ongoing but near the end now.. amazing journey. Travel Blog: Southern Sun: Melbourne to London, and beyond....
That's cool. He stopped in my home town- where the Searey headquarters is. He has been covering quite a bit of distance.
I want one of those. Probably a stupid question - but why is he flying in that direction? Isn't he always flying against the wind?
Yes, looks to be around 6000' ish typically.. I wonder if the direction is chosen to give max time to get permission transit Russia (which never came and he had to artificially go further out to sea to skirt Russian airspace in the long Aleutians-Japan leg) Speaking of which.. anyone know the status of private aviation in Russia and China? I'd imagine heavy restrictions on such personal freedoms.. but right/wrong impression?
"Around the world at 80 knots".. apt title! "Southern Sun: Around the World at 80 knots" - A presentation by pilot Michael Smith | Qantas Founders Museum He's giving a talk at the QANTAS Museum, Longreach QLD.. the initial location of QANTAS. From there his next stop is tiny town of Rylstone where the Aussie Searey rep is based and also halfway to his home city of Melbourne. It's just north of where I fly so am making a road trip and do some flying on way to meet him at BBQ arranged in his honour there.. Will keep you posted.. hopefully all on schedule for his home legs..
Just a couple of hours left till he lands: storms around but they are heading away.. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
..and what a warm local welcome it was too for Michael in his 2nd last stop in his round-the-world journey.. and could put the plane safely away for the night before the Armageddon weather hit! Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Bought and flown in US for few years before shipped down under and kept the rego.. despite the overhead of flying certified mechanic out do to servicing and log booking as required to maintain US registration. It was explained to me to make rego recognisable and accepted for in and out of many countries.
.. aaaaand off he goes. A small group of us there in the morning to offer assistance and wave him off on the final leg home.. where he is now nice and safely arrived! Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Can someone explain to me how he did this fuel wise? The range of that LSA can't be more than 400 miles....
Amazing journey! As for GA in Russia and China, I don't know what the rules are for locals, but foreigners fly GA airplanes in and through those countries all the time. Not a big deal.
I look at the airplane and wonder why it doesn't have any dihedral. It just doesn't look right and just 2 deg. of dihedral would make it fly better, I think.
Several custom fuel bags to give the range necessary well beyond the standard tank.. longest leg was approx 1900 miles Aleutians to Japan and skirting Russian airspace (since unable to gain necessary approvals).. I saw the installations and quite cleverly done and plumbed to best use all kinds of spaces and give balance. Pilot did not have any fuel bag in pax seat next to him. You can see the track on public display, e.g. this 16hr 30m stint to Japan https://go.spidertracks.com/fleetpro/public/southernsun/tracks#date=1446595199999
