FORM FOR CONFIRMATION OF ROUND THE WORLD FLIGHTS
Pilot(s) name(s)
Squadron Leader Tony Cowan, Chipmunk Pilot
Squadron Leader Ced Hugues, Chipmunk Pilot
Squadron Leader Bill Purchase, Chipmunk Pilot
Squadron Leader Tony Severs, Chipmunk Pilot
(Royal Air Force Military Pilots)
Other crew/passengers who completed the full circumnavigation:
First name: David
Surname: Gill
(Engineer, Hunting Contract Services)
Other crew/passengers who completed part of the journey:
First name: Steve
Surname: Kirtley
(Cadet warrant Officer, Air Training Corps)
Leg(s) flown: RAF Cranwell- Warsaw
First name: Steve
Surname: Spencer
Corporal (RAF)
Leg(s) flown: RAF Cranwell- Moscow
First name: Yurl
Surname: Vostrocknutov
Russian Air Force Navigator
Leg(s) flown: Pskov-Anadyr
First name: Phillip
Surname: Owen
Public Relations and Fund Raiser
Leg(s) flown: Eielson Air Base Alaska- Toronto
First name: John
Surname: Dale
Flight Lieutenant and Photographer
Leg(s) flown: Toronto-Keflavik
Nation: British
Class of Aircraft: (single, twin, homebuilt, helicopter, ultra light, balloon…)
Chipmunk=Single
Islander=Twin engine
Brand: (i.e.: Beechcraft):
Chipmunk= DH1
Islander
Registration:
Chipmunks= WP 833 and WP 962
Islander= G-PASU
Route (Eastbound, Westbound, via the Poles): Eastbound through Russia
How did you cross the Atlantic Ocean (North, Centre, South)? North
How did you cross the Pacific Ocean (North, Centre, South)? North
Date of departure: May 20, 1997
Point of departure: RAF Cranwell
Date of return to point of departure: July 21, 1997
Point of return: RAF Cranwell
Duration: (days): 63
Duration: (flying hours): 168 hrs 50 mns
Distance flown: 16,322 NM
How many overnight stops did you make? : 37
How many any additional refuelling stops, if any? : 28
How many countries did you visit (count only where overnighted)? : 8
Means of communication used: HF Radio, sat telephone, e-mail by HF radio, other? :
Chipmunks: VHF only
islander: VHF, HF, Satcom
Flight clearances: did you obtain them all, or part of them, yourself? : No
If not, which company did you use?: Standard RAF military clearances through NATO countries, Poland, Lithuania, latvia, Estonia and Russia through RAF Flighf planning and military ataaches within country.
Which insurance company did you use? : None
Which was the easiest country or region that you flew through? : North America
Which was the most difficult? : Russia
Which was the best airport you landed at? : Eielsen Air Base USA
Which was the worst? : Tomtor, Russia
Have you applied for the FAI Circumnavigator Badge/Are you thinking of doing so? : No
Have you set or broken any records during your RTW? : No
Did you create a Website about your flight? If so, what is the URL? No
General remarks about your flight:
This was not a genuine around the world flight but was in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Chipmunk which frirst flew in May1946. With a maximum range of only 450 to 500 NM ( with an extra 24 gallons tank in the rear cockpit), we planned the route to keep within this distance. Long sea crossings were not feasible but this was the longest distabce ever covered by a Chipmunk overland or sea/ Visiting the De haviland Factory in Toronto, the birthplace of thr Chipmunk, was one of the main objectives and it was also hoped to blaze a route for light aircraft to follow Russia to North America.
WP833, in RAF service since 19 August 1952, hours flown 15,590 with 28,193 landings logged.
WP962, in RAF sevice since 3 january 1953, hours flown 12,196 with 28,030 landings logged.
Availablity of suitable fuel in Russia was always a problem. Flying 2 rugged Chipmunks proved to be a bonus and we user motor fuel of questionable quality on seceral occasions. More modern engine would not have coped with this fuel. The Russian 'Green Fuel' or B91 was of very high lead content and we were forced to change 58 plugds between Pskov and Providenya Bay to keep the engines running! Food and accomodation in Russia was, in most cases, pretty primitive and we did not have a shower for the last 8 days in Russia before crossing the Bering Strait to Alaska.
Advice to other pilots:
If you fly through Russia, take a turbo-prop!! And you will need a lots of hard currency to keep going. bribes work!!
Please indicate here if you agree that we may use the information contained here on the Earthrounders website: Yes
Database Flight Number: 159
Squadron Leader Tony Cowan, Chipmunk Pilot
Squadron Leader Ced Hugues, Chipmunk Pilot
Squadron Leader Bill Purchase, Chipmunk Pilot
Squadron Leader Tony Severs, Chipmunk Pilot
(Royal Air Force Military Pilots)
Other crew/passengers who completed the full circumnavigation:
First name: David
Surname: Gill
(Engineer, Hunting Contract Services)
Other crew/passengers who completed part of the journey:
First name: Steve
Surname: Kirtley
(Cadet warrant Officer, Air Training Corps)
Leg(s) flown: RAF Cranwell- Warsaw
First name: Steve
Surname: Spencer
Corporal (RAF)
Leg(s) flown: RAF Cranwell- Moscow
First name: Yurl
Surname: Vostrocknutov
Russian Air Force Navigator
Leg(s) flown: Pskov-Anadyr
First name: Phillip
Surname: Owen
Public Relations and Fund Raiser
Leg(s) flown: Eielson Air Base Alaska- Toronto
First name: John
Surname: Dale
Flight Lieutenant and Photographer
Leg(s) flown: Toronto-Keflavik
Nation: British
Class of Aircraft: (single, twin, homebuilt, helicopter, ultra light, balloon…)
Chipmunk=Single
Islander=Twin engine
Brand: (i.e.: Beechcraft):
Chipmunk= DH1
Islander
Registration:
Chipmunks= WP 833 and WP 962
Islander= G-PASU
Route (Eastbound, Westbound, via the Poles): Eastbound through Russia
How did you cross the Atlantic Ocean (North, Centre, South)? North
How did you cross the Pacific Ocean (North, Centre, South)? North
Date of departure: May 20, 1997
Point of departure: RAF Cranwell
Date of return to point of departure: July 21, 1997
Point of return: RAF Cranwell
Duration: (days): 63
Duration: (flying hours): 168 hrs 50 mns
Distance flown: 16,322 NM
How many overnight stops did you make? : 37
How many any additional refuelling stops, if any? : 28
How many countries did you visit (count only where overnighted)? : 8
Means of communication used: HF Radio, sat telephone, e-mail by HF radio, other? :
Chipmunks: VHF only
islander: VHF, HF, Satcom
Flight clearances: did you obtain them all, or part of them, yourself? : No
If not, which company did you use?: Standard RAF military clearances through NATO countries, Poland, Lithuania, latvia, Estonia and Russia through RAF Flighf planning and military ataaches within country.
Which insurance company did you use? : None
Which was the easiest country or region that you flew through? : North America
Which was the most difficult? : Russia
Which was the best airport you landed at? : Eielsen Air Base USA
Which was the worst? : Tomtor, Russia
Have you applied for the FAI Circumnavigator Badge/Are you thinking of doing so? : No
Have you set or broken any records during your RTW? : No
Did you create a Website about your flight? If so, what is the URL? No
General remarks about your flight:
This was not a genuine around the world flight but was in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Chipmunk which frirst flew in May1946. With a maximum range of only 450 to 500 NM ( with an extra 24 gallons tank in the rear cockpit), we planned the route to keep within this distance. Long sea crossings were not feasible but this was the longest distabce ever covered by a Chipmunk overland or sea/ Visiting the De haviland Factory in Toronto, the birthplace of thr Chipmunk, was one of the main objectives and it was also hoped to blaze a route for light aircraft to follow Russia to North America.
WP833, in RAF service since 19 August 1952, hours flown 15,590 with 28,193 landings logged.
WP962, in RAF sevice since 3 january 1953, hours flown 12,196 with 28,030 landings logged.
Availablity of suitable fuel in Russia was always a problem. Flying 2 rugged Chipmunks proved to be a bonus and we user motor fuel of questionable quality on seceral occasions. More modern engine would not have coped with this fuel. The Russian 'Green Fuel' or B91 was of very high lead content and we were forced to change 58 plugds between Pskov and Providenya Bay to keep the engines running! Food and accomodation in Russia was, in most cases, pretty primitive and we did not have a shower for the last 8 days in Russia before crossing the Bering Strait to Alaska.
Advice to other pilots:
If you fly through Russia, take a turbo-prop!! And you will need a lots of hard currency to keep going. bribes work!!
Please indicate here if you agree that we may use the information contained here on the Earthrounders website: Yes
Database Flight Number: 159