RV-7A to Australia - Page 2

Masterplumber · #11 08-05-2007, 08:19 PM

For anyone still following this thread, Jon emailed me from Adelaide. Safe and sound.

rv9aviator · #12 08-05-2007, 08:36 PM

Great news! Thanks for the update.

JohnR · #13 08-05-2007, 09:13 PM

Glad to hear he made it safely!

Masterplumber · #14 08-06-2007, 09:24 PM

recent sighting! Long way from home.

http://www.jpkoonce.net/CIMG1856.JPG

Geico266 · #15 08-07-2007, 06:07 AM

That is really amazing. Sure would like to learn more about his navigation techniques & survival preperation.

frankh · #16 08-07-2007, 08:45 AM

1) At least 3 handeld GPS units with spare batteries.
2) Hope and pray the engine don't quit
3) Lots of fuel.
4) Autopilot

Any other rules...refer to 2 above. As a certain Vans employee said to me once.."Hmm, well if the engine quits you might as well point it straight down at the ocean...At least it will be quick!"

Frank 7a

Flyrod · #17 08-07-2007, 09:14 PM

This was/is an interesting thread. thanks for sharing the fuel numbers with us. It was mentioned that Jon had talked with people that have ditched in the ocean before. I am wondering if any of them were in RVs? Has anyone seen or heard of an RV ditching and water? What was the outcome? I would think that fixed gear and water landings are not a good combination.

Laird · #18 08-07-2007, 09:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flyrod

I am wondering if any of them were in RVs? Has anyone seen or heard of an RV ditching and water? What was the outcome? I would think that fixed gear and water landings are not a good combination.

I know of an RV-8 that had an engine issue and landed off the Kauai coast..... immediately flipped over. There is written story about it somewhere. He got out and was picked up a short time later.

briand · #19 08-08-2007, 08:32 AM

Portable oxygen tank and SCUBA training would go a long ways. Once the plane is filled with water you could open the canopy. Or before you ditch you could break the canopy with one of those Harbor Freight canopy crackers. Maybe. Mythbusters used one on glass and it shattered instantly. If someone has a throw-away/cracked canopy maybe they could do their own little Mythbusting.

BTW, I would not point it straight down.

Masterplumber · #20 08-08-2007, 08:49 PM

Since it was my little homebuilt plane he was planning on flying, I spent more than a little time discussing this with him. My anxiety titer was sky high.
He plans on a ditch and is pleased when he doesn't. He has a very elegant vest that he wears at all times in the flight, with all his survival gear attached. It includes a one man life raft and ELT with built in GPS reporting. It was easy to imagine a complete flip with sinking upside down, jamming a tip up canopy. He is fully prepared for this scenario, as well as several others I never even imagined.
I'm suspicious that most of us flying night VFR are less likely to survive an engine failure than he over the ocean, yet many of us do this fairly often. This ferry pilot business is very professional.