I bought another aircraft to replace our much loved and most reliable Piper Turbo Arrow III and I am going to USA in late January to fly it back across the Pacific Ocean. We will be island hopping, leaving California and refuelling at Hawaii, Kiribati, American Samoa & Noumea, before, hopefully, reaching Australia. The time taken will be up to 45 hours flying time depending on weather and the trip could take between 3 and 6 days. The longest leg will be 12-14 hours between California and Hawaii.
I have a temporary blog which chronicles the purchase of the aircraft and will provide details of the flight planning and the actual flight itself.
If you are interested, click here and go to the following site:
5 responses so far ↓
1 Brenton Rule // Jan 20, 2010 at 7:30 am
Hi Tom, what a wonderful experience this will be for you. You may recall we have spoken at the hangar a couple of times. I am the VP of the aero club. Tracing the footsteps of some of the bravest aviators in history across the ocean will be, I am sure, an experience of a lifetime. Especially the California / Hawaii leg which I have done many times in a ‘silver bird’, and as I have looked out the window at the vast expanse of water I have marvelled at the courage of those who have gone before. Whilst you have all the GPS and nav aids, you still have the courage and that must surely be there in good measure for you to attempt this one. People may look at this and say – “Oh well anyone can do it in a modern plane” – but as a fellow aviator, I know just how fickle any aircraft can be so my thoughts are with you – Good luck and good weather…. See you at YBNS on your return.
2 HAYGARTH // Feb 6, 2010 at 4:09 pm
Are you here/there/up or down at this stage!!!!!
3 courtney // Feb 7, 2010 at 6:38 am
Still here. Weather looks to be improving. Maybe Thursday or Friday next week.
Will keep updating http://gipslandbulletin.blogspot.com while I have access to Internet
4 John O'Brien // Feb 8, 2010 at 3:23 pm
Sensational Tom, do you flip a coin to see who sits where? What an adventure
5 brian bigg // Feb 13, 2010 at 12:12 pm
tom
want to make a mention in the next australian pilot magazine of your adventure. got a photo you can email me of you or your new plane?
need it soon.
cheers
brian
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