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08-27-2016, 02:57 AM
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Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Hong Kong
Posts: 153
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B-KOO RTW
Hi VAF folks,
This post is long overdue, I have been mega-busy preparing B-KOO for her round the world (RTW) journey, and I am finally ready.
Since her first flight in Nov 2015, we spent 6 months trying to get approval to flight test in Hong Kong but failed. We then dissembled the aircraft and air freight it to Queensland, Australia, under a new registration "VH-FSX". After 40 hours of flight test, I did a trial flight to Adelaide and met up with Jon Johanson, the man who inspired me to build my own RV and fly it around the world. The aircraft yield an amazing 23 litres/hour at 45% at 135kts, thanks to Catto. With this figure, I work out I can fly for 19 hours non-stop with bladder tank installed.
I ferried the aircraft back to Hong Kong in 7 days, route via Birdsville and Broome in Australia. First international and overwater segment to Bali, Indonesia, then to Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia, to Clark, Philippines, and finally home at Hong Kong.
The Hong Kong Civil Aviation Department allow the plane to re-register to B-KOO, upon completion, it will be the first "B" registered aircraft flies around the world. We are departing Hong Kong tomorrow, route via Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, Australia, Vanuatu, American Samoa, Kiribati, Hawaii, Conus, Canada, Greenland, Iceland, England, France, Italy, Greece, Jordan, Bahrain, Oman, Pakistan, India, Thailand, China then Hong Kong.
If any VAF members around, I would love to visit you guys! I will try my best to update you as I go. At this stage, the plan is as followed (U.S.):
September 14 - 16 Hilo, HI
16 - 18 KSQL
18 KJAQ and KSAC
19 KSAC to KUAO
20 KUAO
21 KUAO to KBFI/KPAE
22 - 23 Seattle Area
24 KBFI to KRAP (or vicinity)
25 KRAP (or vicinity)
26 KRAP to KOSH (or vicinity)
27 KOSH to Toronto
28 Toronto to KCDW
29-30 KCDW
01OCT KCDW - Boston - North East U.S. for departure to Canada.
Hope I get a chance to meet some of you enroute!
__________________
Hank Cheng
RV8 Super Slow Build Kit
Titan IOX360, Catto 3 Blades RV prop, Full Dynon everything + Garmin GTN650
First RV in Hong Kong
First Homebuilt aircraft registered in Hong Kong "B-KOO"
Completed RTW journey in 2016
Built with a group of High School Students
Aircraft donated to the Hong Kong Science Museum
In memory of Michael Tam
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08-27-2016, 03:12 AM
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Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Hong Kong
Posts: 153
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Photos of Ferry Flight from Australia to Hong Kong

All packed ready to go.

Australia is BIG! Takes two days to fly across. First stop after 6 hours flight: Birdsville. The hotel is literally across the apron, 30 seconds walk. You get beer and AVGAS at the bar.

Not too lonely with a couple of Cessnas to keep her companied.

I FLEW TO BIRDSVILLE

A very Aussie pub

A map of Australia at the pub. In the middle of the map, it's full of warnings "No water, no gas, no civilisation"

Leaving Birdsville

Over the "Simpson Desert"

For this and the upcoming RTW journey, we have an operation center in Hong Kong, tracking the aircraft in real time and sends updated weather information to the RV.
__________________
Hank Cheng
RV8 Super Slow Build Kit
Titan IOX360, Catto 3 Blades RV prop, Full Dynon everything + Garmin GTN650
First RV in Hong Kong
First Homebuilt aircraft registered in Hong Kong "B-KOO"
Completed RTW journey in 2016
Built with a group of High School Students
Aircraft donated to the Hong Kong Science Museum
In memory of Michael Tam
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08-27-2016, 03:35 AM
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Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Hong Kong
Posts: 153
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Ferry Flight pHotos

These are Wallaby, not Kangaroo. I learnt that when I was a kid watching "Rocko's Modern Life" at Nickelodeon

GULP GULP GULP at Broome International

Fat boy took up the backseat completely. CG is a tricky business with Fat boy, need to load carefully and put weight in the front to keep it within the envelope, easiest way is not load it completely full as I rarely need 66 gallons + wing tanks.

First water crossing completed! Landed at Bali, Indonesia. Rather straight forward, tropical weather with daily rain storm after 2pm (we landed at 1:30pm)

Best Satay I ever had!

Taking off from Bali to Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia. Crossing the ITCZ was a challenge, weather everywhere! I had to deviate, climb, descent, and at one point, turn around to avoid CBs. Sunrise was beautiful

You start to take notice where the ships are when you flying over the ocean. Note on the iPad where they are in case things goes wrong.

This is the type of CBs I had to avoid, and they are everywhere!

Finally, landed in Kota Kinabalu after 6.5 hours, greeted by Dragonair ground staff, who are super helpful and even took me out for dinner that evening.
__________________
Hank Cheng
RV8 Super Slow Build Kit
Titan IOX360, Catto 3 Blades RV prop, Full Dynon everything + Garmin GTN650
First RV in Hong Kong
First Homebuilt aircraft registered in Hong Kong "B-KOO"
Completed RTW journey in 2016
Built with a group of High School Students
Aircraft donated to the Hong Kong Science Museum
In memory of Michael Tam
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08-27-2016, 03:36 AM
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Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Hong Kong
Posts: 153
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Part 3

Sunrise over Kota Kinabalu, beautiful and stunning! MSA here is around 13000'

Landed in Clark, Philippines. Refuelling out of barrels of fuel was a challenge with a broken hand pump under the sun. Need to finish this before heat stroke. Note to self: bring hat and fuel pump.

Gary here flew in from Hong Kong to help out, it's a warm fuzzy feeling to have someone you know.

Never get bore with the sight. Final leg from RPLC to VHHH

Was able to hear Hong Kong Radar control 250nm out. It's great to hear their voice. I was cleared to 2000' 100nm out, and then down to 1000' just south of Hong Kong.

Great to be home!

Colin Parker, a CX captain and a professional photographer, snap this for me. I had to look real hard to spot myself.
__________________
Hank Cheng
RV8 Super Slow Build Kit
Titan IOX360, Catto 3 Blades RV prop, Full Dynon everything + Garmin GTN650
First RV in Hong Kong
First Homebuilt aircraft registered in Hong Kong "B-KOO"
Completed RTW journey in 2016
Built with a group of High School Students
Aircraft donated to the Hong Kong Science Museum
In memory of Michael Tam
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08-27-2016, 08:38 AM
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Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Zurich, Switzerland
Posts: 466
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good luck on your journey and keep us updated with pics and reports!
and great job with cutting all the red tape! persistence paying off :-)
__________________
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Bernie Daenzer, Alex Lichtensteiger
www.flyvans.com
RV-7A
S/N 72072, Flying!
HB-YMT (Switzerland)
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08-27-2016, 10:40 AM
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Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Utah
Posts: 8,151
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Nice job ferrying Hank! I will try to intercept you here Sept 29-30 on your US leg. 
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08-27-2016, 10:41 AM
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Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Redwood City, CA
Posts: 98
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SQL visit
Exciting!
Glad to see you'll be stopping over in San Carlos, CA. I'll be happy to get you in to a hangar for your stay, help out if you need any services, oil change, etc. while you're there. PM or email me at gblanck _at_ blancks.com
__________________
Greg Blanck
RV-8 Completed March 2014
Redwood City, CA
RV-8 Build Log
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08-27-2016, 02:16 PM
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Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Brisbane, Australia
Posts: 77
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Looking forward to seeing you next week in Queensland Hank.
Very best wishes,
R
(You should post the URL to your excellent website so the folks here can track your real-time progress.)
__________________
VAF # 1565, builder 82841.
RV-8. Showplanes and Todd's canopy. Sam James cowl.
Aero Sport Power IO-375 & WWA 74RV.
First flight 30 August 2018
Brisbane.
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08-28-2016, 10:24 AM
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Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Kennesaw GA
Posts: 141
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Great!
Wow, great post and great adventure. 
I hope someone gets an air-to-air of you and Vlad.
__________________
Restored and Flying '58 C-180A
Retired Vietnam Marine
2017 dues paid
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08-29-2016, 09:04 AM
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Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Garden City, Tx
Posts: 5,147
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Wow, awesome photos!
Please post your US plans, I know there are several folks would like to meet up with you, myself included.
__________________
Greg Niehues - SEL, IFR, Repairman Cert.
Garden City, TX VAF 2020 dues paid 
N16GN flying 700 hrs and counting; IO360, SDS, WWRV200, Dynon HDX, 430W
Built an off-plan RV9A with too much fuel and too much HP. Should drop dead any minute now.
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