Final checks on G-GAST, all set and ready to go !
Post Flight Debrief with Stan Hodgkins
Parts of the trip especially North Africa (Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia) will require me to fly at 8-10,000 feet. At higher altitudes the aircraft will perform slightly differently. The highest I have flown before is around 4500 feet so with the help of Stan Hodgkins (ex lightning pilot) we test flew today over the Suffolk / Norfolk countryside at high altitude practising mixture control and prop settings.
Flight Instruments - Final Installation
Thanks to Vernon Millard G-GAST has been fitted with instruments to help facilitate the trip. Two Garmin G5’s with battery back up, an FS450 Fuel flow meter (imported from USA) along with blue tooth connectivity between primary and back up GPS units. With Vernon’s military background at Wattisham airbase he has been very safety conscious and the new instillation will ensure vital instruments will remain live through battery back up in the event of complete electrical failure in flight.
Calibrating Fuel Gauges
Aircraft fuel gauges are renowned for being very inaccurate so Stephen (co-owner in G-GAST) and I recalibrated them by draining the 2 x 80 litre tanks then refilled measuring out 15 litres at a time and marking where the needle sat on the analogue gauge. The aircraft has a range of just over 540nm and with some of the African legs being over 400nm there will be little margin for error especially if a headwind is encountered.
Flight Planning with Irv Lee
After completing my PPL in South Africa in 2003 Irv was one of the few South African approved examiners who could revalidate my licence. He has an extensive knowledge of air law and flying in Africa which has been a huge help with planning the trip
Andark Underwater Escape Trainer
Safety training in Southhampton important to overall preparation for the water crossings.
Visiting Hill Side Special school in Sudbury
The proportion of funds raised for GeeWizz from the flight will purchase a Sensory Magic Carpet for a special needs school in Sudbury Suffolk. This piece of equipment will aid the educational and sensory development of the SEN students at the school, with its over 400 interactive applications and games.
Flight planning with Sam Rutherford, Director of Prepare2Go
Sam and his team are key in helping with flight clearance into difficult airspace and organising Avgas which is not readily available in some of the remote locations in Africa.
Prepare2Go headquarters in Brussels
At the prepare2go headquarters we discussed equipment needed bearing in mind the weight limitations of G-GAST.
Test Flight, Christmas Eve 2011
Test Pilot – Stan Hodgkins
