Simon Oliphant’s attempt at the fastest eastbound flight around the world in a helicopter has failed.

Seven days into the mission, the UK pilot found himself and his MD Explorer grounded in Alaska because of the terrorist activities in the US and was forced to abandon the record attempt.

Speaking at this year’s Helitech exhibition in Duxford, he said: “I got pretty depressed when I found out I couldn’t carry on. When you spend five months planning for something, it is very disheartening to be forced to abandon it. That said, my problems paled into insignificance compared with the US tragedy.”

After being allowed to leave Alaska, Oliphant continued his trip via Canada and across the North Atlantic, in order to at least complete an around-the-world flight. Before the enforced stoppage, the Eastern Atlantic Helicopters pilot believes he was on course to beat the record of 24 days – set by Ron Bower in a Bell 206 JetRanger III in 1994 – by four to five days.

He said: “Everyone was very supportive, which got me through. It sounds great going round the world but flying in the North Atlantic is challenging, to say the least. The really difficult part was marrying up the weather with the challenge. Admittedly, I was very lucky with the weather in Russia.”

Asked how the Explorer performed, Oliphant said: “It was very smooth, very stable and never missed a beat. I never felt in any danger. This was actually a good PR opportunity to show what the helicopter can do. MD Helicopters were extremely supportive.”

He added: “When you set out on a trip like this, you find yourself wondering what you’re going to do in your spare time. I don’t think there was ever even five minutes when I wasn’t having to think about some aspect of the trip.”

In conclusion, Simon Oliphant says undertaking the world record challenge has made him a more wary and better pilot. He says he feels cheated that that he didn’t do it and if the opportunity arises again, he would attempt it again. Asked how soon that might be, he said it could be as early as June, 2002.