A PILOT battled through terrifying storms and sweltering desert heat to smash a world record in a homemade plane he built with his wife.

Former RAF pilot Steve Noujaim, 47, arrived safely back in south Essex after successfully embarking on a 12,000-mile round trip from Southend Airport to Cape Town, South Africa, and back.

He successfully smashed one of the greatest world records in aviation by almost a whole day – completing the journey in just three days, 11 hours and 15 minutes.

Mr Noujaim left last Tuesday morning at 5.38am and touched down on Friday at 3.54pm.

He was triumphantly welcomed in the sky by two friends who flew spitfires and guided him back to base where he was greeted by a cheering crowd and a glass of champagne.

Speaking a few minutes after landing, Mr Noujaim said: “It was one of the most harrowing things I have ever done. Looking back on it, it was an interesting thing to do, but at the time it was very stressful.

“It is a great sense of accomplishment that I have done this, but the reality of it is very different to what I thought. It’s a very scary business.”

The light aircraft record was first set by Alex Henshaw in February 1939. He completed the trip in his tiny Percival Mew Gull in four days, ten hours and 16 minutes.

A reverse record attempt was successfully completed in 2009 by Chalkie Stobbart, who flew a round trip from Cape Town to London and back again in three days, 15 hours and 17 minutes.

Mr Noujaim’s wife Anna, 53, spent seven years lovingly assisting him in the making of the RV-7 plane at their home in Cirencester, Gloustershire.

She said: “I am extremely proud of Steve and I am so relived he is finally home.

“I breathed a big sigh of relief when he landed because, during his trip, he went through some really bad weather including a huge thunderstorm which completely flooded his cabin.

“Because he was in the desert, he was able to dry off fairly quickly. This has been a dream of his for 30 years, ever since he read Mr Henshaw’s book Flight of the Mew Gull, which inspired him to do it.

“I have been 100 per cent behind him and he has had an amazing support team throughout this.”

A Royal Aero Club representative was on hand to officially record the start and finish time to the second.

Mr Noujaim enjoyed a champagne and buffet reception with friends and family at the airport, paid for and hosted by the Roslin Beach Hotel, Thorpe Bay.