COMANCHES ON THE FLY

TRANSATLANTIC ADVENTURERS STAY IN TOUCH

On April 12, 2003, Karl Hipp and John Van Bladeren are scheduled to lift off from Paonia, Colorado to begin a transoceanic round trip flight from mid-America to the western part of Europe.

They will be using Karl's "D" Model Twin Comanche--as he calls it--a well-equipped 1967 PA-30-B Miller conversion with IO-360 200 hp engines and Rajay turbos. It has Miller nacelles, an extended nose with baggage compartment, heated props, deice boots, tip tanks and an extra 100 gallon cabin tank.  Total fuel capacity is 298 gallons.

N8256Y will carry them to St. John's, Newfoundland as the jumping off point for their longest leg; 1,685 nautical miles across the Atlantic to Shannon, Ireland.  After a couple of days in England, it will then be on to France, Portugal, Spain, and the Netherlands before returning home.

Along the way, Karl and John promise to stay in touch by sending their daily flight log and pictures for us to share their adventure.  We can see up-to-the-minute reports each day at Comanchepilot.com. 

Daily postings of en route progress and experiences will be a new first. The trip has been meticulously planned and the itinerary is shown below.

Monday, April 14, posting of the reports begins, and you are invited to check in often.

FLIGHT PLAN – N8256Y

Date Depart    Destination Distance 12-Apr Sat Paonia 7V2 Oshkosh OSH  910 Oshkosh OSH No. Maine  PQI  878 13-Apr Sun No. Maine PQI St John's CYYT  625 14-Apr Mon St John's CYYT Shannon EINN  1685 15-Apr Tue Shannon EINN Blackbushe EGLK  309 18-Apr Fri Blackbushe EGLK Macon LFLM  375 21-Apr Mon Macon LFLM Chambery LFLB  60 22-Apr Tue Chambery LFLB Avignon LFMB       112 24-Apr Thu Avignon LFMB     Porto LPPR  620 26-Apr Sat Porto LPPR San Sebastion LESO  331 28-Apr Mon San Sebastion LESO Bordeaux LFBD  100 30-Apr Wed Bordeaux LFBD La Rochelle 2-May Fri La Rochelle Lelystad EHLE  519 4-May Sun Lelystad EHLE Blackbushe EGLK  245 5-May Mon Blackbushe EGLK Reykjavik BIRK  1013 7-May Wed Reykjavik BIRK St. John's CYYT  1334 8-May Thu St. John's CYYT Sault St. Marie KCIU  1017 9-May Fri Sault St. Marie KCIU Paonia  7V2  1112 TOTAL NM = =SUM(ABOVE) 11245

 

TRACK THE FLIGHT:  http://www.skyconnect.aero/TRACKER/real-time-tracking-main.htm

FLIGHT PROGRESS:

April 10, Thursday - (Report Number 1, 2 & 3)

April 14, Monday – (Report Number 4)

April 15, Tuesday - (Report Number 5)

April 17, Thursday - (Report Number 6)

April 22, Tuesday - (Report Number 7)

April 23, Wednesday - (Report Number 8)

April 24, Thursday - (Report Number 9)

April 25, Friday - (Report Number 10)

April 27, Sunday - (Report Number 11)

April 28, Monday - (Report Number 12)

April 29, Tuesday - (Report Number 13)

May 2, Friday - (Report Number 14)

May 3, Saturday - (Report Number 15)

May 5, Monday - (Report Number 16)

May 7, Wednesday - (Report Number 17)

May 8, Thursday - (Report Number 18)

May 9, Friday - (Final Report)

EPILOG