It’s a dream many aviators share — to fuel up their airplane and head east, and keep going until they land again at their home airport, having circled the earth. Right now, three aviators from New Zealand are in the midst of living just that dream, flying a Cessna 421. “Our intentions are to travel across the world and film it, while educating ourselves on the various local cultures and people we will discover,” they write at their Web site. “We will also be looking for the effect aviation has had on the places we will visit.” They launched on Sept. 14 and as of Tuesday had reached Narsarsuaq, Greenland. They expect the entire trip to take about four months. The three travelers, Flora and Joe Lloyd, and Alistair Blake, said they were excited about the challenge. Their route will continue through Europe, the Middle East, Africa, South Asia, and back to Australia and then New Zealand. The project is affiliated with The Starship Foundation, which raises money for a children’s hospital in Auckland. Their Web site features daily updates of their progress.
Circle-The-Earth Team Heads For Europe
Key Takeaways:
- Three New Zealand aviators – Flora and Joe Lloyd, and Alistair Blake – are attempting a four-month global circumnavigation in a Cessna 421.
- Launched on September 14, their journey aims to film the experience, educate themselves on various cultures, and observe the effect of aviation in different regions.
- The expedition also serves as a fundraising initiative for The Starship Foundation, which supports a children's hospital in Auckland.
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