Me and Dave are flying our open cockpit Flexwing microlights to Iceland – it’s an epic challenge involving not one, but TWO, 599-mile crossings over the North Atlantic!!! We’re setting out on an expedition which will see us fly from Deenethorpe in Northamptonshire, up to Scotland and then onto Egilsstadir Airport in Iceland, via the Faroe Islands.

It’s a huge expedition – our biggest yet – and again, we’re doing it to continue our support for men’s health charity, Prostate Cancer UK. Here’s our reason why…

PROSTATE CANCER UK

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men. 1 in 8 men will get it, and if you’re over 50, black or your dad or brother had it, you’re at a higher risk. That’s thousands of dads, grandads, partners and friends diagnosed every year.

The charity is committed to raising awareness, funding lifesaving research, campaigning for change and providing helpful support and information. The aim is to create a world where no man dies from prostate cancer.

Shockingly, the NHS estimate that 14,000 men missed out on a prostate cancer diagnosis over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic as there were far fewer men visiting their GP and discussing their risk of prostate cancer. Prostate Cancer UK have teamed up with the NHS on a campaign designed to find these men and save their lives – that’s 14,000 friends, brothers, dads, husbands, partners. And we want to be a part of this movement and help find them.

Me and Dave represent a huge part of the construction industry, home maintenance sector and flying community, and with the stats showing that 12,000 men are dying from prostate cancer every year, we want to help Prostate Cancer UK fund the research that will improve the odds of catching prostate cancer earlier and stop men dying too soon.

OUR CHALLENGE

In summer 2026, we will pilot our flex-wing microlights from Deenethorpe in Northamptonshire up to Wick Airport in north-east Scotland. We will then set out on a 599-mile sea crossing over the North Atlantic, via the Faroe Islands, to Egilsstadir Airport in Iceland – the land of fire and ice.

The return journey doubles the challenge, with a total of nearly 1,200 miles flown in two open-cockpit, single-engine aircrafts. We will be braving unpredictable weather, cold temperatures, and the potential for engine failure or radio and navigation issues far from land. This expedition will be a true test of endurance, airmanship, and spirit.

Understanding the risks, me and Dave have invested heavily in preparation.

From sourcing emergency beacons and thermal dry suits should we need to exit the aircraft and land in water, to coordinating with air traffic control for emergency protocols, plus the airtime and flying experience gained from our previous arctic expedition to the North Cape in 2023 - our careful planning ensures we will be ready as possible for every challenge the North Atlantic may present us.

The expedition is due to take place over summer 2026 when there is a suitable weather window for the expedition to commence. The weather will also determine when we will be able to make our return – we could be halted for days or even weeks if the conditions turn against us. This is a huge challenge which comes with huge risks, and each decision will be made with great consideration as we strive to complete this expedition in aid of such an important cause.

During the course of the expedition, updates will be shared on social media. We will be filming everything and then we’ll be documenting our journey on YouTube when we’re back so you can watch along and experience the challenges we’ll be up against!

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If you supported our first arctic flying expo in 2023, thank you – we are so grateful. We raised almost £9,000 for Prostate Cancer UK and it’s helped them fund research, raise awareness and save lives.

But the work isn’t over.

We know times are extremely tough right now, but your support on this expo would be amazing and help a very worthy and incredible cause.

Thank you for taking the time to visit our JustGiving page.