Anyone who might be flying to some of Canada’s most northerly airports late this month could run into a couple of Soviet cosmonauts on an unusual circumnavigation. Valery Tokarev and Oleg Atkov are among those flying three Russian-built amphibious light aircraft around the Arctic Ocean. The aircraft are a single-engine Borey advanced ultralight and two eight-seat twin-engine LA-8 aircraft, all built by AeroVolga LLC.

The aircraft are now in Alaska and are expected to cross into Canada about July 20. They will visit nine airports in Canada including Inuvik, Paulatuk, Kugluktuk, Cambrige Bay, Gjoa Haven, Taloyoak, Igloolik, Glade River and Qikiqtarjuag. COPA staff helped the expedition obtain visas for the long Canada crossing.