I wish safe journey to Dan and Arve.
When my instructor told me that this R44 was bought by Hillsboro graduates and they'd FLY it HOME soon, I felt little envy (ownership) and fear (imagined me covering such distances over 'hostile' land in R44 - no thanks).
Well, got Jennifer Murray's 'Broken Journey' about their Pole to Pole in LongRanger and she mentions in the prologue that she flew R44 East-West around the globe. Think she mentioned she had the chopper swapped for new one by RHC or Smithsonian. Good deal :-D
That takes some 'balls'. I'm flying R22 now and I can't imagine doing such transcontinental flights in R44 - even with special aux tank in the cabin as HeliStars guys had installed.
FACT Pilot, I think if one can plan and pull off such trip and purchase the gear, they aren't in desperate need to hour build. Got your drift though.