View Full Version : The Spirit of Adventure in Aviation Lives
Fris B. Fairing
5th Dec 2018, 05:47
Congratulations to WGCDR Chris Pote and Officer Cadet Abby McGill who have arrived in Auckland today after flying their Eurofox from GB to NZ as part of the RAF 100th anniversary celebrations. Their flight has benefitted the RAF Benevolent Fund and Save the Children. Chris and Abby set out from Caloundra yesterday and overnighted on Lord Howe Island before completing their epic flight today.
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/800x529/g_gbnz_068_c15077167bbf672fdaf108ddad01f8899722e701.jpg
Abby and Chris kitted out in immersion suits before departing Caloundra on 4 December
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/800x533/g_gbnz_074_5b4d9c4772177fce430c2eded35eb84455129e56.jpg
Eurofox G-GBNZ poses in front of the Caloundra hangar where Skyfoxes were built in the eighties.
Fantastic journey ! Well done. Somewhat slower than Jean Batten tho. Great way to see the passing geography.
Do you know if they carried any commemorative mail since there must have been RAF 100th stamps produced?
The rego says it all.
The two mentioned didn't fly the entire trip, it was undertaken by a number of pilots in relay.
Wg Cdr Chris Pote, Team Leader - UK to New Zealand
Rachel Nugent, Meteorologist – UK to Rome
Wg Cdr Kev Gatland, Tornado navigator – Akrotiri to Nagpur
Squadron Leader Emma Landy, Sea King pilot – Nagpur to Pearce, Australia
Off Cdt Abby McGill, Yorkshire Universities Air Squadron – Pearce to New Zealand
With the support of David Landy, Advisor and Test Pilot
http://gb-nz.com/about
How do you alter text size in this new set up?
Clare Prop
6th Dec 2018, 02:57
Great to see something like this! Really should have so much more publicity.
What a contrast to the walt who pretended she had done it "solo"
machtuk
6th Dec 2018, 03:06
Wow they are incredibly brave, flying one of those things over endless miles of water takes some big gonads !
Rodney Rotorslap
6th Dec 2018, 03:22
machtuk
You might want to read the crew names again and edit your post to something less sexist.
Aussie Bob
6th Dec 2018, 05:03
Spare us the PC bull****e Rodney, those that live in the real world understand exactly what machtuk is saying.
Awesome undertaking!
pithblot
6th Dec 2018, 06:55
I agree, what a great experience!
Nads that touch the ground. Or short legs in lieu.
BTW, that's a sweet-looking aeroplane.
Rodney Rotorslap
6th Dec 2018, 07:11
Spare us the PC bull****e Rodney, those that live in the real world understand exactly what machtuk is saying.
Aussie Bob
Nothing to do with PC BS or remoteness from the real world. Just common courtesy.
j3pipercub
6th Dec 2018, 07:14
Well done to the crew involved!
Rodney, might pay to google the definition of gonad...
https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/gonad
Great press coverage here - NOT
Fris B. Fairing
6th Dec 2018, 23:47
There was some good coverage on NZ television:
http://tinyurl.com/y9pl9zbu
whats with this perceivd problem of flight over water in a single ? If all is running fine and you are happy with it after crossing deserts and mountains..que?
There are a lot worse places than water to be over and have an engine failure. Yes. yes, I know a fixed gear can cause a flip over.
With the appropriate survival gear, jackets, raft, fishing gear, food, flares, a six pack...and an EPIRB these days...MUCH better than into the rainforest where the trees can beat the aircraft to pieces around your ears.Ouch !
In a retractable with a favourable sea and a good landing you may not even get yr feet wet.
Disclaimer...there have been a couple of 'into the scrub' miracles..one a British Army Auster onto the top of a huge tree. The problem then was getting 150' down to the ground.
In FNQ 30 ? years ago a young Sydney whip flew himself and his girlfriend into the rainforest at...position definitely unknown...when scud running nr mountainous terrain to get off the Atherton Tableland in crap SE weather...having been earlier advised not to go due existing wx conditions.
Fortunately, by the grace of the Jungle Fairies, although the Sundowner decelerated thu the vegitation and broke up...they survived without serious injury.
!st Q ...WTFAW ??.. Since water flows down hill they followed and spent happy days in the wet forest until emerging onto a cane farm rather hungry and torn about some 5 ? days later VERY lucky.! Aircraft never to be seen again.
Fris B. Fairing
7th Dec 2018, 06:27
whats with this perceivd problem of flight over water in a single ?
Smithy and P.G. Taylor did it very successfully in 1934.
The RAAF also did it just this week.
Bend alot
7th Dec 2018, 06:52
whats with this perceivd problem of flight over water in a single ?
Yes. yes, I know a fixed gear can cause a flip over.
With the appropriate survival gear, jackets, raft, fishing gear, food, flares, a six pack...and an EPIRB these days..
Pretty much all that would need to be carried on the person and hope they did not get injured in the flip and then could get out with it all while sinking upside down. I have seen the EPIRB moved from the flight bag to on top of the fuel selector on a C210 flight when over water.
Why does the engine make a different noise every time you fly over a body of water?
LeadSled
7th Dec 2018, 07:08
Why does the engine make a different noise every time you fly over a body of water?
Actually, it depends on your background.
"Auto-rough" occurs "automatically" when a "land based" pilot is out of gliding distance of land, whereas, if you are a Navy pilot, "auto-rough" kicks in as soon as you are out of gliding distance of water.
Horses for courses.
Tootle pip!!
TBM-Legend
7th Dec 2018, 09:08
A ripper show I'd say!
CharlieLimaX-Ray
7th Dec 2018, 09:22
A mighty fine effort.
Eight hour sectors would exceed my bladder endurance.
Bend alot
7th Dec 2018, 09:42
Actually, it depends on your background.
"Auto-rough" occurs "automatically" when a "land based" pilot is out of gliding distance of land, whereas, if you are a Navy pilot, "auto-rough" kicks in as soon as you are out of gliding distance of water.
Horses for courses.
Tootle pip!!
"Auto-rough" I will remember term - but I found Hi Lighted in a helicopter.
machtuk
7th Dec 2018, 21:50
Spare us the PC bull****e Rodney, those that live in the real world understand exactly what machtuk is saying.
Awesome undertaking!
Aussie Bob true but there's always one that cant help themselves being the thought control police with zero SOH! Oh well they do entertain us though:-) Still think it was an amazing feat, but a SE (especially one of them) over all that water at a time? No thanks I value my life more than that!:-)
Squawk7700
7th Dec 2018, 22:05
Disclaimer...there have been a couple of 'into the scrub' miracles..one a British Army Auster onto the top of a huge tree. The problem then was getting 150' down to the ground.
Ben Buckley did it years ago in a crop duster if I’m not mistaken. Hitch-hiked in the dark and rain after walking out of the bush complete with helmet on.
Some hikers found the wreck quite some time later and rushed into town to report it thinking there could be someone unaccounted for in it.
Fris B. Fairing
7th Dec 2018, 22:20
machtuk
For what it's worth as the OP, I can understand what Rodney is saying. Call me old fashioned if you like but I would have described these pilots as brave or courageous. There are some things I would not say to or about a lady.
Rgds
Still think it was an amazing feat, but a SE (especially one of them) over all that water at a time?Ben Buckley flew the ditch to NZ non stop from Mallacoota and chose to do it powered by a two stroke Rotax. I'd have thought at least a four stroke might be more reliable.
Checklist Charlie
8th Dec 2018, 01:12
Cliff Tait has ferried more than 100 SE aircraft across the Tasman and of course earlier flew a 100hp Airtourer around the world.
CC
methinks machtuk has no sense of adventure.