The only thing missing for Round the World flights was the plane – and now that has flown
My mission is Round the World Eastbound, then Westbound and I have an eye on a few world records. This plane I’ve been building since Dec 1st 2011 had its first flight March 24, 2025. Over 13 years and 17,000 hours of effort.
The project is moving on. The aircraft has a Certificate of Airworthiness and the first flight has proven that this thing does in fact… fly. Along with the move to a new base in Leongatha, here in Victoria (Australia) phase one testing has commenced. All being well I will then progress to ‘continuing ops’ with full flight privileges in the IFR category.
There is a good overview of the project in this article from the RAAUS Sport Pilot magazine Dec 2024.
August 2026 Update: The plane had a couple of flights after the engine work, but we had an oil leak at the cylinder base which had to be sorted out. The cooling flap locking system has had another upgrade as well as the annual and some sump improvements. With my IPC (license check) pending the test flying will resume next month. If you want more of the engine story look here.
While engine issues have cost me a year, they were minor and initially caused by an unexpected cooling differential, not a mechanical failure. That’s the cost of going away from something tried and proven with this liquid cooled beast. It is a process to tame it, inch by inch.
I still need to get moving on my IFR and flying currency skills in the new aircraft with its complex avionics and systems. Fitness and endurance training are ongoing. Its now weights twice a week and a Pilates session. I need to be physically and mentally prepared for heading off over oceans.
There will be at least one round Australia flight beginning with short hops until the plane and pilot are proven for the long stuff.
The AC-Aero Gladiator, AC-LIO-390 #AC156 still needs proving as does my install while I’m still over land and close to familiar airports and facilities. I have a lot to do with my goal of round the world pushed back to 2028. This is mainly due to the long delay at an engine shop and a subsequent second go at it. I’ve just run out of time for 2026, that’s going to be testing, training and proving for the rest of this year and for next.
The airplane has weighted in at 505kg, BEW, with a maximum weight allowed, MAUW, of 995kg. I am the manufacturer so I can set this number. A structural engineer and others have been involved with beefing up the landing gear given these numbers are way over the plans recommendations.
This project has had many unexpected delays and difficulties. I remain the optimist, all I need to do is just keep going. Problems will be overcome. Goals are set, lines in the sand are made. Sometimes, the tide comes in, washes over my plans and new lines must be drawn. That is all a part of this process.
“Some journeys are not taken to find answers. They are taken to create the conditions where answers can appear.” — Dave Berenholtz in discussion with an LLM
“The greater danger for most of us lies not in setting our aim too high and falling short; but in setting our aim too low, and achieving our mark.” — Michelangelo
“You do the best you can and disconnect from the outcome”. — John Roncz
“Slow = less mistakes, less mistakes = fast, fast = flying sooner”
— Wade Parton (Airdog77)
“Your focus determines your reality” — George Lucas
“Adventure is framed by the vehicle” — Dave Berenholtz
“The plural of anecdote is ancedotes not data” — Raymond Wolfinger (words rearranged to reflect what he may have meant)
“How you do anything is how you do everything” — Zen Buddism
