Tony

* FLASH! SUPERFLASH!! * TONY HEADS BACK ACROSS THE PACIFIC!! * "Tansonnhut airport information Echo, 0502 zulu weather. Winds 130 at 3. Visibility 150 [RUBBISH!!!!]. Sky condition: few clouds at 1600, ceiling 4100 broken. Temperature 28. Dewpoint: 27. Altimeter 2983. ILS runway 25 right approach in use. Landing and departing runway 25 right......" I actually did quite well yesterday, eventually making Johnson Island, (where I overnighted.) I got away from Johnson shortly after 8:00am on an IFR plan to Wake and then Guam, (where I expect to overnight.) Old Shaky is in a low level cruise at 2000ft and is (just) abiding by the 250K speed limit. *

* Neither sleet nor snow, nor dark of night - can keep our Kiwi Ace from taking those LONG over-ocean flights. * Rumor has it that Tony is carrying 3,000 cases of beer with him. He can't drink THAT much beer on his trip, and anyway, if he's got that much beer, why isn't he bringing it to Bloomington? His Cargo remains a MYSTERY! * SUPERFLASH!!!! * TONY ACCEPTS CHALLENGE FROM SAEED! * Tony forges ahead: This received at VP Headquarters at 18Z 10-6-2003: * TONY MAKES IT TO KBMG, THEN HEADS FOR CALIFORNIA *

* Home and away I have just arrived back in Bloomington after my trial flight out to Vietnam in the company DC-8. Unlike the outbound trip, I was in darkness quite a bit of the way. The trip from Honolulu to Bloomington took eight hours and six minutes and used 47% of total fuel on board. It was very dark upon my arrival back at Bloomington, (I had hoped that Jim would have left the hangar lights on for me, but I guess that's my own fault for not dropping him an e-mail when I left Honolulu?) An interesting place Vietnam. I'm heading back there with another load in another Douglas (Air Force 21013....a C-124C.) I write this from Travis Air Force Base, (where I landed after a five hour 47 minute flight from Monroe County.) I'll check over the payload here and I might just take a UH-1 in the cargo hold, (along with Saeed's shipment.) We must be due to hear from him soon? Got to move. See you soon. Tony NZDN TRULY, TONY IS A TIRELESS FLIER! * We hope he has a legal lease to that C-124C! * Previously: * SAEED ISSUES CHALLENGE! * THE FOLLOWING WAS RECEIVED 20Z 10-1-2003 at VP HEADQUARTERS: * Zis looks like a job for Val-U-Prop? I haf received received and request for ten tons of "goods" to be flown from ze U.S.A. to VVBM. Can Val-U-Prop help here? I haf tried all ze major airlines, but zey vould not help. I could get Illyushin IL-14 to do ze job, but I see ze Val-U-Prop fleet ez quite suitable for ze job. * (READ ABOUT SAEED'S SUDDEN ARRIVAL AT KBMG BELOW)

Saeed. * TO WHICH OUR KIWI ACE REPLIES: * A long haul? NO PROBLEM!!! I'm a starter. The field is Buonmathuot, (try typing that without looking it up.) Val-U-Prop does have a suitable aircraft, (the DC-8-61, for those that downloaded it before the lease was abruptly terminated.) I am familiar with that route in general, (having previously flown the old "PACMAC" route from KSUU to VVTS (via PHNL, PJON or PWAK and PGUA), in everything that the USAF used on the route during the Vietnam war. The DC-8 will do it with just one stop (PHNL) For those unable to use the Val-U-Prop DC-8, you could lease a suitable aircraft from another carrier, (such as United.) Tony (NZDN) * AND TONY IS OFF AGAIN! *

* First leg I left KBMG in N8084U at 12:08Z on the first leg of this appointed task. This was a 4010nm flight to PHNL. I selected FL350 as the cruise level and Mach .80. By the time I had completed the ILS and taxied in, almost ten hours had elapsed since leaving KBMG. I was three hours nineteen behind the plan, but only used 47511 litres of fuel, (against the planned 53165 litres.) It was originally my intention to land at Tan Son Nhut and ferry the goods by UH-1 (also carried in the DC-8), but I see that N8084U doesn't have a cargo door. I have decided instead to route directly to VVBM, (a distance of 5341.9nm). I am just listening to the ATIS, (getting warmer...28C) Will crank up shortly. Tony * BUT WHAT GOODS CAN HE BE CARRYING??? * FLASH! COCONUT IS OFF AGAIN! * Our audacious Kiwi, Tony Wilson has begun a trans-continental flight. His logbook reads: * My latest offering. While journeying home from London, I felt compelled to visit Flight Simulator's most famous airport. Merrill C Meigs. Airbourne off this wonderful field in a Cessna 207 (N6388H), my first stop was Fargo. Flightplanning via VORs, this first leg was 497.2nm and was flown in 4hrs 12min. I selected 5500ft as the cruise altitude. Next leg was Fargo to Great Falls. This covered 612nm and I dragged the old 207 up to 10500ft. This was flown in 5hrs 15min. Great Falls to Boeing King County Field covered 445.7nm and the safe altitude was 14500ft. (What a struggle getting there!!!) This took 3hrs 54min. From Boeing Field it was northwards into Canada and CYZT in 2hrs 25min. From CYZT (Port Hardy) it was on to Yakutat (PAYA) in Alaska (682.7nm). My trusty 207 covered this in 5hrs and seven minutes. From Yakutat it is 335.6nm to Anchorage. At this moment, I have not yet flown this leg. But I'll keep you posted. The aircraft that I am using, has a published range of 474nm. Three of the legs flown so far are longer than this, so it was a case of throttling back, reducing the prop setting and leaning the mixture as soon as airbourne, (the IO-520's don't like pulling 2850 RPM for very long at all.) * NORTH TO ALASKA! *

* Hi guys, I left Yakutat real early and continued boring westwards towards Anchorage. Lots of cloud around and the latter part of the flight was above an overcast of 5000ft. (I was VFR of course.) The weather wasn't particularly wonderful at Anchorage, (...326/07, visibility 50 in rain, ceiling 700 Bkn, temperature 13 celcius...) I arrived in the morning rush hour and carried out a visual approach, (followed by a missed approach....not very current with Anchorage procedures, I haven't been there since I captained "Korean zero zero seven" across the Pacific some time ago.) You don't see much at night. Scott, sorry I overflew you on the way out. I stopped at Fargo to pick up my girlfriend. I'll see what I can do on the way back? A wee bit cold here in Anchorage. I have a final destination in mind for N6388H. Much warmer there, perhaps Jim can cart some beer there? (Two beers please Brian?) O.K. 88 Hotel is fuelled up, I'd better get going? Tony Tony: Don't worry about the beer. Got a 30-pack of Miller Genuine Draft for $9.99. Perhaps this explains why there was no flight plan yesterday . . . hic! JIM PS: Been to Fargo, there was this blonde named Kirsten . . . Let's not go there. *

* Hope this is a landing and not a take-off! * FLASH! TONY MAKES BUFFALO! * Crucial fuel shortage - only 6 gallons left!!! * Heading south again An early morning start at Stevens International (Anchorage) on a fairly short (remember that word) hop into a strip called 4AK3. A fairly restricted approach onto a (that word again) gravel strip. Grab some gas and off (the end of the runway) in N6388H getting airborne. (very hairy A high climb required to clear the mountains. Once again using the GPS to find CFP4. Not many facilities here either. The final leg for the day saw the last of the Rockies behind us on a 630nm flight to CYZF (Yellowknife.) The next leg was from CYZF to CZWH and was 445.5nm. CZWH to CKM8 was 519.8nm. CKM8 to KBUF was 744.8nm and brought me back into the U.S. I was cruising at 5500ft but eventually climbed to 9500ft as I was becoming concerned about the fuel. I landed at Buffalo with six gallons remaining. On each subsequent flight I was launching from the previous one and this has the effect of providing a culmulative tachometer reading. The aircraft will be due for a fifty hour check after the next flight. Tony * FROM BUFFALO THROUGH SAVANNAH TO MIAMI! * TONY IS ON THE MOVE! THIS IN AT 16.20Z 9-2-2003: * This day saw a departure from Buffalo in good time in the morning and a climb to 8500ft for the 660nm flight to Savannah. This was conducted in five hours twenty four minutes The fifty hour check was completed at Savannah and departure followed on the next leg to Miami in mid morning. This leg was flown at just 3500ft and passed quite close to Cape Canaveral, (I expected to get accosted for flying near there, but nothing happened.) The distance on this leg was 392nm. A two hour turn-around at Miami (Customs.) Three more legs to go. Where are we going? I'll fill you in very soon. (I have actually completed the flight at this moment, but I'll save the report for my next briefing.) Tony * Into the Bermuda Triangle! * I got away from Miami reasonably late in the afternoon (15:04 local) on a 582nm flight to Grand Turk (MBGT). For these sectors I was accompanied by a PA23-250 Aztec, (also flown by a pilot named Wilson.) I kept a fairly low cruise altitude of 2500ft on account of cloud and winds. I was conscious of the fact that I was going into the Bermuda Triangle...and, surprise, surprise, I DID see something unusual (an F4F4 Wildcat.) It was dark (just) when I arrived at Grand Turk....AND I "deadsticked" on to the runway. The Aztec had passed me. The next morning I got airborne at 06:54 on a 341nm flight to San Juan (TJSJ). This took exactly three hours. (The Aztec beat me.) The final leg. Earlier on I dropped a hint as to the final destination (Two beers, please Brian?) Did anyone get it? This is a 521nm flight and took four hours and five minutes. I landed there mid afternoon (and surprisingly, I beat the Aztec this time.) Upon landing, the tacho had recorded 67 hours since cranking at Meigs, (so long ago.) The weather at Barbados is not too bad, (skies clear, visibility unrestricted and temperature of 20C.) Here I found a Dc-3 registered N58008F. I suppose that Jim would like it brought back to KBMG? Tony * Way to go, Tony. Sure, bring that DC-3 up to KBMG - if you can get it cheap. * Tony Wilson Flying Around the World in 80 HOURS! *

* Having watched the movie "Around The World In Eighty Days", it has long been my ambition to do that in eighty hours. I have done that (five times). Three times in different Boeing 747s and twice in something "Out of this World"...a U.F.O. Well...I've been doing extensive flight testing in the Val-U-Prop DC-7 today and I believe that, yes, it can be done? Basically I leave London Heathrow at midnight (UTC), very important to use UTC time, as the flightlog goes out the window if you try using local times as you cross multiple time zones. To make a fair circumnavigation, it is necessary to travel the equivalent distance to the circumference of the Earth at equator. ie 21600nm. My proposal is to do it in 80 hours total elapsed time, from "Go" to "Whoa". That includes refuelling times. I expect that each refuelling would take perhaps fortyfive minutes? I haven't finalised the route here yet, as my previous route included a 4500nm leg, (just a wee bit much for our DC-7.) I am not sure of how many people we are carrying, but hopefully Jim will cart the beer in a support aircraft? * OK WE'LL BUY THE BEER! * THIS COMMUNICATION FROM TONY: * At midnight (UTC) or 01:00 (British Summer Time), I cranked up the Val-U-Prop DC-7 and taxied out, (from Heathrow), for departure on an IFR plan to Sheremetyevo (did I spell it right? ) This was conducted by reference to GPS, as the route planner felt that navaids on the said route were not in abundance. The distance is 1352nm and the flightplanner was confident that I could fly the sector in 3hrs 26. I wasn't and inspite of a favourable tailwind, the total elapsed time was 4hrs 49. Things became more difficult as I approached Moscow. While struggling to comply with ATC requirements, I took a little long to position on the requested heading. Bang...my IFR plan was terminated. Here I was loitering around at 1500ft in darkness and no idea of the ILS frequencies. Fortunately visibility was good and I positioned for a visual approach onto 25 (Left...I think.) My landing left a lot to be desired, (it was still pitch black outside.) Fuelled up and ready to go. Keep watching. Sorry that I couldn't supply a picture on this leg. It was dark and the Russian authorities didn't look too friendly. The next leg is the longest one of the entire trip. I'll keep you posted. * ON TO ASIA!! * One thing that I notice that going from west to east is that the daylight hours are shorter I am sitting at FL250, (I climbed direct to that level...a slow climb I might add.) I am keeping a very careful flight log and current calculations will see me arrive in Hong Kong (Kai Tak...thank you very much) with 39 minutes fuel reserve. During my cruise analysis, before leaving Heathrow, I calculated the absolute range as 3570nm. Sheremeteyevo to Chek Lap Kok is 3857.5nm, so I am on the edge of my seat. I am going to bust the midnight to 06:30 curfew, current ETA is 0152 (local). I was a little nervous further back, as I passed just east of the Himalayas, (I could have smacked into high ground without warning....it's very dark out there. Expect a picture from Hong Kong. I was 924nm away at my last position report. I am looking forward to hearing the Chinese controller with the ATIS, (unfortunately Microsoft didn't recruit him to do the job.) In keeping with my task, I'll be away from Kai Tak before daylight, but I'll bend the rules and get a daylight shot. * Kai Tak? I thought they closed that place???!! *

* GUESS NOT! * Sheremetyevo to Hong Kong is a long way, but I made it. The total flight time was 12hrs 45min and I used 5226 gals, (which left.....well.....not very much, calculations had 41 minutes fuel remaining. I didn't really get much time for drinkies here. With the pressure being on, our ground crew refuelled N53137 in twenty five minutes and I will be close to being off the ground on my next leg, (another long one...about 100nm shorter than the one just flown), by 19:00 (UTC). The destination on this one is Brisbane, Australia (YBBN). There isn't really any high ground to contend with here...and hopefully I see a bit more daylight from here on? The photo of the approach wasn't really very accurate, as it was very, very dark when I landed and I used Runway 31 for landing. Using supplied tips, I have established a "Tower view" atop Beacon Hill off runway 31. BUT the DC-7 doesn't climb very steep, I reccommend a turn after takeoff if using this runway. * HEADING TO AUSTRALIA (Into the clouds . . . ) *

* Well....here I am. I took off in darkness and after a very long day and into darkness again, I finally arrive at Brisbane. Winds were not particularly favourable, but during the last several hours, I was at last seeing a good groundspeed. The clock is ticking and upon landing at Brisbane, Thirty one hours 59 minutes had elapsed since cranking up at London Heathrow and I have covered 9037.7nm. Can I cover the remaining distance in time? I've just been doing calculations.....and they are very, very interesting. My average groundspeed so far has been 295.8K. No pictures this time as it is dark again, (I seem to be lord of the darkness?) * So, our Val-U-Propper disappears inot the turgid void . . lost to human sight . . . WILL HE MAKE IT??? AND IN 80 HOURS?? * SUPERFLASH!! STRANGE MESSAGES RECEIVED!! * THE FOLLOWING MESSAGES HAVE BEEN RECEIVED BY VAL-U-PROP: * I was very interested to hear of your member trying to fly around ze world. But he will fail. He is using Amerikan aeroplane. Amerikan aeroplanes are not successful, they are lies. His task is interesting though. I know that I can beat him. In fact I issue Amerikan pilot a challenge to fly around ze world in eighty hours. I have available for my use an Aeroflot Ilyushin IL-18D. I will prove to you that Russian aeroplane is better than Amerikan aeroplane. He will fail. How ez American pilot going? I have not heard from you. Have you given up? Is American pilot lost? I have Russian aeroplane ready to leave. I am in London. I can catch you. * WHO CAN THIS STRANGER BE?? * TONY RESPONDS TO CHALLENGE! HE WIRES: * The next leg of my journey will lead me to my home country (New Zealand), where I actually started out from so long ago, (Auckland), in the Val-U-Prop DC-6. In essence, I have done a complete circumnavigation. But the reality is that my task is to complete the circumnavigation in the DC-7. I see that I have a competitor, in the form of our newest member. I don't know much about his aircraft, but I believe that the DC-7 is a good ship and will win the race in total elapsed time. All the legs from here are shorter now. The last two legs (Shremetyevo-Kai Tak and Kai Tak-Brisbane) were really at the limit of the DC-7's range and should not be attempted without favourable winds. Perhaps the practicable range is only 3000nm? Tony * ASSURANCES FROM THE HOME OFFICE: Coconut: Don't worry about the rooskie - hasn't a chance. I have flown the DC-7 Coast to Coast in the USA - about 2150 NM and used only about half the gas. I am sure you can make 3000 NM with ease. The trick is to lean out the fuel as far as you can and still maintain good airspeed. Experiment with this - you should be able to get the fuel mixture pretty close to the bottom. If you die, Val-U-Prop will gladly pay the funeral expenses. JIM -------------- UH-OH!!! LOOKS LIKE TROUBLE! * 3000 miles? Hello Americans, I am coming too. Ilyushin RA75498 departed London at 0006 (two minutes before American aeroplane). I cruise at 7600 metres and 650 kilometres an hour. I will beat American pilot to Sheremetyevo. Saeed al-Sahaf * SAEED WHO??? . CAN IT BE???? *

* Greetings Komrads, I arrived at Moskva after flying for four hours twenty one minutes. Zis have groundspeed of 576 kilometres an hour. Does Douglas aeroplane go zat fast? I don't see Douglas aeroplane yet. Can I send pickture in? I zon't have address for zat. Too bad that I couldn't find suitable aeroplane in Iraq before I left. I will fit extra fuel tank and leave for Hong Kong soon. * WELL!! THINGS ARE GETTING INTERESTING!!!! *

* SAEED'S ILYUSHIN * Apparently after being rejecting for arrest by US Forces, Saeed has escaped to Russia where he no doubt has many friends. Will he overtake Tony in our DC-7? Or will he be losin' in his Ilushyan??? AND! Just where IS TONY??? * FLASH!!! * TONY LANDS AT AUCKLAND!!! * AVIATOR FEARED MISSING - OR WORSE - AT THE HANDS OF SAEED!! * I had quite good tailwind on this leg and landed at Auckland at 12:25 (UTC). I will have to keep moving though as I still have six legs to fly and time is ticking on. 36 hours 25 have elapsed since engine crank at Heathrow. My next stop is Nadi (Fiji) and at 1162.3nm, is the shortest leg. I gotta go now, I hope to be off the ground by 13:00 (UTC). I'll give you a call from Nadi (NFFN) * Just saying hello from Fiji. Once again I had to cheat and take a daylight photo. Touch down at Nadi was 16:47 (UTC)...in darkness of course. I anticipate a thirty minute turn around before heading off across the dateline. My next stop is Honolulu. Here's the photo taken six hours after it really was. Tony * WELL! Tony has made contact! And he's safe! Only a thirty minute turn-around and then on to Honolulu. Better get gas (and beer) Tony! * BUT! WHERE IS SAEED, THE COMMIE COMPETITOR???? * WELL! TONY IS STILL HANGING IN THERE? BUT CAN HIS DC-7 OUTPACE THE FASTER ILYUSHIN??? * WILL HE MAKE IT? *

* THIS RECEIVED AT 21Z 6-19-2003: A vee note to advise that I am currently flying from Hong Kong to Brisbane.I have pikture of aeroplane approaching Hong Kong. Zis is different aeroplane from RA-75498 as dat aeroplane was FS98 aeroplane dat would display with Windows 2000, but not XP. Replacement aeroplane is Cubana IL-18D (FS2000). Will report Brisbane. * WHEN LAST HEARD FROM SAEED WAS IN TROUBLE: * MORE STRANGE MESSAGES RECEIVED FROM SAEED!! * Iraqi Muscovite in difficulty! This just in: Kazan Centre, Romeo Alpha 75498, returning to Seremetyevo...technical difficulties. Currently 677 kilometres east of Moscow at 6300 metres. * HAS THE CAT ROM IRAQ CACKED??? IS HE LOSIN' IN HIS ILYUSHIN??? * WHILE TONY PRESSES ON! * I got away from Nadi alright before dawn at 17:21 (UTC), ie 41hrs 21min after cranking at Heathrow. Estimated elapsed time on this leg is 8hrs 41min. I've had a close encounter. I thought that you'd like a snap? Currently 2242nm to PHNL. Tony *

* AND WHAT CAN THIS BE???? A UFO??? SAEED???? TOO MUCH BOOZE??? WELL! IT'S SURE GETTING WIERD OUT THERE!! * Stay tuned to this frequency for updates!!!! * SUPERFLASH!! * SAEED IS ON THE MOVE! *

THIS JUST IN 05Z 6-19-2003: * Moscow Centre... Charlie Uniform Tango 298, type Iluyshin Il-18, airbourne Sheremetyevo time one zero zero three UTC, flight plan to Hong Kong. * AND LATER ON: * ez in Hong Kong I arrive in Hong Kong at 20:39 (UTC) I zont see Douglas aeroplane? Ze flight from Moscow took 10hrs 36min. * IT WOULD SEEM THE MADMAN FROM IRAQ'S VERSION OF THE 'BOZO SHOW' IS ON THE MOVE! * BUT CAN HE CATCH TONY??? * WHO HAS LEFT HAWAII! * Honolulu Centre... At long last I make the sunny shores of Hawaii. The flightplan gave an E.E.T. of 6hrs 48. Once again, I didn't believe it and after leaving the descent a bit late (on a VFR plan), I had to complete a couple of orbits to lose surplus height before commencing an ILS approach for Runway 08L, (an ILS when the ATIS gave the visibility as 150nm!!!) Upon arrival on the blocks, the time was 02:47 (UTC), meaning 50hrs 47min had elapsed since engine crank at Heathrow. This represents an average groundspeed of 281.3K. To cover the remaining 7285nm within 80hrs, I need to maintain an average groundspeed of 249.3K (including ground time.) I got another picture....actually in daylight. I guess that it will be dark by the time that I get to Los Angeles? Tony * AND!!! * SAEED IS ARRESTED - BUT AUTHORITIES DON'T WANT HIM!!! * I hope that I am not confined to jail as my speed is quite good and am about 800 kilometres from Brisbane. I hope to make Brisbane before dark. I vill report in Brisbane. Saeed. I ez in Brisbane AND THIS JUST IN: Greetings Komrades, I haf avived en Brisbane. Ze flight took 10hrs 18min and vile I hoped to avive en daylight, zis was not ze case. Upon landing en Brisbane, 32hrs 22min had elapsed sence leaving London. I think that Douglas aeroplane still in front? I see Douglas aeroplane, he avived 23 minutes before me. * TONY'S FLIGHT FROM HAWAII * After taking off on a wonderful Hawaii day, it was indeed darkness again as I adjusted the autopilot and descended out of Flight Level 250 for 3000ft. As usual, I initiated the descent about 130 miles out, using a modest 700fpm descent and throttles to idle. It takes some getting used to, using throttles to idle in descent as in the outside world, in something like a 182, it is my practice of keeping a reasonable amount of power on to keep those cylinders warm. Anyway I flew an ILS for Runway 25R. It was very dark. Too dark to see the smog. Total elapsed time was 7hrs 34, giving a groundspeed of 292.9K. 55 hours 34 has elapsed since cranking at Heathrow. Still looking good. Chicago O'Hare is the next stop. I wanted to use Meigs, but the runway is still a bit sad and is a little bit tight for a DC-7 anyway. I had hoped that Val-U-Prop might have been able to secure the use of a C-124C Globemaster and fly in a runway reconstruction team? No more word from the Iraqi Information Minister? * TONY MAKES CHICAGO! * TONY IS ON SCHEDULE!! * THIS JUST IN FROM TONY (7-23-21Z): * 961, Chicago Tower... Surprisingly it was getting light again when I cranked at "Kay El Eh Ex" and the entire flight was conducted in daylight. No great dramas on this flight, (which was flown at FL230). The flight time was five hours 41 minutes and upon landing, sixty two hours, forty two minutes had elapsed since initial engine crank at Heathrow....(who said "Thief row"?) The groundspeed on this leg was 270.1K. The next stop is Gander, in Newfoundland. Tony * * TONY: LAST WE HEARD FROM SAEED WAS FROM PITTSBURGH, WHERE HE SOLD US SOME HIGHLY SUSPICIOUS TELEVISION SETS WHICH WE PROMPTLY SOLD AT BARGAIN PRICES IN ATLANTA. TRIED TO GET MORE FROM HIM BUT HE APPARENTLY SCRAMMED . . . KEEP IT ON THIS FREQUENCY TO FIND OUT ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- FLASH!!! TONY MAKES IT IN 80 HOURS AROUND THE GLOBE!! Gander Tower, 961? What a circus getting away from O'Hare. Forty five minutes after cranking, I was issued with a take off clearance. The groundspeed to the first waypoint was 62K!!! Things got better from there-on. The time to cover the 1496nm to Gander was exactly five hours, on an IFR plan at FL190. ATC were happy with this altitude as I didn't have too much difficulty attaining it. The groundspeed on this leg was 299.3K Upon landing, 69 hrs and four minutes had elapsed since initial engine crank at Heathrow. The pressure is still on. Will I make it? Stay tuned for the final episode!!!! Tony -------------- 961, cleared to land Runway 09L I got away from Gander after being on the ground for one hour and one minute. Even here there were delays. Once again it was a long arduous climb to FL250. I commenced an early descent over the Irish Sea to 3000ft and overflew Heathrow at that altitude. In order to add a little distance, I tracked to the Compton VOR and flew an ILS approach. This diversion had the effect of increasing the total distance flown to in excess of the circumference of the Earth at the equator (ie 21600nm). The distance flown came to 21628nm. I flew an ILS approach, however due to slow traffic ahead, I was required to do an overshoot. Upon landing and taxying in, the total time for the exercise came to seventy six hours 34 minutes. I WAS SUCCESSFUL So, what do I do it in next? A HEARTY CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU, TONY!!! MY SUGGESTION: GO TO THE BAR AND RUN UP A BIG TAB ON VAL-U-PROP!!! The end. Tony