Bell 430 Around The World Flight Tuesday - September 3rd, 1996 - DAY 18
Expanded View
Flight Plan:
| Departure City* |
Distance(NM) |
Destination City* |
Nautical Miles
To Go |
Nautical Miles
Traveled |
| Stockholm (Sweden) |
299 |
Roskilde (Denmark) |
583 |
19965 |
| Roskilde (Denmark) |
392 |
Brussels (Belgium) |
191 |
20357 |
| Brussels (Belgium) |
191 |
Fair Oaks (United Kindom) |
0 |
20548 |
| TOTAL N.M. TODAY |
882 |
* Subject to change
Mission Progress To Date:
|
- The Bell 430 piloted by Ron Bower and John Williams left Stockholm this morning and
raced across Europe to a triumphant conclusion to their marathon journey. Norm Toupin,
chief mechanic for the Around-the-World flight joined Ron and John for the final day. They
landed at Fairoaks, England with a record time of 17 days, 6 hours, 14 minutes, and 25
seconds. They have traveled 20,548 nautical miles in the second Bell 430 to come off the
assembly line -- overcoming all obstacles -- and demonstrating once again the quality and
reliability that is built into Bell helicopters.
Messages From The
Crew:
FROM THE BELL 430Q
AROUND-THE-WORLD '96 SPEED RECORD FLIGHT
IN-FLIGHT REPORT - SEPTEMBER 3, 1996 - DAY 18
- ON-TIME DEPARTURE FROM OSTERMAN'S BARKARBY AIRPORT AT 6:00 AM LOCAL TIME. WHAT A GREAT
JOB BY THE OLDEST (50 YEARS IN BUSINESS) BELL SERVICE CENTER OUTSIDE THE USA. WHAT GREAT
SKILLS AND SERVICE. THEY ATTACKED THE HELICOPTER AND WORKED RIGHT INTO THE NIGHT WITH
NORM. (WEBMASTER'S NOTE: NORM TOUPIN IS THE OFFICIAL BELL 430 AROUND-THE-WORLD FLIGHT
MECHANIC.)
- AT 2:00 AM WE TOOK THE AIRCRAFT FOR A TEST FLIGHT. EVERYTHING WAS OK. THE AIRCRAFT LOOKS
GREAT. THEY TOOK GREAT CARE OF JOHN AND ME. WE ARE RESTED AND IN GOOD SPIRITS .
- NORM IS WITH US ON THIS FINAL DAY AS AN INTREGAL PART OF THE CREW. HE WAS UP ALL NIGHT
AND IS NOW COUNTING CANANDIAN SHEEP FROM OUR BUNK IN THE BACK. WHAT A GUY! WE MAY NOT WAKE
HIM AT ROSKILDE - HOPE HE WONT BE STARTLED IF HE DOESN'T HEAR THE ENGINES RUNNING. I KEPT
TRYING TO DO THAT TO JOHN, BUT HE ALWAYS WOKE UP AT THE LAST MINUTE. HE NEARLY GOT ME IN
MOSCOW.
- THE INCESSANT WESTERLY WIND HAS BECOME MORE SOUTHERLY SO AS TO STAY ON OUR NOSE AT 24
KTS.
- SHOULD HAVE A QUICK TURN AT ROSKILDE WITH THE GOOD HELP OF THRANE AND THRANE .
- PLEASE HAVE THE WEATHER PACKAGE AT ROSKILDE FOR THE REST OF THE TRIP THROUGH GERMANY,
NETHERLANDS, AND LANDING IN BELGIUM. AND ALSO FORECAST FOR BRUSSELS INTO LONDON, WITH A
FINAL UPDATE WAITING FOR US AT BRUSSELS. YOU HAVE DONE A WONDERFUL JOB.
- WILL KEEP YOU ALL ADVISED AS WE PROGRESS. THIS FINAL SPRINT TO THE FINISH LINE BRINGS
TOGETHER ALL THE HARD WORK AND TEAMWORK WHICH HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR MONTHS. WE ARE HONORED
TO REPRESENT SUCH A GREAT TEAM. MORE TO FOLLOW. ALL IS WELL. GLAD YOU ARE THERE. REGARDS,
RON
BOWER, JOHN WILLIAMS, AND NORM TOUPIN CREW OF THE N430Q
*****
FROM THE BELL 430Q
AROUND-THE-WORLD '96 SPEED RECORD FLIGHT
IN-FLIGHT REPORT - SEPTEMBER 3, 1996 - DAY 18
- WE ARE STILL ON SCHEDULE; STILL OK. WE HAD TO GO IFR DUE TO LOW CLOUDS. MAY HAVE TO
SHOOT ILS AT ROSKILDE. THIS BELL 430 IS A GREAT IFR PLATFORM. ALL IS WELL. GLAD YOU ARE
THERE. REGARDS,
RON BOWER, JOHN WILLIAMS, AND NORM TOUPIN CREW OF THE N430Q
*****
FROM THE BELL 430Q
AROUND-THE-WORLD '96 SPEED RECORD FLIGHT
IN-FLIGHT REPORT - SEPTEMBER 3, 1996 - DAY 18
- TAKE OFF ROSKILDE AT 9:05 AM LOCAL TIME. WE GOT GREAT SERVICE AND A QUICK TURN WITH HELP
OF THE THRANE AND THRANE BROTHERS, PER AND LARS. THEY ARE REALLY GOOD GUYS. ALSO, AN OLD
FRIEND MOGENS PIND WHO HELPED ME GET THROUGH GREENLAND AND FAROE IN 1994. THEY WERE ALSO
KIND ENOUGH TO PROVIDE SOME SNACKS FOR BREAKFAST. NORM WOKE UP ON TOUHDOWN. WE HOPED HE
WAS GOING TO SLEEP THROUGH AND WE WOULD SAY WE WERE A MORTUARY DELIVERY SERVICE TO EARN
EXTRA MONEY.
- THE WEATHER IS IMPROVING, STILL HAVE A HEADWIND, NOW 18 KTS. WILL UPDATE AS WE PROGRESS.
GETTING CLOSER. ALL IS WELL. GLAD YOU ARE THERE. REGARDS,
RON BOWER, JOHN WILLIAMS, AND
NORM TOUPIN CREW OF THE N430Q
*****
FROM THE BELL 430Q
AROUND-THE-WORLD '96 SPEED RECORD FLIGHT
IN-FLIGHT REPORT - SEPTEMBER 3, 1996 - DAY 18
- JOHN AND I WILL BE DONNING OUR BLUE FLIGHT SUITS FOR THE ARRIVAL. FINALLY GOT RID OF THE
HEADWIND AFTER JUST 17 DAYS. WILL ADVISE BRUSSELS DEPARTURE AND ETA FAIROAKS.
- WE SEND OUR THANKS TO SANDRA AT HOME AT AUSTIN JET WHO HAS BEEN WORKING NIGHTS --
KEEPING THE COMMUNICATIONS LINE OPEN AND OUR SPIRITS UP.
- OUR PLAN IS ONE LOW FAST PASS AND THEN LAND FOR THE RECORD. ONE MORE LEG. ALL IS WELL.
GLAD YOU ARE THERE. REGARDS,
RON BOWER, JOHN WILLIAMS, AND NORM TOUPIN CREW OF THE
N430Q
Shortcuts
Around-The-World Home Page / Bower Helicopter Home Page
Daily Flight Plans and Progress (by date)
8-17 / 8-18 / 8-19 / 8-20 / 8-21 / 8-22 / 8-23 / 8-24 / 8-25 / 8-26 / 8-27
/ 8-28 / 8-29 / 8-30
/ 8-31 / 9-1 / 9-2
/ 9-3
