Bell 430 Around The World Flight August 23rd, 1996 - DAY 7

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Flight Plan:

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Mission Progress To Date:

The Bell 430 Around-the-World flight is going forward with no major delays or problems. Today the crew passed the halfway mark as they departed from Fort Worth, Texas, to another hometown welcome in Austin -- then on to Lubbock,Texas, Denver,Colorado, and stops in Nebraska, and Montana. They stopped for the night in Salt Lake City, Utah. Some of the messages from the crew are included below. So far the Bell 430 has flown 10,370 nautical miles, with *just* 10,178 nautical miles to go.

Messages From The Crew(updated 8-26-96):

1 From the Bell 430 N430Q
Around-the-World '96 Speed Record Flight
In-Flight Report - August 23, 1996 - Day 7, Number 1
Took off from Lubbock at 12:56 PM CDST. One TV station met us there. The line crew had all seen us on TV earlier. Our new ETA in Denver is 2:45 MDST. I will update this when we get about an hour out of Denver. Great work at Bell Helicopter Textron! Thanks to all of the people who helped accomplish the 50 hour inspection. Glad to see Ross Perot, Jr. at Alliance Airport yesterday. That place will have a grand skyline in a few short years. It is probably the best commercial / distribution development in the United States. Proud that Ross is a sponsor and thrilled that he and Jay Coburn, his copilot on the 1982 trip around the world will fly into Farnborough with us for the first ever "Around-the-world Helicopter Pilot Reunion". Dick Smith from Australia will join us. I have the highest regard for these trail blazers. Great reception at Bell Helicopter Textron last night. Glad to see my wonderful wife Peggy and so many friends. Rested well at the Worthington Hotel in Fort Worth -- I was asleep by 9:30 PM. Slightly delayed departure at Bell Helicopter Textron and faced bad weather to Austin. Shot an ILS to 400' ceiling at Austin. This Bell 430 is a great ILS platform! Grand reception at Austin. All the networks, paper, and many friends attended. My favorite Tex-Mex food from *El Patio* was brought in for breakfast and my faithful barber Virgil Meuth gave me a quick trim on the hanger floor. Now IFR direct to Lubbock at 6,000'. Air Traffic Control has really been helpful. Most already know of the trip and want to help us get in and out of our fuel stops fast. Great flying in the USA! All for now. Thanks. All is well. Glad you are there. Regards, Ron Bower and John Williams, Crew of the N430Q
2 From the Bell 430 N430Q
Around-the-World '96 Speed Record Flight
In-Flight Report - August 23, 1996 - Day 7, Number 2
Just left Centennial at Denver at 3:10 MDST. We are now just 45 minutes behind and we will make it up today yet. Enroute to see Mr. and Mrs. Eldred, long time customers and friends on their great ranch in Nebraska. ETA there 4:30 MDST. Will visit for a few minutes and proceed to Alliance, Nebraska for refuel, then Billings, Butte, and Salt Lake City. Just had a great 1:15 nap and John is already planning for his between Alliance and Billings. We have ear plugs, and eye mask , and a great soft bunk installed by *Premier Aviation*, covered in the softest sheepskin from our friends at *Aeristo*. Not hard to fall asleep. Had a great reception for Jeppsen Sanderson at Denver. Two TV stations channel 2 and Channel 7 covered the arrival and departure and did an interview with us. Bob Leder is doing a good job with the publicity. Jeppsen brought out our Russia charts. Universal Weather has been so much help. Great to see Jerry in Fort Worth, and Jess and the gang at Austin. It is a delight to see the fuel guys primed ready for us as soon as we arrive, and to get your faxes and weather information at each stop. The weather is good. Our ground speed is 143 kts. The fuel burn is 616 lbs / hr at 6500'. We just got permission to cut across Denver's new airport area. Air Traffic Control has really been supportive and always tries to help us. All is well. Glad you are there. Regards, Ron Bower and John Williams, Crew of the N430Q

From the Bell 430 N430Q
Around-the-World '96 Speed Record Flight
In-Flight Report - August 23, 1996 - Day 7
Off from Alliance, Nebraska at 5:30 PM MDST after hot refuel and 15 min turn.
ETA Billings, Montana at 7:45 PM MDST.
Only 30 minutes behind schedule. We are now making 154kts ground speed, so may get back on schedule if we get a quick turn in Billings. One idea that might help in USA is a phone call to the airport with our ETA telling them we will need fuel on both sides of the A/C at the same time. Ask them if they can send out 2 people, with two hoses on one truck (some trucks have 2) or 2 people in two trucks. It would probably save us 10-15 minutes. Lets try that. Also, you might ask if they will refuel us hot, that is while we are running. Many places will do that, and that will really save time. When making hotel reservations, if possible try to get hotels close to the airport. Long drives rob us of sleep, which we need. We just need a place for sleeping a few hours, and nothing else. The Bell 430 is great. The weather is great. You are great. All is well. Glad you are there. Regards, Ron Bower and John Williams, Crew of the N430Q

Photos:

	Spectacular views of the Rocky Mountains.
	Flying over Colorado.
	At the Eldred Ranch in Nebraska.
	High altitude flying.
	Ron enjoys El Patio Mexican food for breakfast in Austin, Texas.
	Media turnout at Austin, Texas.
	ILS approach required into Austin, Texas.
	Ron and John and the trusty 430 at Austin, Texas.
	Virgil Meuth, Ron's barber for 25 years make a "hangar" call in Austin.
	Jess Gassaway from Universal Weather in Houston gets a thumbs-up in Austin.

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Daily Flight Plans and Progress (by date)
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