The first circumnavigation by microlight was achieved by Brian Milton (UK) who flew around the world in a Pegasus Quantum 912 flexwing microlight, between 22 March and 21 July 1998. Brian started and ended his journey in Brooklands, Surrey, UK;flying via Western Europe, Turkey and the Middle East, India, Southeast Asia, Hong Kong, Japan, Russia, North America and Greenland, and Iceland. Described as a hang glider with a motorcycle slung beneath it, the lack of a cockpit in Brian's craft made flying a challenge in extreme weather - such as when crossing the Syrian desert, or flying over the interior of Iceland. He flew at an altitude of around 610 m (2,000 ft) most of the way, but was forced as high as 3,660 m (12,000 ft) in places. Brian's average flying speed was 105 km/h (65 mph).