Just Highlander & Rans 7 from Florida to Alaska...and Back

[Jack Tyler]

I imagine some of you will be interested in following Wes & CarolAnn's journey in their two E-AB LSA's from Florida up to Alaska and back to Florida, so I'm posting Wes' blog link here:
http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog/wesca/1/tpod.html

CarolAnn has done several 'Circles' in her Mooney (see her World Flight logs here: http://alsworldflight.als.net) and raised over $400,000 in support of ALS research), all impressive accomplishments. Wes is a former NASA engineer, transatlantic sailor and a 'gizmo wizard' extraordinaire, and also a good friend. They are long-time friends and Wes' wife, Sandy, is providing 'base support' back in Florida. Both planes were built by their owners and, drawing on the experiences and skills they possess, offer some pretty unique capabilities and should be well prepared for this long journey. As one example, Wes' Highlander sports a multi-band HF transceiver that allows him to do long-distance comms and also email, while flying or on the ground and even out in the Alaska bush, and is the same capability he also installed in CA's Mooney (along with adding a trailing antenna) for her two 'round the world flights. Wes' primary nav equipment includes Foreflight and a Stratus II.

It will be interesting to see how these two LSA's hold up over the summer & fall, as the flights will be numerous, long, and over a relatively short time period given the distances involved.

[ct4me]

Jealous... A bucket list flight for sure. Will they be using a SPOT or inReach so we can follow?

[Jack Tyler]

Tim, good question. I believe he's using the APRS system and likely not filing regularly until he gets to more sparsely populated areas. But I'll find out and post the answer(s) here.

[Jack Tyler]

Just got a text from Wes. To track Wes & his Just Highlander:

Go to the APRS Florida website locator: http://www.aprsfl.net/findu.php
Type in the Highlander's registration number - N93WS - in the first 'Display Current Location...' block. You will get a Google Maps presentation of the Highlander's location.
You can leave that browser window open and refresh it whenever you want for an updated location.

[mhcrowder]

Another good APRS aviation tracking site....

http://www.mail2600.com/cgi-bin/track.cgi?call=N93WS

==
Michael