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Hi Europa owners,
In October 2009 its 75 years ago that the famous London Melbourne race was
flown.
(Departure 20 October 1934) Scott and Campbell Black won with their red Comet
G-ACSS in 71 hours of flight. KLM Captain Parlmentier with First Officer Moll,
Mechanic Prins and Radio operator Van Brugge won the Handicap race with PH-AJU,
the famous DC-2 Uiver. This was the first Intercontinental flight with
passengers!
I would like to fly the route from London to Melbourne with some experimental
aircraft
(Europas !!) in 2009. Even today it would be a great challenge to make
it happen. If the operational problems would be solved, the route still follows
some very instable countrys. And the weather en-route will be challenging.
I made an initial planning of 17 flying days +/- 800 nms per day;
Segment nr./Route:
1. England: Londen, France: Reims, Dijon, Geneve, Italia: Turijn, Genua,
Rome.
2. Rome, Napels, Brindisi, Griece: Kerkira, Prevesa, Araxos, Athene.
3. Athene, Andros, Tinos, Mikonos, Ikaria, Samos, Turkie: Bodrum,
Marmaris, Antalya,
Mersin, Syria: Aleppo.
4. Aleppo, Abu Kemal, Irak: Ar Ramani, Bagdad, Shatra, Basra, Koewait:
Koewait
Stad.
5. Koewait Stad, Wafra, Saudi Arabia: Ras Al Mishab, Ras Tanajib, Jubail,
Dammam,
Dhahran, Bahrain: Bahrain, Qatar: Doha, United Arab Emirates: Jebel Dhana,
Al Dhafra, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah.
6. Sharjah, Ras Al Khaimah, Oman: Khasab, Iran: Dayrestan, Bandar Abbass,
Jask,
Chah Bahar, Bir, Pakistan: Jiwani, Pasni, Karachi.
7. Karachi, India: Kota, Allahabad.
8. Allahabad, Calcutta.
9. Calcutta, Bangladesh: Chittagong, Myanmar (Birma): Rangoon, Thailand:
Bangkok
10. Thailand: Bangkok, Hua Hin, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Chumpon, Surat Thani,
Krabi,
Trang, Malaysia: Alor Setar, Butterworth, Ipoh, Kuala Lumpur, Malacca,
Singapore:
Singapore.
11. Singapore, Indonesia (Sumatra): P.Kundur, P.Mendol, Palau Basu, Jambi,
Palembang,
Bandar Lampung, Java: Jakarta.
12. Jakarta, Indramayu, Semarang, Surabaya, Bali: Denpasar.
13. Denpasar, Nusa Pendila Islnd., Lombok: Mataram, Sunda: Bima, Sumba:
Waingapu,
Pulau Dawu, Palau Roti, Timor: Kupang.
14. Kupang, Australia: Bathurst Island, Darwin.
15. Darwin, Katherine, Delamare, Tennant Creek.
16. Tennant Creek, Charleville.
17. Charleville, Albury, Melbourne.
I made some premature calculations. I tried to follow the agent route as much as
possible. May be we have to look for a substitute for segment 4. The total
distance is 11374 nms over 23 countrys in 17 daylight periods with VFR
conditions.
With a calculated cruise speed of 120 KIAS the total flight time is approximate
95 hours. The stretches are approximate 800 nms. The most challenging part
is the shortest stretch, 451 nms above the Sea of Timor from Kupang to Darwin..
But the miles above jungle may be very challenging as well. I am still studying
about the best time in the year, we have to pass the ITF (Inter Tropical
Front) at a geographical position and a time in the year that it is weak enough
for our limitations. Besides that an average tailwind will help a lot. When
safely in Melbourne our Europas can be shipped back to Europe in a sea
container.
This is still a stupid Tim Weert-idea, but to make it possible I have only 3
preparation
years ahead. And the 451 nms above the Sea of Timor is also a very big
mental challenge for me personally. In those 3 years, a team might be formed
with a couple of Europa enthusiasts who have enough experience and share this
kind of dreams.
To reduce costs I am thinking to search for sponsoring by Airlines, Oil
companies,
Container/transport companies, television companies and companies like Red
Bull who regularly sponsor spectacular events. And dont forget Rotax, Europa
and more known aircraft part suppliers. Long range fuel tanks and additional
equipment
should be fitted! To make the risks acceptable the team needs additional
flight safety equipment for survival in the jungle, desert and sea after a
possible forced landing. And training with that equipment is a must as well.
May be the RAF or Dutch Air force might help. An home- Operations to supply
operational
support with weather, notams, flightplans, solve problems with overfly
permits, visa problems, logistic problems etc. will be a requirement as well.
Please shoot at this idea, only after a tough brainstorm session it might be
possible
or it might remain still a dream.
This might be the DOTH of all DOTHs!
Regards, Tim Weert.
#460 PH-JAI XS TG 914 AP332
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