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The Citizen of the World team.
excursion into the simulations, with one of the flight options being the flight to the South Pole. One reason this portion of the flight was cho- sen, other than its unique nature and breathtaking scenery, is the lesson it teaches students. By f lying this portion, they learn about the stresses on planes and pilots, while Robert
guides the simulation as a virtual copilot. The students see that even an experienced pilot who has planned a certain trip for several years can still face unexpected challenges.
Since Robert and the Citizen of the World returned to the states in late 2020, touring has largely been on hold due to COVID. Still, the
aircraft was featured at Sun ‘n Fun and EAA AirVenture and is expect- ed to be at other shows as activity ramps back up.
Another way the public can ex- perience the Pole to Pole mission is through a 12-part docuseries cover- ing various portions of the flights. One example is Robert’s grounding in Spain at the time COVID first locked down countries. Here, he stayed with a group of monks in a monastery and headed to the mountains when the facility was shut down to the public. Other memorable encounters along the way included a dog sled driver in Argentina, a ballerina in Bulgaria, and a Zulu Warrior in South Africa.
While Robert is not currently plan- ning any additional around-the-world flights, he has a premonition that any mission he takes in the future may align with the types of aircraft of tomorrow, such as those with electric or hybrid-electric power plants.
For more information about Robert and his Pole to Pole flight, visit flyingth- rulife.com.
Rosen
Grant Boyd is a private pilot with seven years of experience in general aviation business from marketing to customer service. He has written more than 85 articles for aviation publications and enjoys learning about aircraft/pilots with unique missions. Grant can be reached at grantboyd2015@gmail.com.
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