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-   -   RV-12 to Hawaii ??? (https://vansairforce.net/community/showthread.php?t=103422)

funflying 08-22-2013 04:22 PM

kitfox
 
A friend of mine who flys a Kitfox has landed in every State in the US to include Alaska. He was trying to get a sponsor to fund shipping his Kitfox to Hawaii so he could "fly the islands" and add them to his log books.

He did the research too and shipping was the best way to get there. Ultimately, the sponsorship fell through but he is still interested in going if the opportunity presents itself.

TS Flightlines 08-22-2013 04:36 PM

Hey Craig----how about a workshop trailer to Australia?
Tom

ccsmith51 08-22-2013 04:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by funflying (Post 800411)
<snip> A friend of mine who flys a Kitfox has landed in every State in the US to include Alaska. <snip>

Now that is something!! I have done that commercially. Perhaps that is a bucket list item for my RV-4!! Thanks for the idea!! :)

John Clark 08-22-2013 05:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MarkW (Post 800392)
Headwinds are very strong on the route going.

The wind is the problem in this exercise. Relying on the forecast wind for a 20+ hour trip is a real gamble. I have a friend, a pro ferry pilot, that took a new Air Tractor to Australia some years ago. With seemingly plenty of fuel, he turned around on the first leg SBA to HNL, at something around 8 hours, the actual wind was going to put him about 75 miles short.

John Clark ATP, CFI
FAAST Team Representative
EAA Flight Advisor
RV8 N18U "Sunshine"
KSBA

DennisRhodes 08-22-2013 06:45 PM

There are pro ferry pilots who take new Air Tractor 802s to Australia via Hawaii quite a bit. I met one at the AT factory who directed a flight of two new 802s back across about 8 months ago, looks like his method was to install hi freq radio gear, take at least two portable GPS with extra batteries. and a Kindle. oh and it also require the hopper filled with about 1000 gal of ferry jet fuel. Quite an interesting gentleman. Maybe some of the AT folks will round out this story.

RFSchaller 08-22-2013 08:29 PM

I once ended up treading water in a big lake as a result of a seaplane mishap. The consequences of going into the Pacific are beyond anything I would risk.

craigvince 08-22-2013 11:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TS Flightlines (Post 800416)
Hey Craig----how about a workshop trailer to Australia?
Tom

Yep! We can do that! :D

pierre smith 08-23-2013 04:44 AM

Yep
 
Air Tractors are always ferried to any point on earth, using the hopper as a fuel tank. My 502 holds 500 gallons and at 42 GPH, equates to 12 hours, plus another 226 in the wings gives around 17 hours duration.

Just because Van says XXX lbs for gross weight, doesn't mean that you're limited to that number. I'd guess that the -12 would get airborne carrying 300 lbs more than that...you just have to incrementally get to that point.

Jon in Oz had 300 lbs of fuel in the back seat of his -4 for repeated round-the-world flights, going east and west, plus full wingtips, for around 18 hours duration, on 160 hp.

Best,

DonFromTX 08-23-2013 07:10 AM

Interesting concept! I just had never thought about using a Dusty Crophopper as a long distance touring machine before. Built in long distance tanks.

Flyer68 08-23-2013 09:38 AM

Flight to Hawaii
 
Google the airplane factory. They are in So Africa and build the "Sling." The flew it around the world with the same engine. The trip included a leg from LA to Hawaii.


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