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Well, we're pretty sure of it anyway.....

A few Sau's were sitting around the pigsty, marveling at the wonders of Kevin Bryan's awesome X-Gyro for FS2004. While we're talking about how we could employ it's short-radius turn capability against Spitfires in CFS3, Lurps makes the observation that it's fully equipped with GPS and Autopilot.....mentions the possibility of a cross-country hop, even! Pfffftttt...Right, and pigs will fly one day! Ehh... well you get the point.

But we couldn't stop thinking about it.....all well in theory, but could it really be done?

The more we discussed it, the more possible, and at the same time, dangerous it seemed. Given the flight characteristics, it was pretty clear that this would require brave pilots with a keen, clear eye, instant reflexes, and pure natural talent for seat-of-the pig flying. And to do it in a group would require split-minute timing and at least 5 or 10 minutes of serious planning.

Overwhelming obstacles to be sure......but we realized, that if we could actually pull it off, and fly from our home base at KORS to somewhere right across the border......with real weather enabled....we'd actually lay claim to a historic first!

And thus was born The Quest for the Very First (we really are pretty sure about this)....

Online Virtual Group Cross-Country International All-Weather Autogyro Flight!

There were plenty of volunteers once the idea got rolling. Only problem was, the C/O didn't stop to think that pigs like to sleep in when he said we'd start out at dawn the next day. And so it was that two of JG300's bravest, most talented, and possibly most insomniac pilots met up with him on the runway that next morning.....

Actually, one pilot met up with the C/O on the runway...turns out Hoppa had been out tearing up the countryside the night before, and left his avionics turned on overnight. Couldn't crank the engine at all. So Holmes and I had some time to kill on the runway while Hop got his battery charged....


Whle waiting, we noted the real weather looked OK for the flight - winds from 300 at 5mph, 50 mile vis. Sun started coming up, and there was concern about bumpy air.....


And we waited some more.....startin' to think that Hoppa was gettin his "battery jumped" over at the Luv Shack instead of the maintenance hangar.....


Finally, wth three Wild Sau's on the runway, the exasperated controller in the tower gave us clearance to take off...actually I think his words were more like "Git the {expletive deleted} out of here ya {expletive deleted} smelly BUMS!!"


And we were off with a smooth takeoff into the history books!


Climbing out over Sucia Island, turned out to be a GREAT day for flying......or autogyro'ing.....whatever th'heck it was we were doing!


Holmes catching up after an unspecified technical problem.....heard something on the radio about "LOL I think... {transmission garbled} ....shoelace... {transmission garbled} ...rudder pedal... {transmission garbled} ..German chocolate cake". ...We didn't ask questions.



Hoppa in background as The Big Moment arrives, as we make landfall at Point Roberts...only a few miiles to go! CAN we make it? WILL we make it? Will the engines keep running and the auto-gyro-rotators keep auto-gyro-rotating??? Are you still reading any of this???



YES!!!! Delta Island coming up next, and Vancouver International dead ahead!!! We've crossed the border and made history (we really are pretty sure about this)....well it's history if we can land....I thought it best to not bring that part up until now.....





Crossing over Fraser Inlet, we could hardly contain ourselves...at least I couldn't....man I had to pee real bad!!!!



Had some trouble with the juice bottle - I mean I really couldn't wait any longer - so Holmes took the lead for approach into CYVR and led us in like a pro in sty'le....



Touching down on Canadian soil, I was overcome with how similar it is to the U.S. ..I mean, they have paved runways over there (who knew?) and even the gravity seemed the same as ours! Things they just don't teach you in school, you have to just go there and witness this kinda thing......



Rolling out from landing, was an emotional moment for all.. I think I even saw Hoppa weeping with joy, that he no longer had to stay in formation with a C/O flying under the influence of caffeine overload!



Bursting with pride, we lined up to shut engines off right there on the active, in JG300 tradition and sty'le......forcing 2 747's and an Airbus (was it a A320, Holmes?) to go around. The Canadians, moved beyond words as well, sent several Mounties to move our gyros (so nice, these Canucks) and escorted us under gaurd for our protection to a holding cell. Their concern for our safety from the expected throng of well-wishers was appreciated, but I don't think the handcuffs were necessary. And we've been in this room for a real long time now...I mean how long does it TAKE these people to get a ticker-tape parade going?



Well, whatever happens to us in this foreign land now, I want to THANK my brave and slightly insane cohorts......I'll fly anything with ya, anywhere, anytime!!!

JG300-Hoppa, JG300-Holmes, S! and BRAVO ZULU on a job WELL DONE!!!

SUUUUUUUUUUWEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!

It was my honour Stoop ol' boss hawg.......was short and sweet and outa control,,,,,,,,, I could be flying a kite and having a good time as long as it was with my wingmen!!!......I do wish the sky woulda been full of them red gyro baron helo piston prop doomahicky piggy rigs....but sometimes the real world calls I guess,,,,,,,some great pics for sure there,,,,wish I coulda stepped up to the plate and flown my usual close and tight formation,,,,but ,,,,it was pretty tough,,,,,,,next time though for sure......


~S~ Stoopy and Holmes,,,,,twas an honour to fly with ya's on this historic flight........

SUUUUUUUUWWWWWWWWWUEUEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

yep,,,,that was me,,,,,,,all that excitement I done forgot to log in......;lol

ROFLMAO....great story Gents..I enjoyed reading every word...lol

Lol, great flight for sure, and Stoop, always love the touches you add to the story

anyways yea, next time we'll have to fill up the sky with those red things and hope the canadians don't think it's an invasion, we'll just remind'em Hoppa's with us

great flying as always

and a lil bit of history this time too so ~S~ to Stoop and Hoppa

~S~

A great story indeed ,actually more than just great it was historic!!!!!!!! and guys I really tried hard to get my puter to co-operate so that I could take part in that great mission but it was not to be

Man I really wanted to make this trip too. You must have changed that date or I flat out missed it or something. I had the Autogypo fueled up and ready too.

Anyway, excellent shots!

Sorry if there were crossed signals, Boo. Tried to make it clear, it got moved back a day from Friday to Saturday but that was discussed earlier in the week. Would have been great to have you along, dangit!

Well...there may be other "firsts". Matter of fact I know exactly what can be done above and beyond this.....

I found the thread with the update on the historic event! BooRay screwed up this one and no fault of anyone but BooRay

Next time I will pay better attention to the dates as to not miss the next action!

~S~