final certification from NAA and Federation Aeronautique Internationale.
The 2011 World Record Helicopter Team includes, from left: Travis Reid, second-in-command; Johan Nurmi, chief pilot; Dr. Miguel Krishnan, pilot; and Jerry Peck, pilot. USA Academy of Aviation Photo
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