Tributes have been pouring in for the Larne adventurer who became the first man to circumnavigate the globe in a gyrocopter.
Norman Surplus, 59, died on Tuesday after having been ill with cancer.
His friend and former RNLI colleague Paul Johnston said Norman was "never down or disheartened with whatever life threw at him" though.
Read more: Norman's epic gyrocopter journey
Norman started his epic journey across the globe in 2010, having recovered from bowel cancer in 2003.
He used the illness to inspire him and worked to raise awareness about it all throughout his travels.
The G-YROX aircraft he used had been made most famous after featuring in the James Bond film You Only Live twice.
No-one had ever attempted to take on the sort of distances he dared to tackle in the tiny flying machine.
His 2010 attempt was curtailed by Russian airspace authorities who would not let him cross through the country to get to Alaska.
There was happier news in 2019 however, when Norman finally completed his trip in the tiny aircraft, making his way across 32 countries and travelling nearly 30,000 miles.
It marked him out as the first man to ever achieve such a feat in the G-YROX aircraft.
His friend Paul said he had always been a larger than life character.
"I got to know Norman when he joined the lifeboat crew in Larne around 1994/95 - he was one of those people who was always smiling, always good for a bit of craic and banter," he told Belfast Live.
"In later years we were room mates on away trips to Ulster rugby, mainly in France and San Sebastian in Spain.
"I had the pleasure of a flight in the now famous "ROXY" before Norman decided to be the first man to circumnavigate the globe in it.
"I can honestly say that I never saw the wee man down or disheartened with whatever life threw at him.
"It was a pleasure to have known him and shared some great craic. Sleep easy matey."
The Surplus family announced the sad news of Norman's passing on Facebook and the post was immediately inundated with well-wishers.
Messages were left from all round the world from people who he had met or who had helped him along the way on his skyward odyssey.
"He was so much more than the first person to circumnavigate the globe in a gyrocopter," the Surplus family said.
"Although he may have lived enough adventures to last several lifetimes, to those who crossed his path in life, he will always be remembered most for being a kind hearted human who just wanted the best for people.
"He will be immensely missed."
He is survived by his wife Celia and children Felix and Petra.
The family confirmed they plan to release a book Norman had been working on about his adventures, with the first quality check copies having arrived with them.
Read more: Northern Ireland man Norman Surplus completes round-the-world trip in gyrocopter
Read more: Northern Ireland man flying around the world in a gyrocopter hoping to be home by July
To get the latest breaking news straight to your inbox, sign up to our free newsletter.
