Press

04.05.2009 - Cape Town

Cape Town to London and back in less than five days Sennheiser sponsors record-breaking flight attempt

More than 70 years ago in February 1939, a young English airman set out to create a world record. Alex Henshaw flew in a 200HP light aircraft - the Percival Mew Gull - from London to Cape Town and back in four days, ten hours and sixteen minutes. This is a record, which remains unbroken up to today; however it may well be matched by Chalkie Stobbart. The South African pilot is planning to break the 70 year old record, supported in his efforts by Sennheiser. Accompanying him on board are two pairs of Sennheiser HMEC 460 aviation headsets.
 

Alex Henshaw wrote a book about his record breaking adventure entitled ‘Flight of the Mew Gull’ and issued a challenge to any solo airman flying in an aircraft which develops no more than 200 horsepower, to beat his record. Chalkie Stobbart is going to do just that. Supported by the sponsorship from a host of Aviation Industry members including Sennheiser South Africa and Sennheiser Aviation, the senior SAA captain will attempt to break the 70 year old record in a home-built Osprey RV4 Aircraft, fitted with a 195 horsepower engine on 7 May. 
Athol Franz of African Pilot
  

Reliable communication in the air
The route of the four day flight will commence from Cape Town and proceed along the western side of Africa, with three stops on the African Continent. The final destination will be Southend, on the east coast of the UK. About 14 hours later Chalkie Stobbart will return following the same route, a journey totalling approximately 9600 kilometres each way.
 

Alongside him on board the Osprey RV4 Aircraft is the Sennheiser HMEC 460. The circumaural aviation headset is equipped with patented NoiseGard™ technology for active noise compensation in propeller and turbo prop aircrafts. In order for it to be possible to carry out interviews whilst in the air, Chalkie’s Sennheiser headset will be interfaced with a satellite telephone during the flight. More information on the Henshaw Challenge can be found online at www.henshaw-challenge.com.
 

Sennheiser Aviation: many years of experience in the cockpit and the control tower
Ever since the mid-1980s, Sennheiser systems have been guaranteeing optimal speech clarity in the cockpit and control tower. Innovations such as the NoiseGard™ active noise compensation system and ActiveGard™ protect against potentially harmful volume surges and form the basis for the success of Sennheiser headsets. With their top-quality acoustics, high wearing comfort and rugged design, Sennheiser’s aviation products are optimally suited to the needs of both pilots and air traffic controllers. Safety and reliability are always the top priority.
 
 

The Sennheiser Group, with its headquarters in Wedemark near Hanover, Germany, is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of microphones, headphones and wireless transmission systems. The family-owned company, which was established in 1945, recorded sales of over €395 million in 2007, 83% of which were generated abroad. Sennheiser employs almost 2,000 people worldwide, around 55% of whom are in Germany. Sennheiser has manufacturing plants in Germany, Ireland and the USA, and is represented worldwide by subsidiaries in France, Great Britain, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Denmark (Nordic), Russia, Hong Kong, India, Singapore, Japan, China, Canada, Mexico and the USA, as well as by long-term trading partners in many other countries. Also part of the Sennheiser Group are Georg Neumann GmbH, Berlin (studio microphones), K + H Vertriebs- und Entwicklungsgesellschaft mbH (Klein + Hummel studio monitors, installed sound) and the joint venture Sennheiser Communications A/S (headsets for PCs, offices and call centres).
 
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