THERE is one world aviation feat left up for grabs that is being eyed up by an Oxfordshire man – to complete a round-the-world trip in a gyroplane.

While this may sound like a flight of fancy worthy of a Jules Verne novel, it has not fazed 54-year-old entrepreneur Simon Courtney-Worthy.

He will leave from the Chiltern Park Aerodrome at Ipsden, South Oxfordshire, on March 1 next year in a Magni Voyager M22 gyroplane, a tiny craft similar to a miniature helicopter, and embark on the 31,000-mile journey.

Even with six years as an RAF helicopter pilot behind him, Mr Courtney-Worthy – who lives on a houseboat in Long Wittenham – said: “There will be times when I’m sure I will be terrified.

“If you’re not scared, you’re not doing the job. You must always have doubt.”

The expedition will take four to five months, covering 30 countries and 31,000 miles.

Last year, British adventurer Norman Surplus was halted in his attempt when Russia would not allow him into its airspace.

But there is more than a Guinness Book of World Records entry – and a gold medal from the Federation Aeronautique Internationale, which manages aviation records – at stake.

Mr Courtney-Worthy, who is originally from Wallingford, hopes the trip can raise £5 million in sponsorship for worldwide air ambulance charities.

About five years ago, Mr Courtney-Worthy’s godson Thomas Waddington, now 17, was injured in a rugby match. The Thames Valley Air Ambulance arrived “faster than a speeding bullet” and took him straight to the John Radcliffe Hospital, in Headington.

Mr Courtney-Worthy said: “They do a fabulous job. It costs nearly £3,000 an hour to supply that helicopter.”

In his own craft, he will travel through Europe, the United Arab Emirates, Southeast Asia, Russia and the United States.

Challenges include getting over the Alps, over the Bering Strait between Alaska and Russia, and over the Faroe Islands between Iceland and Norway.

He said: “It’s a small craft but reasonably robust. Weather is going to be the biggest thing. It’s pretty hairy in 35 to 40 knots of wind. You can’t get rescue cover if you fly in bad weather.”

Most of the time Mr Courtney-Worthy will be flying solo and will be in the air for 20 to 30 hours a week, with just an onboard camera for company.

The endeavour is being filmed for a 12-part documentary drama to air in summer 2016, led by filmmaker Stuart Kershaw of Fulham-based In the Dark Productions.

Mr Kershaw has covered similar expeditions before, including a jet ski from London to Sydney.

The gyroplane’s progress will also be able to be followed online.

For more information visit globalflight4life.com