Cape Challenge (RV-7) is underway

Limey9a · #1 08-31-2010, 02:55 AM

Steve Noujaim took off from Southend (EGMC) England at 04:28z and at 09:50z is overhead Mallorca.

Click on the map for live satellite tacking from his RV7:

http://www.capechallenge.com/index.php

Steve

[Edited to fix URL]

flybynight · #2 08-31-2010, 05:00 AM

So far so good on this exciting venture! I'm hoping to be able to welcome Steve back to the UK on Friday afternoon after breaking the record (UK-Capetown-UK) that has stood since 1939. You can go straight to the tracking site on www.followsteve.co.za
Tom Storey
RV9 G-CDXT

bkthomps · #3 08-31-2010, 10:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Limey9a

Steve Noujaim took off from Southend England at 04:28z and at 09:50z is overhead Mallorca.

Click on the map for live satellite tacking from his RV7:

http://www.capechallenge.com/

Steve

link is bad

try this

http://www.followsteve.co.za/

shuttle · #4 08-31-2010, 11:34 AM

About 13hrs in and Steve has just crossed the border from Algeria into Niger at 9,600ft doing 160kt.
Amazing to think he's doing this in essentially the same plane that's in my garage. So glad I'm building a -7.

shuttle · #5 08-31-2010, 04:39 PM

22:31z. About 17hr 50mins in.
Just left Nigeria behind and entered Cameroon. 6 deg 41' north of the equator
176kt GS at 13,300ft in the African night

shuttle · #6 09-01-2010, 04:13 AM

10:06z 1st Sep. About 29hr 45 min in.
Just crossed over the border from Angola into Namibia. 17 deg 34' south of the equator
164kt GS at 10,100ft

jbDC9 · #7 09-01-2010, 06:48 AM

Cool stuff... does anyone know what kind of extra fuel capacity he has? I've looked at his site and blog and see a big tank in the right seat, but no fuel capacities listed. Just curious about what kind of endurance he has there. Ya think he brought along a pee bottle??

pierre smith · #8 09-01-2010, 07:46 AM

....in Tamaransset, Algeria!! Even not quite full, that'd be 250 gallons

or 25 hours of endurance, or 1500# of fuel, which I don't believe a -7 could lift.

Something's not quite right but he flew 10 hours or so, on the first leg.

The airplane was built specifically for this challenge, so I'd imagine a Gosport tube was built in as well.

Best,

skylor · #9 09-01-2010, 08:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pierre smith

....in Tamaransset, Algeria!! Even not quite full, that'd be 250 gallons

or 25 hours of endurance, or 1500# of fuel, which I don't believe a -7 could lift.

Something's not quite right but he flew 10 hours or so, on the first leg.

The airplane was built specifically for this challenge, so I'd imagine a Gosport tube was built in as well.

Best,

He probably expects to take 125 gallons for EACH stop there (1 up and 1 down).

flybynight · #10 09-01-2010, 10:58 AM

Excellent feat! 6,000 miles in 35 hours in an RV7. He's already been the equivalent of New York to San Francisco and back and now he's going to turn round and complete the journey back to London.

Steve has been working to beat the 'Henshaw Challenge' for 10 years of flying from London to Cape Town and back quicker than Alex Hensaw did it it the Percival Mew Gull in 1939 and so far its looking good.
Tom
RV9 G-CDXT