Twin Around-the-World Flights In Flight Design CTs

Two pilots flying twin Flight Design CTs are back home in Sion, Switzerland after completing a circumnavigation in the LSAs.

Yannick Bovier, 37, and Francisco Agullo, 41, departed their home base on the last day of April on a flight they said was to celebrate 100 years of aviation in Switzerland. The pair returned safely on Saturday, June 19, after 51 days, crossing two oceans, confronting sluggish bureaucrats for overfly permission, battling fatigue and loneliness, performing routine maintenance that comes with so many hours logged, plus having to watch what foods they consumed, as on-board bathrooms have yet to be installed in Light-Sport Aircraft.

Starting on April 30, the duo crossed the Atlantic to Brazil by May 8. The next leg was across the Caribbean to Miami, FL by May 13. The traveled west across the U.S. and then made two very long flights to cross the Pacific beginning June 3. The pair wrote, "[We flew over] 15,877 kilometers (about 10,000 miles) of water... in 76 hours." The arduous passage across the planet's largest ocean brought several interesting experiences, including landing on an atoll on the Pacific Marshall Island of Majuro.

Flight Design CT File Photo

The ocean crossings were noteworthy, but obtaining permission to overfly some middle eastern countries brought difficulties of another sort. Fortunately Bovier and Agullo are airline pilots and had familiarity in dealing with aviation authorities in many countries. They also were supported by teams at home that helped with permits and logistical efforts, as well as weather reports.

"The story of these two pilots as reported in their log is a fascinating read," reported Flight Design USA president Tom Peghiny. The Swiss team calls their adventure Azimut 270 and they kept their many followers updated with an online "logbook" .

The twin CT aircraft were modified to carry 120 gallons of fuel for their 17-hour flight legs over water.  A factory-stock CTLS carries 35 gallons of auto gas or 100LL giving it a range of more than 800 nautical miles.

Flight Design is a 23-year-old air-sport products producer based in Germany.

FMI: www.flightdesignusa.com