RTW 50 Flights 2019

 
 

A truly remarkable adventure

Achievement

Of the fifty-five landings the Bazflyers made while flying round the world in their Comanche ZK-BAZ, the penultimate touchdown occurred at midday the 19th October on home base Taupo Airport, New Zealand. It was definitely not one of the prettiest arrivals. Showers and gusting cross-wind conditions for landing on Runway 35 weren’t altogether helpful, but be it intuitive control inputs or a modicum of good fortune or a cocktail of both, the final touchdown turned out to be remarkably smooth.

FLYING AMBASSADORS OF FRIENDSHIP

ROUND THE WORLD 2019

“Once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes skyward’ for there you have been, and there you will always long to return.” - Leonardo da Vinci

AROUND THE WORLD 2019

Flying a small airplane around the world is definitely not for the faint-hearted or something to be taken lightly. Perhaps because of this many ‘Round the World’ flyers sponsor a central theme or goal, such as raising funds for a charity, creating awareness of a worthy cause or setting a new record.

Traditions are important and in recognition of such traditions the Bazflyers RTW 2019 will be dedicated to:

  • All the men and women who have at some time or another touched their lives in a meaningful and positive way. Mentors, teachers, colleagues, staff and above all family and friends, without whom any prospect of flying around the world would not be possible or perhaps not even dreamed of.

“ We thank each and everyone of you and gratefully acknowledge success in our lives has not been achieved without the help of others.”

  • Round The World friendship and respect of difference. In light of the recent tragic event in Christchurch we are going to be Flying Ambassadors of Friendship and look forward to meeting people of all walks of life, race and religion. We will take our New Zealand ethos of ‘Aroha’ with us.

He taonga rongonui te aroha ki te tangata’

Goodwill towards others is a precious treasure

ROUNDEL

Barry and Sandra designed the Roundel as a mark of identification for their Round the World Flight. It expresses their pride in being New Zealanders and symbolises them as individuals but at the same time a flying duo.

The centre piece of the roundel represents a Koru. The Koru symbol is based on the unfurling silver fern (Cyathea dealbata), it signals new beginning and growth. The unfurling silver fern conveys the idea of perpetual movement, while the inner coil suggests returning to the point of origin.

Silver - epitomises the spirit of New Zealand and provides guidance. If the underside of the silver fern is exposed, it shines in the moonlight, illuminating a path to guide one home. Silver is for lunar magic, peacefulness and femininity.

Black - is masculine, associated with the unknown, power, strength, fear and mystery. Black as a colour has been a key identity fo New Zealand sports people, some suggest since 1888. It is our Nation’s preferred colour.

Red - represents the blood of life. It’s assertive, strong, romantic and engenders a sense of excitement and vitality.

Barry and Sandra designed the Roundel as a mark of identification for their Round the World Flight.

SYNOPSIS

“Safety is central to our flight around the world and will not be an afterthought during preparation, in the air, or while having fun….”

It is critically important every aspect of the flight is analysed and planned with attention to safety. At the same time flexibility and a sense of humour will be a necessity when navigating our way through unfamiliar countries.

2019 is the 50th anniversary of:

  • Barry’s first solo flight in an aircraft. Royal New Zealand Airforce, Harvard 1058 at Wigram Air Base on the 13th October 1969.

  • The first flight around the world by a New Zealander. Cliff Tait made the journey in a single engine Airtourer. NB Cliff Tait’s flight did not qualify as an Earth-Rounder due to his aircraft being shipped from Japan to Vancouver.

  • EAA AIRVENTURE Celebrates 50 consecutive years in OSHKOSH. It is one of the world’s greatest aviation celebrations.

At the end of 2018 only 233 qualifying flights around the world (RTW) in single engine airplanes of all types have been recorded. http://www.earthrounders.com/singles.php

  • No qualifying RTW flight has ever commenced and finished in NZ.

  • No New Zealander has officially recorded a qualifying RTW flight.

In recognition of the above milestones, 50th anniversary events and to qualify as the first New Zealand crew to fly RTW in a single engine airplane, Barry and Sandra Payne (The Bazflyers) will, over a period of approximately 6-months in 2019, fly their Piper Comanche PA24-250, ZK-BAZ, around the world.

Departure from New Zealand is set for 1st May 2019 commencing from the Bazflyers home base at Taupo (NZAP).

The total journey is expected to involve approximately 200 hours of flying, including flying into EAA at Oshkosh https://www.eaa.org/en/airventure and various other aviation events along the way.

The Bazflyer journey involves the following six sectors:

  1. Pacific Sector - New Zealand to Alaska.

  2. North America Sector - Various stops across USA and Canada.

  3. Oshkosh Sector - Aviation in the USA

  4. North Atlantic Sector - Arctic circle to the UK.

  5. Kangaroo Sector - Centenary of the first flight to Australia.

  6. Tasman Sector - Home to New Zealand.

Eddie Gould and Ahmed Hassan of General Aviation Support Egypt have expertly provided operations support for many RTW and long distance flyers. This expert team will be providing operations support for the Bazflyers, including flight planning, country approvals and ground handling.

Communications are a vital part of the Bazflyers Round the World flight, for flight planning, flying in and out of foreign airports, keeping in contact with friends and family and providing a platform for sharing the RTW experience.

While modern technology caters for all technical requirements, personal and social media communications was be handled by Julie South.

ZK-BAZ flight checks over Taupo, New Zealand. In preparation for 50 flights round the world.

RTW 50 Flights crew

BAZ FLYER CREW

Barry (72) and Sandra (68) have been married for 48 years giving them the opportunity to work things out. The communication and cooperation skills learned during this time allows them to operate their Comanche as a true flight crew, thereby adding an additional safety dimension to the aircraft operation. In aviation circles they are known as the Bazflyers.

BAZFLYER-1

Barry began his aviation career in 1963 when he joined the Royal New Zealand Air Force. After graduating with an aircraft technical qualification he commenced pilot training in 1969, qualifying on both airplanes and helicopters. Barry’s civil aviation life has been exclusively in the field of general aviation. He is an experienced commercial pilot on helicopters and airplanes, is a licensed aircraft maintenance engineer and a life member of the ‘International Society of Air Safety Investigators’. In a parallel career Barry has received recognition as a successful entrepreneur with diverse start up businesses to his credit..

BAZFLYER-2

Sandra a qualified educator and dedicated Mother and family person gained her private pilots licence to celebrate her 60th birthday. Being an adventurer at heart she wants to inspire all those around her, family, friends and especially her contemporaries, to live life to the full.