Ferrying a single across the Atlantic
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Because it was there. 
And because the owner wanted the engine blue-printed by a specialist engine-builder in Arkansas. As Cowboy-76 says, "aeroplanes should be flown, not taken apart and put in boxes" and an excuse to fly the Atlantic was irresistable. He asked me to do the flight with him and I jumped at the offer.
Well spotted. It's a Siai Marchetti SF260 - and it flies as well as it looks. 160 kts cruise at our 8000 feet (about 10,500 feet over the ice-cap) and +6g/-3g envelope for aerobatics - although not with ferry-tanks installed! It's certified 4 seats, but the max load on the rear seat/baggage area makes it more of a 2+2 'coupe'.
There aren't many SF260s in the UK (2-3 maybe) and that led to an interesting exchange with a BA 747 mid-Atlantic. We didn't have HF so relayed reporting points/obtained destination weather via passing airliners. With limited range, there's a crucial 'point of no return' between Iceland and Greenland. ie If the wx isn't good enough to land at Narsarsuaq (a sea-level airfield deep into a fjord and surrounded by 9-10,000 feet mountains) you have to turn back to Iceland while you still have enough fuel to get back. Imagine our surprise when, while one of the 747 pilots was speaking to Narsarsuaq for us, the other said "G-MACH, you're a very long way from Thruxton for a little aeroplane." The a/c was based at Thruxton at the time, and he flew GA from there. Small world!
turniphead
"gh @ os??"
Yes. But if you know GH, please resist the temptation to tell him about this thread. He's forgotten I've still got his copy of 'Ocean Flying'.
Tudor
And because the owner wanted the engine blue-printed by a specialist engine-builder in Arkansas. As Cowboy-76 says, "aeroplanes should be flown, not taken apart and put in boxes" and an excuse to fly the Atlantic was irresistable. He asked me to do the flight with him and I jumped at the offer.
Well spotted. It's a Siai Marchetti SF260 - and it flies as well as it looks. 160 kts cruise at our 8000 feet (about 10,500 feet over the ice-cap) and +6g/-3g envelope for aerobatics - although not with ferry-tanks installed! It's certified 4 seats, but the max load on the rear seat/baggage area makes it more of a 2+2 'coupe'.
There aren't many SF260s in the UK (2-3 maybe) and that led to an interesting exchange with a BA 747 mid-Atlantic. We didn't have HF so relayed reporting points/obtained destination weather via passing airliners. With limited range, there's a crucial 'point of no return' between Iceland and Greenland. ie If the wx isn't good enough to land at Narsarsuaq (a sea-level airfield deep into a fjord and surrounded by 9-10,000 feet mountains) you have to turn back to Iceland while you still have enough fuel to get back. Imagine our surprise when, while one of the 747 pilots was speaking to Narsarsuaq for us, the other said "G-MACH, you're a very long way from Thruxton for a little aeroplane." The a/c was based at Thruxton at the time, and he flew GA from there. Small world!
turniphead
"gh @ os??"
Yes. But if you know GH, please resist the temptation to tell him about this thread. He's forgotten I've still got his copy of 'Ocean Flying'.
Tudor
Last edited by Flying Lawyer; 14th Jan 2007 at 08:38.
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Flying lawyer
I'd you a deal.
You let me read Ocean Flying by Scacci
and I will return it to its rightful owner afterwards with saying how I got it!
Will be good reading before epic flight...although I have done it before both ways ...but in a twin which does not really count as an adventure. (how's that for being controversial?? Stand by for flak)
I'd you a deal.
You let me read Ocean Flying by Scacci
and I will return it to its rightful owner afterwards with saying how I got it!
Will be good reading before epic flight...although I have done it before both ways ...but in a twin which does not really count as an adventure. (how's that for being controversial?? Stand by for flak)
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Risk wise weather is more of a problem than mechanical failure when flying the North Atlantic.
An airplane that is running perfectly will not allow you to land somewhere you can't see the ground.
An airplane that is running perfectly will not allow you to land somewhere you can't see the ground.
Only just seen this one - hence late response.
For those perhaps contemplating transatlantic themselves and a trip up the fjord into Narsarsuaq at low level - an unforgettable experience in good weather (and even more so in bad
) - please be aware that a set of cables has recently been strung across Skovfjord near the village of Narsaq. They run from about sea-level on the north side to some 1000 ft or so on the south side and are damn near invisible. They are marked by strobes at each end but are otherwise unannounced, either in the Greenland AIP or NOTAMs as far as I am aware.
Caveat aviator.
For those perhaps contemplating transatlantic themselves and a trip up the fjord into Narsarsuaq at low level - an unforgettable experience in good weather (and even more so in bad
) - please be aware that a set of cables has recently been strung across Skovfjord near the village of Narsaq. They run from about sea-level on the north side to some 1000 ft or so on the south side and are damn near invisible. They are marked by strobes at each end but are otherwise unannounced, either in the Greenland AIP or NOTAMs as far as I am aware.Caveat aviator.
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To those who think crossing the pond in a twin is "not an adventure" I suggest they check the single engine climb perfs of a Seneca or Seminole X-atlantic equipped (survival stuff, ferry tank, HF ... ) Then , reconsider this comment.
I did 3 ferry flights, 1 in a seneca, and the 2 others in Kingair . I reckon this type of twin is far more reliable than the PA34 . But wx was a major concern (winds, vis & ceiling in Iceland ... ) ..and it had a smell of adventure if you ask me .
I did 3 ferry flights, 1 in a seneca, and the 2 others in Kingair . I reckon this type of twin is far more reliable than the PA34 . But wx was a major concern (winds, vis & ceiling in Iceland ... ) ..and it had a smell of adventure if you ask me .
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Porco Rosso,
Your comments about weather and winds and ceilings in Iceland are very interesting. I think we are all agreed that by doing the crossing in less than very favourable conditions is inviting trouble and creating an adventure where one need not have existed with a more cautious attitude to actually when to fly.
The moral is quite clear. It is a pretty safe bet in a single that is well prepared for the trip and if the the pilot is really prepared to wait and wait and wait for the right weather.
Your comments about weather and winds and ceilings in Iceland are very interesting. I think we are all agreed that by doing the crossing in less than very favourable conditions is inviting trouble and creating an adventure where one need not have existed with a more cautious attitude to actually when to fly.
The moral is quite clear. It is a pretty safe bet in a single that is well prepared for the trip and if the the pilot is really prepared to wait and wait and wait for the right weather.
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Bonjour Turniphead
Couldn't agree more !
By the way , do you know what is a hero ?
A Hero is a man who can overcome a situation where no normal person would put himself in
No problem with ferryflying single or light twins, but as you mentionned earlier, preparation & patience are the keys ... no need to hurry .
Take care
Couldn't agree more !
By the way , do you know what is a hero ?
A Hero is a man who can overcome a situation where no normal person would put himself in
No problem with ferryflying single or light twins, but as you mentionned earlier, preparation & patience are the keys ... no need to hurry .
Take care
Sorry to resurrect this thread again, but the risks are real; very real ...
Fritz Schoder, well-known and experienced ferry pilot mentioned in a couple of the posts above was ferrying a Cirrus SR20 from Goose Bay, Labrador, to Narsarsuaq, Greenland, on 02 February 2007 when the aircraft suffered engine failure. He ditched in the Greenland Sea but tragically did not survive.
Great bloke : RIP Fritz.
Fritz Schoder, well-known and experienced ferry pilot mentioned in a couple of the posts above was ferrying a Cirrus SR20 from Goose Bay, Labrador, to Narsarsuaq, Greenland, on 02 February 2007 when the aircraft suffered engine failure. He ditched in the Greenland Sea but tragically did not survive.
Great bloke : RIP Fritz.
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From Earthrounders:
February 17, 2007: Two hours after leaving Natal, Brazil for Dakar, Senegal today, Earthrounder Frank Hettlich had an engine failure in his Seneca3. Although he survived ditching in the ocean some 40 miles from Fernando de Noronha Island, and made it into his life-raft, he has tragically perished as a result of injuries. Frank and his wife Dorise had recently been travelling in Brazil, Argentina and Chile on holiday but he was undertaking the Atlantic crossing back to Africa alone, headed eventually to Capetown. Our heartfelt condolences go to Dorise and daughters Malaika, Bianca, Claudia.
