28 Feb 2014 10:54

Advertising guru behind FCUK and Wonderbra to be on inaugural commercial Virgin Galactic flight

Birmingham's first astronaut Trevor Beattie is preparing to take the plunge for his three-hour flight into space by learning the butterfly stroke.

The advertising tycoon paid a $250,000 deposit for his place on the inaugural Virgin Galactic space flight nine years ago and says swimming skills hold the key to an ultimately successful mission.

The Balsall Heath-born entrepreneur, best known for his French Connection, FCUK and Wonderbra ads, says mastering the butterfly could be vital for his once-in-a-lifetime journey.

Trevor, 53, suffered a broken toe in a zero gravity training flight over California last October when a fellow passenger fell on him, but said he was now fully recovered in preparation for the space mission.

The West Midlander will take his place on board for the second Virgin Galactic flight following Richard Branson and his family but does not know when the mission will take place.

I had a lot of callers thinking that I was in intensive care following the toe incident but I am now fighting fit.

The only proper training for this is swimming you are weightless and you are controlling your breathing. If you can learn the butterfly, that is a good way to train. It is not about physical fitness, your body weight is immaterial.

I have not swum since I was a kid I have got to get back into it. I would like to think that I could do some of my training at Moseley Baths.

Original post:

Brummie astronaut Trevor Beattie's preparation for space travel is going swimmingly