A PARAPLEGIC pilot may be forced to postpone his solo flight to the North Pole following delays and a serious injury.

Dave Sykes, of York Flying Club, set off from Rufforth at the end of March, flying to Kent before crossing the Channel and working his way up the coast of Europe.

But his trip has been held up due to weather, bureaucracy and a broken hand, meaning he may miss the opportunity to land at an ice station on his way north.

John Teasdale, chief flying instructor at York Flying Club and a friend of Dave, said the 47-year-old was as determined as ever, but also a realist.

He said: “He’s had loads of problems, Everything that could go wrong did go wrong. He broke his hand on his wheelchair, of all things, and has broken some ligaments.

“His hand swelled up terribly, and it’s the hand he uses to control the throttle and steer. There have been horrendous high winds everywhere he’s been, and some bureaucratic problems too, so it’s not been easy.”

Dave has kept his followers updated through Facebook, and his most recent posts suggested he wanted to continue.

He said: “Can’t I just try get on with the trip please? No ‘well, why this’?. I really will get there (I really will), and come on – let’s raise money for Martin House (children’s hospice).”

John, who has been in contact with Dave via a friend, said he had attempted a flight with the injured hand from his current location in Germany, but hit turbulence.

He said: “He sounded, as he always does, quietly determined, but he’s a realist and he won’t do anything stupid. He’s experienced and skilled enough to make his own decision.

“Time is running out. The ice station closes on the 24th, I think, so we will probably see an announcement this weekend. In Holland he couldn’t proceed because there was a power cut and he couldn’t file a flight plan to continue, so that delayed him.

“On days which have been flyable he hasn’t been able to proceed for the daftest of reasons.”