Tuesday 24 March 2009
Survivalist Bear Grylls Supports Solar Electric Flight
Bear Grylls, star of Channel 4’s Born Survivor series, has become the first person to pledge support for the Incredible Solar Electric Flight, which aims to raise money for Ataxia UK.
The British TV survivalist is keen to encourage others to support the fundraising endeavour, which will see a team of eight intrepid pilots fly the world’s first solar-powered electric paramotor from Monaco to Ceuta, Morocco.
“This is truly an expedition with heart,” comments Grylls. “Great friends travelling and testing the parameters of human flight, with a very clear purpose of raising funds that will make a difference to young children’s lives. I am asked to take part in many expeditions - few have touched me like this. I wish the team all the best and encourage people to show their support however they can for this worthy charity.”
Covering an estimated 2000km, the Incredible Solar Electric Flight aims to raise money to help support people with Ataxia, their families and carers, and fund research into causes and potential treatments. As well as raising awareness of the condition, the expedition will also promote alternative energy as a power source of the future, demonstrating the latest combination in solar energy, battery power and paramotors.
Grylls, himself an experienced paramotor pilot, is no stranger to flying over inhospitable terrain. In 2007, Bear famously piloted a paramotor, alongside the Electric Flight’s Gilo Cardozo, over the summit of Mount Everest achieving a world-record altitude of 29,494ft.
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