In 2003 the outright World Air Speed record for piston engine land aircraft from Lands End to John o’Groats was taken by Nicholas Lambert of the UK flying a Diamond DA40 D of 135 hp. at 138.553 mph. This record stands for all piston engine land planes. (C-1 (Landplanes) Group 1 : piston engine ). The aircraft was diesel powered.

The direct distance is 623 statute miles. The route chosen by Nick was a little longer however to avoid long distances travelling over water. The Diamond took off from Lands End airfield and landed at Kirkwall in the Orkeneys, which was the nearest airfield to John o’Groats and qualified for the record.

He also took the record in class C-1c, which is for landplane weighing between 1000 and 1750kg.

The Glasair is actually lighter, weighing only 904kg fully laden and as such falls into C-1b landplanes.

The aircraft has a 200 hp engine and is able to easily cruise at over 200 mph at economical power settings. While capable of higher speeds, fuel consumption dramatically increases which would jeopardize endurance. The Glasair is unable to operate from grass airfields such as Lands End, and had to take off from the navy airfield of Culdrose, and then fly over Lands End. This increased the distance to travel. The power setting remained at 75% throughout the flight.

To register a World Speed record, the route must first be proposed to the Royal Aero Club. Official timekeepers must then be organised to accurately mark the time at each end of the route.