OK, making progress... one by one, ways around some of the challenges are starting to come into focus. Just had a long chat with a mate of mine in Australia who has done three US -> Australia via Europe ferry flights in Avgas'd aeroplanes and he had LOTS of practical suggestions. (His day job is flying A380s along similar routes, but much higher...)
I need to spend this weekend with an Excel spreadsheet, the W&B and performance data along with the great circle mapper (
Great Circle Mapper) to work out leg by leg what might be achievable, and start estimating the costs which will include IMC / EIR / Night Rating refreshers, buying an HF radio, an EGT gauge, a fuel flow meter etc. and getting a ferry tank fitted, and get some quotes from overflight agents.
Then the really hard part: explaining all this, and the costs, to my wife! Come to think of it, I'll also need to have my life insurance topped up.... ... .. .!
Andy :-)