Had a small breakfast at our hotel (Tradewinds) and checked the WX. Spoke with Steve Pellettiere, our weather guru, who gave us a great brief for favorable WX all the way to Hilo (PHTO).
After breakfast, we explored the north east side of Pago Pago, about a 2 1/2 hr. drive, with beautiful views of the ocean. Arrived at airport at 3:00PM, cleared customs and immigration very quickly.
Filed the necessary info. to US customs and immigration in Hilo, filed our instrument flight plan to air traffic control, loaded all our waypoints to Hilo into our 2 GPS receivers, then got our clearance to depart to Hilo. Departed 3:40 PM.
We are carrying our max. amt. of fuel, which gives us about 20 hrs. in the air. Right now, we are level at 4,000 ft. and cruising at about 139 kts. or 160 mph. Estimating Hilo in about 15 hrs. Flight time could be over 16 hrs. unless we loose some of our headwind.
Still dealing with headwind and about another 14 1/2 hrs to go. Thank goodness for my personal physical trainer Ara who helped get me in shape for this journey. More info. after our arrival on Hilo.
Aw thanks Ed! Can’t wait for your return and the stories to hear during our training sessions!
Godspeed & safe flight!
It is great to hear about Ed and Zvi’s experience of crossing from the South Pacific, over the equator and into the central Pacific at Hilo Hawaii during a grueling 15 1/2 hour flight! From a weather perspective, the first 2/3 of the flight we’re basically weather free except for passing clouds from time to time, some areas of rain for an hour or two and in and around the Hawaiian islands. Of greater concern was the grueling headwinds, although not directly on the head of the aircraft but quartering just so to make it all the more interesting. All this considering our two pilots we’re sharing a 4 foot width by 4 foot high space in the cockpit. That fact alone demands preparation and knowledge. Our aviators worked with personal trainers in order to utilize techniques of keeping the circulation going in a proper fashion. Just consider for yourself what it would be like to sit in that small of a space for that long of a period of time. It ain’t easy!
We’ve got another long flight coming up, and the winds aloft are not favorable again. But the ability to carry the extra fuel, and their training we’ll get them across the Pacific and to California on Wednesday-Thursday. It’s November now, and the weather is starting to act up so we’ll be dealing with strong northerly winds along the California coast and some cold temperatures aloft.
Great to see more folks leaving comments and good wishes here on the blog! Keep it up and check in often…