Luc Costermans, a 41-year old, visually impaired Belgian man claimed a place in the record books after completing a tour of France in a light aeroplane. Costermans, a former businessman lost his sight in an accident, two years ago.

"I decided to complete this tour of France as a personal challenge and to send a message of hope to other physically disabled people," said Costermans, who only began flying last November.

Costermans began the 13-hour, 1900 kilometre flight from the flying club of Visan in the southeast, in a ‘Robin D.R.-400’, with an instructor and an expert navigator. He stopped over in Agen in the southeast, Cholet in the west and Arras in the north and flew over Belgium before stopping in Dijon in the east and going on to Visan.

Costermans credited his achievement to the whole team and he hoped to make it into the ‘Guinness World Records’ for his tour of France.