Historic flight in Australia

The around the world solo flight by Brian Lloyd WB6RQN had finally made it to Darwin after reporting seeing it on Friday night and landing. He began on June 1 in Miami Florida using a single-engine 1979 Mooney 231 aircraft, fitted with Amateur Radio, to mark the 1937 flight of Amelia Earhart.

The plane was delayed in Singapore waiting a replacement magneto, then a permit to fly to Indonesia, while a further hold-up was caused by a thunderstorm. This was before his plane had the magneto fixed, engine timing set and the oil changed ready for the rest of the trip.
Then he took off planning to spend a night in Bandung Indonesia. There he reports being overwhelmed greeted by the local aero club, radio hams, commemorative t-shirts and had to face a press conference.

He was again greeted in Darwin and given some hospitality on the overnight stay. After leaving Darwin on Sunday morning he has mostly 'whistle stops' at Ayers Rock, Coober Pedy, Birdsville, Longreach, Whitsunday Island, Bundaberg, Gunnedah, Warnervale, and then Sydney. Brian said he has picked places that are 'good to fly into and have real local charm and exhibit the true flavor of Oz.' Then it’s off to Auckland, Suva, a fly-over of Howland Island which has no runway, then to Hawaii, California, ending in the two month flight.

Brian WB6RQN has had contacts (14.210, 14.346, 18.117 or 7.130) using a 125 watt transmitter on SSB.

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