Global Eagle - And 'Global Beagle - Around Britain in a Virtual Autogyro'

[volrider]

If these are the rules then.....pick up where left off in August/Sept then still claim the round the World bit...
I would like to nominate myself for a 1/2 the World round trip sometime during the dates of 2000 and 2004, by 767 and 757 and a Emb 135...I had a trip to Florida then 6 months later went to Hamburg and then a bit later on..can't recall the exact dates as I had a beer or two..went to Cyprus.. Now I recall checking the WX before I left on each trip as it helps to know which pair of shorts I would need... Do you think I can get sponsorship for this lot??
I intend to do the other half sometime over the next 30 odd years.... I think it could be named the Global ShyteHawk Challenge

[SilsoeSid]

Picked off the messageboard on the GEwebsite;

" The aircraft will stay where it is, Barry is returning to Delhi, where he will stay there for about a week before returning to the UK.
Towards the latter end of August he will return to the aircraft with the engineer to make sure all is still well, then hopefully weather permitting will continue with the challenge early September.

..........the expedition is in no way over, this is just a small set back to completing the challenge on schedule. We had hoped to beat the monsoons but knew as time moved on this was becoming less likely due to earlier delays. "

Expedition Global Eagle.....Around the World in an Autogyro

EVENTUALLY!!

I can't find the rules in relation to this part time record attempt at the FAI website. However it must be acceptable....mustn't it?

Tell you what I did find at the FAI site;

Sub-class : E-3 (Autogyros)
Category : General
Group 1 : piston engine

Distance without landing : 993.27 km

Date of flight: 22/02/2004
Pilot: Andrew C. KEECH (USA)
Course/place: Little Rock, AR (USA) - Hickory, NC (USA)

Rotorcraft:
Little Wing LW-5 (1 Rotax 914, 115 bhp)
Registered 'N100MK'

ratified on 10/06/2004 | Database ID 9179

That's that record gone, perhaps they'll be attempting the round the world trip shortly, as rumoured earlier in the thread!

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Your opinion of me is none of my business.

[SilsoeSid]

Imagine this,

Just had a thought that it a couple of weeks, this scenario could happen in The Three Musketeers, Boroughbridge.



"Hi Barry, hows it going?"

"Fine mate thanks, how are you?"

"Great thanks. So Barry, what are you up to at the mo?"

"Well funny you should ask, I'm on a Round the World trip in an Autogyro. Never been done before, so I'll be setting a worlds first."

"Sounds interesting mate, but what the fek are you doing here?"

"Ummm....getting the round in I suppose!!"


Sorry, I still don't get how this works.

Coming soon......Standby for SSs around the world by pushbike expedition details, journey open to all.


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Your opinion of me is none of my business.

[Autorot8]

This Expedition is not about getting into the record books, it never was, its a pure fluke that no-one has ever done this flight before and if they had, i'd still be doing it. I couldn't care less if 'the rules' say I can or can't stop but what I do know is that they do not say that I should ignore Flight Safety for the amusement of little people. This flight is about adventure - its about putting yourself into situations that are new (even if they are only new to me) and then working out the best way to deal with them. Its about carrying on with the great British tradittion of adventure and not living your life through a computer screen! Its about me showing my Son's that, to live your life to the full you have to go out there and find it for yourself, about inspiering them, about showing them that the world is an amazing place, full of people that are willing to be part of this great adventure. Its about finding what it is that makes people tick, about dealing with triumph and failure, about feeling all the human emotions and enjoying them for what they are. Its about giving my Son's courrage and determination but always remembering that exploring all these emotions/places/people and experiences have to be done with an amount of level headed saftey.

If I make a bad decission that results in a Search and Rescue situation, I will be damaging expeditions and adventure for years to come, if I kill myself i'll probably be putting a stop to adventure for thousands of people. I know my resposabilities, I follow them, I bend the rules and I push the limits but there is a line that should not, and in this case, can not be crossed.

The Global Eagle site was designed for children, for schools. The fact that adults like to follow the adventure is grate but thats not what its about.

Just stop and think for a moment.......... If I simply push on, regardless of the dangers, what will be the result? If I make it, then the message to young impressionable people will be to ignore safety, you can do it anyway. If I kill myself, apart from leaving my children without a father, I will make myself look stupid for ignoreing the obvious signs and i'll be damaging the chances of other people exploring life through adventure after me.

The people who sit behind a computer screen, who simply pick fault with all that they see as though they could do better and everyone else is retarded are exactly the kind of people i'm teaching my Son's not to be. The kids that pick fault and bully other kids grow up to be the ones that think the world owes them, that everything around them isn't good enough - my children will never be like that!

I'm no flying nut, its not my passion at all. I could leave flying and never look back. I couldn't care less about setting a world record, Andy Keech is a friend of mine, I love it that he beat the record I set and someone will beat that, Andy and I have no doubt and no grater wish as far as that concerned.

If you don't like what you see with this project, don't come back, its not for you, its for my Son's - mind your own business.

Barry.
Expedition Global Eagle.
(Keeping a level head)

[SilsoeSid]

Handbags at dawn!!



Autorot8;

If you don't like what you see with this project, don't come back, its not for you,

If you don't like what you see with this thread, don't keep coming back, it's not for you.
But you do keep coming back. Mmmm......I wonder why?

I wouldn't be any good on 'Just a Minute' with all this repetition I seem to keep having to do!

Just a couple of notes;

"This expedition is not about getting into the record books, it never was."
Really? A quick visit to the GE sit finds these words of wisdom;

"Expedition Global Eagle came about from an idea Barry Jones had back in 2002 to become the first person to fly around the world in an autogyro."
+
"If successful Global Eagle will become the First Autogyro to fly around the World and in doing so take it's place in the history books of aviation."

First person and first autogyro. 2 claims to put Barry in the record books if it is successful and in doing so, what was that? Oh! Yes, "place in the history books of aviation".

Most of the rest of that that rant was taken from some poem I'm sure I've seen somewhere, or was it a song ...mmmm...'We Are The World' wasn't it? (various US artists) Very nice and heart touching.

Steady on tiger, the real world is all over, outside those camp gates that is!!

I'm no flying nut, its not my passion at all. I could leave flying and never look back.

Well, that's a little of the future redundency plan sorted then. I hope you'll not be getting re-current on type, thereby letting those who wish to fly, and have a passion for flying, fly.

As a final word, if GE was so concerned about safety, 3 little words spring to mind.....Time of Year!

Remember also, I'm not the only one and the best place for your enemy is by your side. Nuff said!

SS
(keeping a leveller head)

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Your opinion of me is none of my business.

[SilsoeSid]

Just been thinking while doing a bit of gardening,

How come Barry just 'went off' on one?
All I asked was for confirmation on which rules, if any, the exped were on and how they related to a postponement.

Seems that someone is a bit touchy





Interesting to know where you see and answer this following message first;

(cut & paste)
Posted: Tue Jun 29, 2004 12:12 pm Post subject: Monsoon Hell....

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Hey Barry!

I just wondered: Considering this is a 'round the world' kinda trip, and I'm sure it has taken a lot of planning, was no-one able to predict or plan the possibility of the Indian monsoon early enough, for your route to be amended, in order to avoid the trouble location?

I understand it was rather sudden, yes, but the fact is - the monsoon happens every year - was it an accident that you were routed through the monsoon, or are your planners to blame?

I don't mean to be pushy, but a simple search on the internet finds that some areas of the world are destitute and unpassable at certain times of the year.

Anyway, best wishes for the rest of the trip, and I hope that this doesn't dampen your spirits

Kindest Regards,

Ralph Allison
Gillingham, Kent


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Remember....it's not just the ones who show themselves!
Your opinion of me is none of my business.

[SilsoeSid]

Update

As at:1400Z- 2004-06-29

Barry is currently in Delhi, looking to return to the UK on Saturday 03rd July. This is only a temporary measure waiting for the monsoon season to abate over in India.

Have a nice few days in Delhi Barry, weather looks good for you!

Edited to reduce download time, (big live pic). For up to date satellite pic of monsoon, go here;

http://cimss.ssec.wisc.edu/tropic/re...s/xxirmet5.GIF

[SilsoeSid]

Just as a clue, the message from...

Ralph Allison
Gillingham, Kent

...is on the GE website.




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Your opinion of me is none of my business.

[SilsoeSid]

Question answered.

From GE message board.

Posted: Tue Jun 29, 2004 8:29 pm Post subject:

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"Hi Ralph,

The departure date for this attempt was set in order to avoid the monsoon. Yes we were aware of when it normally starts and this was taken in to account.

Had we been fortunate enough for the trip to go according to the original plan then Barry would have been well clear of the Monsoon area at least 3 weeks before it started. A series of delays caused by various factors meant that the trip was behind schedule, this all contributes to the position we are in now.

I hope this helps

Pete"



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Your opinion of me is none of my business.

[FJJP]

Barry, I recently retired from the Royal Air Force after 38 years of FW flying a variety of types and fought a few wars in the process.

That establishes my credentials. I have a huge amount of admiration for your undertaking, and I am sorry that it has stalled due to circumstances beyond your control. I read your post with a great deal of sympathy and no small amount of emotion - you clearly have great pride in you family and I am sure they will grow up to be like mine. One is now a rotary pilot in the blue suit brigade and the other (with a PPL) is now wearing a brown suit. Like you, I am hugely proud of them and proud that they have responded to my standards and their upbringing in a loving and supportive family.

I agree with your sentiment about the small people who sit on their posteriors and whinge and criticise. If they were half the man that you are, then perhaps they would be more successful in life. I haven't posted often in the forums where your sojourn featured. Frankly, it is due, in the main, to one tedious individual who purports to support you, but succeeds in mocking and making fun of your efforts at every opportunity.

We are bigger people than that. There are many out there (the silent majority) who quietly admire you and wish you every success for your future endeavours. I will watch for future developments and progress. Please keep us informed on the Military forum as to future progress, and don't rise to that tedious little man...

Regards,

FJJP

[SilsoeSid]

Very B r i t i s h sentiment FJJP, I take you are still supporting Henman!


We love;
Tim Henman,
Stirling Moss,
Eddy the Eagle, .
Eric Moussambani, (the slowest swimmer in the history of the Olympic games)
etc (all losers)

We hate;
Michael Schumacher,
Prince Naseem,
Chris Eubank,
Nigel Mansell,
etc (all winners)

Most of you out there had never heard of Sir Steve Redgrave until he was going for his 4th Olympic Gold ! (He was a winner before you knew of him).

"Better to have tried and failed than not to had tried at all". Rule Britannia.

I take it then that FJJP will be contacting the UK History Channel and complaining about such programmes as, 'Biggest Cock Ups in Military History', 'What Went Wrong', 'Hindsight, what can we learn from...?'
I thought not.

Hindsight, check the met!
They taught you well Barry? REALLY? (GE msg board)

Perhaps there is a greater 'silent majority' than the one FJJP refers to, that knew something like this would happen. Dissapointment at a first major hurdle that could be forseen, stopping the show. (Reasonable excuse, expected at EGXDs bars, clubs and NAAFI queues, by the way).

Some of us may have given reasonable sized donations to the GE supported charities on the back of this, and feel mightily let down. (what did you donate FJJP? Although your opinion is still welcome here if the answer is nothing).

SS,
aka, 'that tedious little man'.


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Your opinion of me is none of my business.

[Letsby Avenue]

Hey Barry - Run it through a spell checker next time matey. I winced so much reading your last post I think I've developed a permanent twitch.....

[volrider]

Well it still dont answer the question...why plan to do the flight when the monsoon season was going to happen when you were there? was it due to bad planning or has your enthusiasum for flying or lack of it reading your post...taken over?
It seems that your happy to take the praise but if a critic asks questions you hide behind that bt post about families da-de-da..... Come on admit it you cocked up..
SilsoeSid has been your biggest supporter here I also have wished you well, so dont bite the hand that feeds you, honesty would breed respect not drivel and excuses!
Dont join Tim and the other British Hero's that revell in failure...when August/Sept comes continue and complete the journey, its worth doing and I for one be proud that its done by a Brit, no one should take chances with their life..but dont pretend that the Monsoon just jumped up and surprised you....ummmseems a team member or two is in the wrong job!!! They are the ones putting you in danger if this wasnt foreseen

[SilsoeSid]

What's that? Sabotage from within!

A v.quick google search came up with this;

Normal dates of onset of south-west monsoon over Indian region.

http://www.imdmumbai.gov.in/Onset.htm



Now, there are those at GE who say, " we were aware of when it normally starts and this was taken in to account. "

Going through the message board posts on the GE site, arrival in India was always to be at the start of June, thereby taking on the monsoon head-on. (Arrived Ahmedabad 1st June !!!)

Enough of all this b ks about;

"small people who sit on their posteriors and whinge and criticise. If they were half the man that you are, then perhaps they would be more successful in life"

"Better to have tried and failed than not to had tried at all"

....etc etc.

Perhaps it would show more b@lls to postpone right from the start for another 4 months. But I suppose pressure overcame sensible descision making and forced Barry to begin the trip.

Army Flying Standards (allegedly) on the GE message board say, "Very well done thus far and an even bigger well done for making the right decision with the problems of the weather. "
(Barrys reply is a corker)

Look at it his way;
If you were on a Standards check ride and this same situation happened, ie take a chance on the Wx and get caught out, they would chew your b@lls off!
But if you said before departure, "Sorry the Wx will not be too good and I won't be able to achieve the aim safely, have a look at this lot of met", that, would be a good captaincy decision."

Then again, have standards ever been standard? (Another thread, best QHI to have for a standards trip )

Perhaps some nests had already been feathered.


Must go to the 'Muskies' to check out the latest gossip
SS (Pint of best, pack of pork scratchings and a panatella!)

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Your opinion of me is none of my business.

[Autorot8]

I have tried not to bother with this thread anymore but you both puzzle me. As experienced Aviators you must surely realise that planning a flight as big as this has many pit falls. The Monsoon season is but one of the seven weather patterns I will have to deal with. Some times there is a break in the weather, it might not come for three weeks and may only last for three or four hours. A few years ago, there was no Monsoon to speak of, its not as simple as it looks.
Added to the situation is the very very real security situation that I have PM Sid about. The Indian Air Force was providing me with security - my skin being the wrong colour for this area. But they were not happy to have me sitting in Imphall for weeks waiting for a break in the Monsoon. This added to the problems.
My late departure from the UK was the main reason for the situation I find myself in now. Of course we knew the risks, but we just might have been lucky enough to get a weak Monsoon and make it through. I was not in a position to delay the flight further - I have bosses too.
With regard to the family 'stuff'. I take extreem exception to your comments. What I said is exactly what I meant, its not from a poem or a bloody song, its how I feel about what i'm doing. Yes we are playing on the fact that its not been done before, that is the lever you need to get sponsorship. You know thats the reason and you also know that the Mil' are getting what they want from it too. What I don't understand is, why the hell you keep changing sides all the time? Some of your comments are supportive but most aren't just a slagging they are very distructive. Who do you think are my target sponsors? The Aviation Industry! So what impact do you think your slaggings have on the chances of getting support from the Aviation Industry when you use this forum to slag off our efforts?

I know that you actually like what you see and that in some bizzare way you support it, but you are doing more damage than good with 80% of what you write. Banter is one thing - i'm in the Army, I understand the concept - but you have made several attempts to damage this project, some that have lost me sponsorship! I don't think you really want that to happen.

There is only one person in my team you have a problem with but you're making us all suffer for it.

Cut me some slack - i'm doing my best!

Barry.
(Well fed up with this constant slagging).

[SilsoeSid]

If that's what you want slack can be cut, but to use this thread as an excuse for losing sponsorship is a bit straw clutchy. I didn't realise that this thread was so powerful.

If what most of what your 'supporters' say is true, ie. I am a tedious little man, sad git, SadmanSid, Clever t**t, tosser, cnut, very sad little man, a Dick, any other insults I've missed, who is going to take notice of the ramblings of someone described as such?

Surely any potential sponsor wishing to know more about the expedition would take the gen from the Global Eagle website or even maybe come and visit the team perhaps??
IMHO, I honestly don't believe that they would base their opinion on an open internet forum.

Perhaps the problem lies elsewhere!

As you brought it up, your PM about security was adhered to by me as you requested. Unfortunately, the GE website webmaster didn't, and that, if anywhere, was your problem. All my updates were from your own site.

From 'Global Eagle' ;
"This project has had a lot of ups and downs, sadly too many downs for my liking and it's just a fact of life that people will form an opinion on just about anything. The fact is that as a team we have dealt with it and concentrated on a common aim. Some of my closest friends are serious doubters about the expedition succeeding, some openly declare it and others choose to say it after i've walked out of the door, after the smile and the "good luck".....

I'd like to take this opportunity to thank everyone at PPRUNE for their support, especially those that have taken the trouble to visit, and silsoesid for generating this thread. I DO NOT believe that there is no such thing as bad publicity but on the other hand I DO believe that everyone has the right to an opinion, and to voice it.

Best wishes

Pete Taylor
GE2004

A calm and well thought out post. I think Petes last paragraph there says it all.


By the way, just a little freebie helper, apart from Eastern Russia, Alaska (interesting reading here ), N. Canada, Greenland, Iceland and the Faroes at that time of year. .........

Normal dates of withdrawal of south-west monsoon over Indian region;




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Your opinion of me is none of my business.

[RDRickster]

Okay, this thread has gone way off scope. Gentleman, find a boxing ring and settle this... then have a few beers together. The Moderators are being too kind... or is it more likely that nobody cares to read this drivel anymore?

Autorot8, I wish you well on your next adventure.

[SilsoeSid]

As Global Eagle has been delayed/postponed/cancelled, whatever, it seems we have reached a 'half time analysis' stage. This as we can see is not going to be productive. While we wait for the 2nd half to begin, (too much footie on TV), lets look at some figures.

As we stand, PPRUNE has over 74,000 registered users. This thread has had more than 13,000 views and 199 posts.

There have been 10 usernames who have made derogatory comments here, either about the thread or myself personally. Many of these usernames have had single posts, and the remainder have only been 3 or 4. Hardly the figures to show that 'there are many out there' with the same feelings on this thread.

All these few tried to do was 'wind it up'. Notice how they were unable to sustain any discussion.

On the whole it would seem to me that a lot of viewers to this thread have come for the 'banter', arguments, updates, local knowledge en-route, fun pics and general updates. Even those who didn't understand a 'military sense of humour' can get the jist of it all.

Not only has there been local weather reports, satellite imagery, fun pics of Barry 'in country', and topical posts, it would seem that update reports have been posted with a bit more spice.

As I've said all along, if people didn't like it, they didn't have to return. Of those 10, they may not be posting replies anymore, but you can bet they are reading this still.

I'm happy to bow down for the time being, until it all kicks off again, (later this year??), however I have to reply to the comments made by people complaining about this thread.

Why don't they just use the GE site for their information?


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Your opinion of me is none of my business.

[volrider]

Okay, this thread has gone way off scope. Gentleman, find a boxing ring and settle this... then have a few beers together

Best get Autorot8 a half as he may struggle to finish a full one
Sorry couldnt resist that one
This thread has been informative, funny and damn interesting
Please dont expect roses all the time... We are chuffed this project was undertaken and also hopeful it will continue. A bit of good old Brit banter is a good side dish to any meal

[Letsby Avenue]

Hey..SilsoeSid, that's a cool home page piccie you've got there - is that a butt ugly ac or what?

Now - Who is SilsoeSid?