AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2016 - R-7

Tips for
overflying
water
KENMORE AIR HARBOR FLOATPLANE instructor Karen

Trip of a lifetime

TOP: ED HICKS BOTTOM: CHRIS ROSE

Bonanza owner completes round-the-world flight

ADRIAN EICHHORN and his Beechcraft Bonanza P35 completed the trip of a lifetime June 7 when
he landed in Manassas, Virginia, after a 25,000-mile flight around the world. His aircraft was modified with 100-gallon tip tanks on the wings, helping to propel him to 21 countries.
Eichhorn launched his round-the-world flight on April 10, flying in five continents and
over three oceans for a personal achievement that, he says, had nothing to do with record
books. "This isn't a record, it isn't a best this or that, it's pushing the limits of anything I've
ever done," said the 60-year-old Jet Blue Airways pilot. He remembers that aviator/inventor Burt Rutan once signed his autograph book by drawing a picture of Voyager and writing
Adventure is the essence of life. "It stuck with me. I was at a point in my life, both time
and financially, that I could do it," he said. The trip pushed the aircraft's performance and
Eichhorn's endurance. He came home physically tired but emotionally energized by the experience. He will share his insights and stories at seminars at all of the upcoming AOPA Fly-Ins.
Aircraft maintenance has become Eichhorn's avocation, and he recently was named
the 2016 Maintenance Technician of the Year by the FAA/industry General Aviation
Awards program. For the past four
and a half years, he dismantled
and restructured his 54-year-old
Bonanza for the trip. He enlarged
the baggage door, replaced the
skin-"Sheet metal work is a form
of therapy," he said-rebuilt the
panel, rebuilt the wings, and added
those tip tanks. He had 270 gallons of usable fuel, which served
him well on the long-haul flights
this trip demanded. The longest
leg was from Hilo, Hawaii, to Long
Beach, California, where JetBlue
flies. "Flying GA keeps me sharp. I
never want to be an airline pilot who
doesn't know how to fly," he said.

Stemwell has survived an
engine-out emergency over
water, landing between large
swells in the Strait of Juan de
Fuca. She offered these common-sense tips for land-based
pilots flying over water.
PREFLIGHT. Consider landing
options along your route and
keep track of where you are in
relation to them.
FLIGHT PLAN. "It's important
to file a flight plan and/or give
someone else your route of
flight and its timing, so there is
a place to start search and rescue if needed."
ALTITUDE. "Think altitude, altitude, altitude-and be smart
about it."
WIND. "Keep aware of the generally prevailing surface wind so
you are always ready to make an
educated quick decision when
necessary." Do you have enough
fuel if you've miscalculated?
WEATHER. Understand the local
weather patterns. Be more conservative over water.
LIFE JACKETS. Keep life jackets
on board and readily available to
all passengers and crew.
ESCAPE. Have an escape plan
and practice it. "If you are upside
down, your main thoughts are
going to be unbuckling your seat
belt and getting out of the aircraft,
upside down and in the dark."
SIGNALING. Carry a signaling
device or flare gun in the aircraft.
SURVIVAL KIT. Carry one, and
know what's in it.
FLYING VEST. Stash a communication device or tracker system,
as well as a pocket knife, whistle, waterproof food items, and
fresh water.
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Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2016