The aircraft is based in Gunnedah (YGDH), New South Wales about 185nm NW of Sydney. We are primarily an airwork company operating Air Tractor AT802’s and a Bell Longraner on aerial firefighting operations. VH-XAS (formerly N9116N) will be utilised as a firespotter/air attack aircraft and for general charter.
The ferry started in Merced,CA (KMCE) where we tanked up at Gateway Air Center with the help of Tom Lopes and his crew. We then repositioned to Santa Maria for the big leg out to Hilo. We overnighted in Hilo and then departed for Kiribati for a quick fuel stop and then onto Pago Pago in American Samoa. We overnighted there and then onto Coolangatta, just south of Brisbane in Queensland.. We cleared customs there and then down to Gunnedah.
The air conditioner is a great system now that it is installed and running, however there was some difficulties getting the system installed.
Attached are a few photos from the trip, including on the ramp in Hilo, overhead Cassidy International Airport at Kiribati,a shot of the GPS as we crossed the equator, and sunrise south of Hawaii.
Mick