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Flight Diary
19th February 2003
Completion!!
After five months, 63 flights, 26,306 nautical
miles and 22 countries, DWF completed its journey today! The weather
was crisp and clear for the final (short) flight from North Platte
to Council Bluffs Airport near Omaha, and the landscape was certainly
different to departure with snow-covering the
ground for much of the journey. On arrival, it was good to see Dave
and Lori Geiger again after Hawaii, and the Advanced Air Inc. airport
staff. It was also good to be met by The Daily Nonpareil and Omaha
World Herald newspaper reporters, plus NBC (WOWTV), CBS (KM3) and
ABC (KETV) network
television crews – many thanks to all for coming out to the
airport.
It really has been a great adventure, and it is
very much hoped that positive messages behind DWF can be used effectively.
The project has definitely demonstrated that a pilot with Type 1
Diabetes can fly around the world safely and practically according
to the US FAA regulations. It is also very much hoped that the message
that “diabetes need not limit people’s dreams and ambitions”
can be spread. It all boils down to people's
knowledge and attitude, and DWF’s best wishes go to many country
diabetes associations who work hard to educate the public and help
reduce discrimination against people with diabetes. Finally, it
is hoped that the funds raised for research (US$19,000 so far) can
assist in improving healthcare and ultimately finding a cure for
diabetes.
Many thanks go to so many people for supporting
DWF. In particular to Douglas’ parents, sister Ann and family,
and friends for unwavering support, Tom Claytor for inspiration
and continued encouragement along the way, Michelle Miller for her
amazing work behind the scenes, Lisa for acting as webmaster, and
James Aiden and Ty Semons for acting as safety pilots outside the
US. Also to Accu-Chek Compact & Test Drums and Roche Diagnostics
for donating blood test meters and generous donations to DWF fund
raising efforts, and to Simon Macfadyen of Marsh Speciality Operations
Limited and Phil Gregory of Global Aerospace for arranging and underwriting
DWF insurance cover, and for donating half of the international
premium to DWF. To Air BP for refueling at eight locations, Jeppesen
UK for donating the North Atlantic Trip Kit, Sheraton Hotels for
supporting at three locations
and Marriot Hotels in two locations, and Harold Cheeseman of Omaha
Airplane Supply for donating a replacement instrument vacuum pump.
There were also many people, diabetes associations, doctors, and
companies en-route who supported DWF and to whom many thanks go.
Thank you also for all the encouraging (and quite a few amusing!)
messages posted on the Guest Page. It has been a real pleasure to
read these whilst travelling.
Fund Raising for Diabetes Research
To date, over US$19,000 has been received
and pledged. Thank you very much to all those who have donated –
very much appreciated! The fund raising remains open until August
2003, and for anyone waiting until completion, please feel free
to make a donation now! The funds will go direct to the Diabetes
UK (British Diabetes Association) Research Fund plus the American
Diabetes Association (ADA) Research Foundation. Funds are being
collected by Diabetes UK, details of which can be found on the “Donations
Page” on this website.
Additional fund raising activities are planned
over the following six
months, including a fund raising ball in Bangkok in mid-May and
another flying project with “Flight4Diabetes” in the USA
in late July. Details of these events will be posted over the next
two months.
What Next?
Firstly, it is planned to post a few more
photographs on the website over the next few days, so keep logging
on! After a few days here in Omaha, Douglas heads back to Scotland
to see family plus some skiing with friends in the Alps before heading
to Thailand in April. A speech is planned at the American Diabetes
Association Hawaii Chapter’s annual fund raising ball at the
end of May, and then it’s back to mainland USA for more flying
over
summer. As outlined above, additional activities and events are
being arranged in conjunction with DWF, and details will be posted
over the next two months.
Once again, THANK
YOU, everybody, for your support!
Final Few Days
It feels quite strange to be nearing completion
after a year of planning and executing DWF. Assuming no unforeseen
delays, a flight to North Platte is planned for Tuesday 18th before
the final hop to Omaha. Arrival at Council Bluffs Airport is scheduled
for 10.30 a.m. on Wednesday 19th February.
18th February 2003
Flight to North Platte from Salt Lake
City
A three-hour flight was made today to North
Platte, Nebraksa. Weather conditions were good again, with occasional
layered clouds at 13,000 feet resulting in light icing. The final
flight to Omaha is planned for tomorrow.
17th February 2003
Flight to Salt Lake City
At this time of year, particularly with snowstorms
creating havoc in parts of the US, if the weather conditions are
good, just go! With a favourable en-route forecast, DWF departed
Hayward at 9 a.m. for Salt Lake City, enjoying clear views of San
Francisco Bay, Golden Gate Bridge and fog-filled valleys on the
way out. Tailwinds resulted in ground speed of 200 knots so the
journey over the Sierras and desert only took three hours.
It was a pleasure to be met by Ivan Tcherniaev
who had contacted DWF a couple of weeks ago, Sam, who has Type 1
diabetes, and Bill Oberg, the Salt Lake City Chapter President of
the Experimental Aircraft Association. Bill had kindly contacted
local media that morning and KUTV, Channel 2 Station was waiting
for a quick interview on arrival. Many thanks indeed to Ivan for
hosting DWF in Salt Lake City and to Bill for meeting DWF and arranging
media.
15th – 17th February 2003
San Francisco
It was definitely good to complete the long
over water flights. Much of Saturday (15th Feb) morning was spent
at International Air Services where Richard and Chris dismantled
the ferry tank system – it was good to get the Baron back to
her “old self”. Many thanks go to Richard and Chris for
carrying this out on the weekend and also to Ed Therrien and Cindy
for an enjoyable meal that evening.
15th February 2003
San Francisco
DWF landed in San Francisco at 1am 15th February
after an 11 hour flight from Hawaii. Details below.
14th February 2003
Flight to San Francisco (2026 Nautical
Miles)
This was a great flight – eleven hours
with strong tailwinds and good arrival conditions in San Francisco.
It was also carried out “solo” as the Hawaii/California
route is regarded as a domestic US flight. The one drawback, however,
was the forecast of a cold front with embedded isolated thunderstorms
lying across part of the route, so a slight detour to the south
was planned and flown.
Takeoff was at midday into three hours of solid
cloud, rain plus some unwelcome turbulence. With all fuel tanks
filled up, the aircraft was 19% above its normal maximum weight.
In this condition it is easier to overstress the airframe in turbulent
conditions, so at times the engines were throttled back to reduce
speed and in turn reduce the likelihood of overstressing. Disturbingly,
two hours into the flight Air Traffic Control warned of a “squall
line” (a line of intense thunderstorms) close to DWF
flightpath. Fortunately the existing southerly detour avoided this,
but it was an uncomfortable couple of hours just “waiting”
for unseen turbulence in cloud.
Thereafter, conditions improved. Tailwinds also
increased to 45 knots at one stage, resulting in ground speed of
220 knots – great! After five hours darkness fell, and much
of the remaining flight was enjoyed in moonlight. About 400 miles
off the Californian coast some cloud and airframe icing was
encountered and a descent made from 9,000 feet to 7,000 feet into
warmer air. Meanwhile, contact had been lost with San Francisco
Radio (long-distance HF radio) for four hours but position and “operations
normal” reports were relayed via VHF emergency “guard”
frequency with airliners flying overhead - many thanks to Hawaii
20, Fedex 1800 and American 72
flights for doing this.
The forecast for San Francisco was extremely accurate,
breaking through cloud at 2,500 feet with good visibility ahead.
At 1 a.m. and after 11 hours airborne, it was good to arrive at
Hayward Executive Airport.
Plan for Onward Flights to Omaha
Weather permitting, departure from Hayward to Salt Lake City is
set for Tuesday 18th and completion in Omaha by Friday 21st February...
8th - 15th February 2003
Hawaii
Four most enjoyable days were spent on Maui
Island with Dave and Lori Geiger from Omaha. Activities included
whale watching aboard a small (home-built) yacht and snorkeling
around a sunken volcanic cone. One can definitely see why Hawaii
is such a popular holday destination with warm weather (80 degrees
F each day) and loads of sunshine on the southerly leeward
shorelines.
Indeed, it really was a great place to "wait
out" for favourable tailwinds! However, it was good to make
the short flight to Hilo on Wednesday 12th February to prepare for
the 2026-mile flight to California. Once again, humpback whales
were spotted en-route, and a quick visit was made to Molokai's stunning
mountainous northeast shoreline plus an an active volcano on the
"Big Island" which feeds huge lava flows right into the
ocean.
Preparations were then made for the flight to
California on 14th
February...details to follow.
8th February 2003
Flight to Maui Island
It was a clear and sunny day for
Saturday’s flight to Maui. It was also the first solo flight
for Douglas since 25th September, having re-entered US territory
in Hawaii where the Class 3 medical is valid once again.
Hawaii is comprised of volcanic islands and erosion
over the millennia has resulted in some stunning mountain scenery.
Today’s route tracked via the north side of Kaui Island where
mountains rise almost 3,000 feet sheer out of the water. With ocean
swells crashing into cliff faces and waterfalls cascading from above,
it is such a picturesque area that some Hollywood scenes have been
shot here.
It was tremendous fun to fly for a while at 50
feet (and lower) over water and gain a good perspective of the Pacific
Ocean northerly swells. (The USA low-level flying rules are such
that you can fly as low as you like over uninhabited areas or over
water, as long as you keep at least 500 feet from any people or
structures.) It was also low enough for salt to crystallize
on the windscreen and leading edges of the wings. These crystals
were duly sprayed and wiped off after landing to avoid corrosion
After Kaui, DWF tracked around the “North
Shore” of Oahu and across to Molokai Island. On the south side
of Molokai and in the lee of the northerly trade winds, a truly
amazing sight was enjoyed. Several humpback whales were gliding
gracefully through the water and shooting white spray into the air
as they surfaced. A few minutes were spent wheeling around to enjoy
this spectacle. There were two baby whales swimming with their mothers,
and one large whale was swimming on its side, playfully slapping
its pectoral fin on the water surface. What a truly amazing sight
and experience!
Shortly afterwards, DWF landed at Kahului Airport
on Maui Island where Dave and Lori Geiger were waiting to give a
lift to Lahaina, a relaxed resort village on the west coast. While
driving along a couple of humpback whales were seen again from the
western shores. Many thanks indeed to Dave and Lori for the lift
– much appreciated!
5th February
Waikiki Wedding
Wednesday was a big day! It was a real honour
and pleasure to be present at Ty and Maria’s wedding which
was held in a tranquil beachside park nestling beneath the stunning
Diamond Head's volcanic crater. Having spent three and a half months
with Ty, DWF’s second safety pilot, there is no doubt that
“love was in the air”. It was a very moving ceremony.
30th January – 7th February
Hawaii Islands
On 30th January, a short flight was made
from Hilo on the “Big Island” (Hawaii) to Honolulu on
Oahu Island. Hawaii’s highest volcano, Mauna Kea (13,769 feet)
could be seen rising above the clouds, and tracking northeast towards
the coast, some miniature volcanic craters sat on the lower slopes,
like warts atop skin.
Dave and Lori Geiger arrived from Omaha on Saturday
1st February from Omaha and the first two nights on Oahu were spent
at Cory and Helga Trummel’s B&B in Pearl City. Helga and
Cory’s B&B house has tremendous rustic charm and is more
like an amazing German museum in the middle of Hawaii! It was a
pleasure to be welcomed into their home, and the two nights proved
to be most enjoyable and entertaining. The rest of the stay on Oahu
was in Waikiki where the beach offered some welcome R&R in between
meetings and onward organization.
At Honolulu Airport, Century Aviation arranged
maintenance and minor repairs for DWF’s aircraft at Aloha Island
Air. A couple of spare parts had to be sent over from mainland USA
and the aircraft was finally ready on Friday 7th February for onward
flights.
Diabetes in Hawaii
During the week a visit was made to Wendy
Sefo, Executive Director of the American Diabetes Association Hawaii
Chapter. The incidence of diabetes in Hawaii is almost two percentage
points higher than on the mainland, with one in four native Hawaiians
over the age of 30 having diabetes (mainly Type 2). The Japanese
community in Hawaii also shows high incidence. An informative meeting
was also held with Margaret West who carries out studies in the
native Hawaiian community. Many thanks indeed go to Wendy for her
support and interest in DWF while in Hawaii. Also thanks go to Mandie
Pearson of McNeil Wilson Communcations, ADA’s Hawaii PR consultant,
for arranging media coverage with KHVH Radio Mike Buck Show, Honolulu
Star
Bulletin newspaper and KGMB Television.
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