Jackson Hole to Austin and Fun Facts (by Jack)

While the stop in Jackson Hole represented the unofficial end of the round-the-world trip for most of the crew, Josh and I continued on to our starting point in Austin, Texas on July 13 to officially complete the 360 degrees so we could earn the FAI Circumnavigator Diploma. Boys got to have their trophies after all!

This leg was the shortest of the whole trip at 1,060 nautical miles (1,225 statute miles) and it is a familiar route for me. The weather was good the whole way and the flight was routine.

Landing back home in Austin on runway 17R…

We base our airplane at Atlantic Aviation at the Austin airport and the crew there had been following our blog and offered us a nice welcome home…








As a final wrap-up for the trip, here are some fun facts (at least they are fun for me!) regarding the adventure. All flying hours are from take-off to touch-down and do not include taxi time. In no particular order based on Austin-to-Austin…

Miles flown: 20,850 nautical miles or 24,000 statute miles

Flying days: 11 (out of 28 calendar days)

Flight legs flown: 17

Hours flown: 89.7 hours

Average distance per flying day: 1,892 nautical miles or 2,176 statute miles

Maximum distance in a flying day: 2,627 nautical miles or 3,020 statute miles

Minimum distance in a flying day: 1,057 nautical miles or 1,215 statute miles

Average flight hours per flying day: 8.2 hours

Average flight hours per flight leg: 5.3 hours

Maximum hours per flying day: 11.2 hours (with three pilots)

Maximum hours per flight leg: 7.5 hours (Muscat, Oman to Colombo, Sri Lanka)

Average ground speed take-off to touchdown: 231 knots or 266 miles per hour

Average airspeed in cruise: 246 knots or 283 miles per hour

Average wind component: -0.2 knots or -0.3 miles per hour (headwind)

Average groundspeed in cruise: 246 knots or 283 miles per hour

Number of maintenance events: Zero (the plane performed almost perfectly)

Number of customs/immigration/permit problems: Zero (our handling company did a great job)

Number of flights cancelled: Zero (one fuel stop location was changed for weather)

Number of flights completed more than two hours beyond the schedule: Zero

Percent smooth air in cruise: 98% (estimated)

Percent clear air (not in clouds) in cruise: 97% (estimated)

I guess that completes my flying journal and the blog for this trip. It was a fantastic adventure and I am already planning the next one…a polar circumnavigation!

Thanks for following along with the trip.  Sharing the experience is half the fun.