Paraplegic microlight pilot Dave Sykes reveals plans to fly to North Pole

Dave Sykes, a member of York Flying Club, based at Rufforth Airfield, will brave temperatures as low as -60C on the record-breaking solo flight in March.

He says he will wear a special heated flying jacket and gloves to avoid frostbite and an adapted Ski Doo helmet that will prevent his breath instantly freezing in the intense cold.

The 47-year-old will also take steps to prevent the engine, wings and fuel freezing up, and will do his best to avoid meeting up with some of the most dangerous creatures on the planet – polar bears.

During his 11,600-mile, four month trip to Australia in 2011, he survived sandstorms, tropical storms, mechanical failures and crash landings, but he admitted yesterday: “This trip is probably even more dangerous.

“I will be flying down to Calais and then across Holland to Germany and up over Denmark, Sweden and Norway to avoid flying too far across the sea,” he said.

“But I do have to fly about 500 miles across the Barents sea before landing at a Russian ice station for a refuel. The station is only open for three weeks in late March and early April, and that’s why I decided to set off in mid-March.

“I will also land in the snow at the North Pole, using skis attached to the bottom of the microlight.”

Dave, who lost the use of his legs in a motorcycle accident in 1993 and attaches a wheelchair to his microlight, said he had been planning to do a round-the-world flight but the costs were simply too high.

However, the trip will still cost an estimated £20,000 and he is seeking sponsorship to help meet the bills.

He said he was also planning to raise funds for Martin House Hospice at Boston Spa, which had given him a cuddly toy, Dave Bear, to take with him on the trip as his mascot or co-pilot.

Asked what fellow members of the flying club thought about his latest venture, he said simply: “They think I’m mad.”

Anyone wanting to sponsor Dave should go to www.polarflight.co.uk