The Sky’s the Limit

Kings Road Tyres, in conjunction with Michelin, has helped a team of British explorers carry out an unlikely journey from London to Timbuktu – not by plane or train, but by flying car. The Parajet Skycar is a road legal version of an off road buggy that can be set up to either drive wheels when on the road or power a rear mounted propeller when it takes to the skies. In flight a large fabric wing gives the Skycar lift whilst the propeller provides the necessary forward thrust.

The Parajet Skycar set off from London at the end of January and travelled down through France and Spain before flying the Straits of Gibraltar to Morocco in North Africa. From Morocco the team travelled through the disputed lands of Western Sahara, into Mauritania and across the Sahara to Timbuktu in Mali.

The expedition was supported by two large trucks, a Dakar prepared eight wheel drive MAN and a Mercedes Unimog, as well as three KTM 450 EXC off-road bikes. A specially prepared Toyota Landcruiser was also used to provide transport for a Channel 4 documentary crew who were filming for a programme due to be shown in June as part of a new series looking at daring adventures. Kings Road Tyres kitted out the latter in 285/75R16 Cooper STT tyres, while Michelin supplied the 335/80R20 Michelin XZY truck tyres that were needed.

It was in providing support for these vehicles that Kings Road Tyres (KRT) were initially approached by Andy Wiggins, one of the founding members of the team, who contacted Peter Gaster of KRT requesting help. “To get this adventure off the ground we desperately needed sponsorship, but with an idea as wacky as this the majority of people we approached didn’t believe it was possible” Wiggins recalls. “As soon as I explained the idea to Peter he agreed to help and soon after he got Michelin involved as well. Without the proper tyres it’s unlikely we would have been able to cross the terrain we encountered, which varied from deep sandy dunes where the vehicles would sink down to their axles to razor sharp rocks and everything in between.”

During their adventure the team encountered some exciting incidents including being arrested for illegally landing in Morocco, crossing an unmarked minefield in Western Sahara and trying to avoid bandits in Eastern Mauritania. As for the Parajet Skycar, the pilots Neil Laughton and Giles Cardozo had a few scary moments including crash landing into the sea off Spain, flying into a tree whilst trying to take off and a few heavy landings in the desert. The trucks were equipped with a full workshop including welding equipment, generators, and heavy duty tools which enabled the 10-man team to make repairs as required.

Seven weeks after setting off from London the Parajet Skycar limped into Timbuktu to complete the mission as planned, a feat they could not have achieved without the sponsorship support from KRT and Michelin.