We are just about to set off on our most challenging adventure. Despite having a very short period to organise everything – we are there! Everything has come good at the eleventh hour!

We test flew the 2 planes today, and with new GT propellors, 2 new Funkwerk transponders, and a ridiculous amounts of luggage, we made use of today’s headwind to escape the waterlogged strip at Long Crendon and repositioned the Twisters to Southdown Gliding Club on the South Coast, ready for an early start tomorrow.

Artist's Impression of the New Terminal Building

So tomorrow we set off for a 2600Nm journey to Turkmenbashi in Turkmenistan – on the shores of the Caspian Sea, to display at the opening of their new International airport in a weeks time.

The problems planning the trip have been numerous, the most significant being the lack of 100LL AVGAS east of Istanbul and International flight clearances for Permit aeroplanes. But that is all in the planning – the challenge tomorrow is all about the flying!

Our one regret is we will not be able to support ULPower and Silence aircraft at Friedrichshafen, where we were due to display but the turkmemistan display was pulled forward by a week at the request of the guest of honour.

Getting Ready

About to set off!

At Parham