tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-39694537865017043632024-03-19T08:30:51.916+00:00Autogyro circumnavigation of the globeThis is about an autogyro record attempt flight around the world.The GYROX Teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15913097194536611948noreply@blogger.comBlogger193125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3969453786501704363.post-91325584589951762942015-08-13T11:45:00.002+01:002015-08-13T11:45:19.964+01:00A huge thank you from Norman to everyone that has helped with the Gyrox Goes Global project right around the world. <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<i>The mission has been completed! A 5 year Odyssey around the world by a quiet and unassuming gentleman from Larne, Northern Ireland, in his tiny out of the ordinary flying machine, now affectionately called 'Roxy', came to an end just after 7 pm on the 11th August 2015 as the pair touched down on the Sandy Bay Playing Fields in Larne...5 years 5 months after they had taken off from there. </i><br />
<i>The crowds that greeted Norman on his arrival were mirrored a hundred fold by the congratulatory messages sent by well wishers from around the world.</i><br />
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<i>Norman has written the following message to thank everyone for their undying support for him and Roxy over the years as well as to all the people everywhere who helped make the homecoming something special.</i><br />
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<i>Norman's words....</i><br />
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<b>There are so many people in so many countries that it is
difficult to mention everyone personally at this point, but rest assured that
every single act of kindness and assistance no matter how large or how small,
has helped to make this trailblazing flight the global success that it has now
become.</b><o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2BCcE09l9AQ/VcxwWSUQ2tI/AAAAAAAAGdo/A8xP-LAa0UE/s1600/AD.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2BCcE09l9AQ/VcxwWSUQ2tI/AAAAAAAAGdo/A8xP-LAa0UE/s320/AD.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Norman and Roxy about to complete the 5 year journey</td></tr>
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<b>It has shown me that time and time again in so many far
flung places around the globe, that the true spirit of adventure, compassion,
generosity and curiosity lies deep within every single person that I have had the
very good fortune to meet along the way. We each share a common bond, a common
humanity to give help to other humans in time of greatest need. You have all
recognised this need at crucial points of the journey and have readily directly
or indirectly volunteered and given necessary assistance in abundance...in
recognition of that fact, the numerous FAI World Records that have been set by
this circumnavigation flight in reality should belong to all of us....without
the contribution and cooperation of everyone that has managed to keep the
project moving through the many challenges and pitfalls both in the air and on
the ground, the flight could simply not have been able to complete any of its
overall objectives at all.</b></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Dg_k1JpfRDE/Vcxwh3NeHiI/AAAAAAAAGe0/6GDe03ezOFM/s1600/AL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Dg_k1JpfRDE/Vcxwh3NeHiI/AAAAAAAAGe0/6GDe03ezOFM/s320/AL.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Norman and Roxy are swamped by the media and well wishers on arrival<br /></td></tr>
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<b> <o:p></o:p>In a way I suppose "Roxy" has been a catalyst, the
glue if you like, that has remotely bonded so many diverse peoples from so many
diverse cultures and countries to work together for a common purpose, a simple
goal; to simply help to see this littlest of aircraft achieve the biggest of
dreams, to win out against all the odds stacked against it and to safely and
successful achieve a pioneering Autogyro flight right around the world.</b></div>
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<b>You have all made this possible!</b></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The co star of the show....Roxy </td></tr>
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<b>For now, Roxy is enjoying a well-earned rest...here is a
picture meeting the new neighbours, a curious bunch, showing that all so
familiar reaction...."what is that thing that has just dropped out of the
sky, don't tell me it is actually capable of flying right around the world?!
" We now all know the answer :-)<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ps_GQ4rClXc/VcxwVNHJs6I/AAAAAAAAGd0/4vXNCJOKrVA/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ps_GQ4rClXc/VcxwVNHJs6I/AAAAAAAAGd0/4vXNCJOKrVA/s320/photo.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9K7yK-UDBTY/VcxytJiiDGI/AAAAAAAAGgo/csgINHN0tL8/s1600/photoa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9K7yK-UDBTY/VcxytJiiDGI/AAAAAAAAGgo/csgINHN0tL8/s320/photoa.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Roxy arrives home, the countryside of County Antrim, to be greeted by some curious locals :-)</td></tr>
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<b>And a big thanks of course to all our legions of online
followers as well... perhaps not able to physically give the actual "hands
on” assistance, none the less you have all helped tremendously in supporting
the physiological effort and encouragement that this type of journey
requires... Flying Solo, as the name implies, can be a very lonely business
especially in the most remote and hazardous corners of the world and simply
knowing the SPOT tracker is being keenly followed online by so many dedicated
"virtual adventurers" has assisted greatly in not feeling quite so
isolated up (and out) there....<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--AR1w9W_tSk/VcxzpYYu-DI/AAAAAAAAGgs/TF_MGcYV8_k/s1600/Untitledas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="175" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--AR1w9W_tSk/VcxzpYYu-DI/AAAAAAAAGgs/TF_MGcYV8_k/s320/Untitledas.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The final update from 'Spot' shows the journey completed</td></tr>
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<b>My next immediate challenge is to record and account for the
multitude of experiences and stories that have occurred throughout the journey,
many of which have not been shared publicly as yet. Only by writing it all down
as a book will I be able to begin to share the full story of the flight, the
many adventures, mishaps, tricky situations and miraculous escapes that more
often than not could simply not have be imagined before the flight had
commenced. <o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b>I best get started!!</b></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LzSiUnLTbRs/VcxwVACFJxI/AAAAAAAAGds/ZSn8-cWdkgI/s1600/AA%2BGyrcopter%2Bman%2Baround%2Bthe%2Bworld%2BNorman%2BSurplus%2Barrived%2Bhome%2Bto%2Bhis%2Bfamily%2Bin%2BLarne%252C%2BN.%2BIreland%2BL%2BtoR-%2Bson%2BFelix%252C%2Bwife%2BCelia%2BHolmes%252C%2BNorman%2Band%2Bdaughter%2BPet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LzSiUnLTbRs/VcxwVACFJxI/AAAAAAAAGds/ZSn8-cWdkgI/s320/AA%2BGyrcopter%2Bman%2Baround%2Bthe%2Bworld%2BNorman%2BSurplus%2Barrived%2Bhome%2Bto%2Bhis%2Bfamily%2Bin%2BLarne%252C%2BN.%2BIreland%2BL%2BtoR-%2Bson%2BFelix%252C%2Bwife%2BCelia%2BHolmes%252C%2BNorman%2Band%2Bdaughter%2BPet.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The family reunited</td></tr>
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<b> <o:p></o:p>My best wishes and warmest thanks to you all.</b></div>
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<b>Cheers!<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b>Norman</b><o:p></o:p></div>
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<b><a href="http://www.gyroxgoesglobal.com/" style="color: #0066cc; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">For more info go to our website</a><o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b><a href="https://www.justgiving.com/gforgyro/" style="color: #0066cc; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Consider donating to Norman's chosen UK charity: Bowel Cancer UK</a><o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">To contact the autogyro circumnavigation team email gyroxgoesglobal@gmail.com</div>The GYROX Teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15913097194536611948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3969453786501704363.post-78479505969921790192015-07-30T11:32:00.000+01:002015-07-30T11:32:34.608+01:00Norman and Roxy have a memorable time in Nuuk, Greenland<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<b>Norman finally arrived in the capital of Greenland, Nuuk after numerous delays caused by weather at his stops in the the wilderness airfields in the far north of Canada.</b><br />
<b>His lengthy flight from Baffin Island across the Davis Straight to Greenland was one of the most spectacular he has undertaken. He reported back that he flew over many large ice floes as well as the occasional Iceberg, the hidden majority of these watery peaks gleaming blue through the crystal clear icy waters.</b><br />
<b>He also saw a number of Polar Bears who looked as though a red suited gyronaut would make a lovely snack for them!</b><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Rt_0VcfTDZA/Vbn3KkBUknI/AAAAAAAAGbU/o5GTLCEdUUA/s1600/G012%2BNuuk%2Bto%2BNarsarsuaq.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Rt_0VcfTDZA/Vbn3KkBUknI/AAAAAAAAGbU/o5GTLCEdUUA/s320/G012%2BNuuk%2Bto%2BNarsarsuaq.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Icebergs showing their hidden depths!</td></tr>
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<b>But Norman made it safely to the airport at Nuuk where he was greeted and looked after by local pilot Dan Rasmussen. We had arranged for another pilot to meet Norman but the delays meant that he was away on the actual arrival day, but he had sent a heads up to Dan who was more than willing to come out and help Norman.</b><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dan Rasmussen with Norman</td></tr>
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<b>Dan was not only able to advise and support Norman with the aviation details at Nuuk and find 'accommodation' for Roxy but also saw to it that Norman had a good time during his stay in the capital.</b><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-woyc9WlF084/Vbn4w8amcUI/AAAAAAAAGbs/9tBpgZh89yM/s1600/11047933_10153144379229397_3388250924745941335_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-woyc9WlF084/Vbn4w8amcUI/AAAAAAAAGbs/9tBpgZh89yM/s320/11047933_10153144379229397_3388250924745941335_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">They always find space for Roxy when she arrives at a new place :-)</td></tr>
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<b>Dan was also kind enough to host Norman and Norman was able to experience the real atmosphere of living in this community at the edge of the icy world.</b><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oxn3ZKKAAgw/Vbn4wZBOKpI/AAAAAAAAGb0/_xAUKj6NttQ/s1600/11696003_10153141718429397_7246333753498723835_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oxn3ZKKAAgw/Vbn4wZBOKpI/AAAAAAAAGb0/_xAUKj6NttQ/s320/11696003_10153141718429397_7246333753498723835_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Enjoying food and drink...Greenland style</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Out and about learning how the locals survive in these inhospitable climes</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Showing a youngster where Roxy and Norman had been before</td></tr>
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<b>There was also a heart stopping moment that lasted 2 days when another pilot went missing.</b><br />
<b>We at Norman's support team had also been in touch with another circumnavigator, Russian Sergey Ananov, who was flying around the world in a Robinson R22 helicopter. It turned out he was a day behind Norman and was due to arrive in Nuuk the day after Norman's arrival...this seemed a good opportunity to have two rotary circumnavigators at the same spot on the globe at the same time...a great photo opportunity and a chance for the two adventurers to chat about their experiences.</b><br />
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<b>But as Norman waited at the airport for the arrival of this little helicopter it soon became clear that something was wrong as the hours passed and no arrival. Norman contacted us and we contacted the Russian team and it was soon announced that the helicopter had indeed gone down in the Davis straight...the same area Norman had flown across the previous day...complete with Icebergs and Polar Bears.</b><br />
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<b>It was two days before we got the good news that he had been found by a rescue ship, clinging to an ice floe, surrounded by Polar Bears! Norman was happy to receive this news and so prepared to continue to Narsarsuaq at the southern point of Greenland ready for his coastal flight North to then make the jump across the Atlantic to Iceland.</b><br />
<b><a href="http://www.cbc.ca/news/rescue-team-finds-missing-russian-pilot-1.3168878" target="_blank">Watch a TV report about the rescue by clicking this link</a></b><br />
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<b>Norman did depart Nuuk on Sunday for the flight to Narsarsuaq but that is another story...</b><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ySKc875mJCk/Vbn4zEH8Z-I/AAAAAAAAGcs/Wq5IUfCn-SY/s1600/11755878_10153143004204397_782479505174065777_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ySKc875mJCk/Vbn4zEH8Z-I/AAAAAAAAGcs/Wq5IUfCn-SY/s320/11755878_10153143004204397_782479505174065777_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Filling up the TurtlePac in the usual way<br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-POWv9BSkSg4/Vbn4ylmFoZI/AAAAAAAAGck/lgb2e7Qhm_g/s1600/11753662_10153141718224397_8627639323053863332_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-POWv9BSkSg4/Vbn4ylmFoZI/AAAAAAAAGck/lgb2e7Qhm_g/s320/11753662_10153141718224397_8627639323053863332_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With an eye on the weather, Norman prepares to depart Nuuk</td></tr>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5D_wrAvKyx4/Vbn4ySiTwKI/AAAAAAAAGcM/ZMO8Y3eoiz4/s1600/11751436_10153144379744397_1956933195293256692_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5D_wrAvKyx4/Vbn4ySiTwKI/AAAAAAAAGcM/ZMO8Y3eoiz4/s320/11751436_10153144379744397_1956933195293256692_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Li3zUJkrLQc/Vbn4y4Wx-RI/AAAAAAAAGcc/d2lFBUtpv48/s1600/11755117_10153144381084397_2118860890385607582_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Li3zUJkrLQc/Vbn4y4Wx-RI/AAAAAAAAGcc/d2lFBUtpv48/s320/11755117_10153144381084397_2118860890385607582_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">'Good Bye Nuuk, it was great to know you'</td></tr>
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<b>We would like to thank Dan Rasmussen for all his help in Nuuk and especially for letting us use his great photos of Norman and Roxy. We would also like to thank all of Dan's friends, the airport staff and locals in Nuuk for making Norman so very welcome.</b><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-y1ZJPQAarGg/Vbn4z5v_LgI/AAAAAAAAGc0/FAy_mnXFFqg/s1600/11781752_10153144378779397_689554557192469522_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-y1ZJPQAarGg/Vbn4z5v_LgI/AAAAAAAAGc0/FAy_mnXFFqg/s320/11781752_10153144378779397_689554557192469522_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nuuk gets a special place on Roxy's rudder :-)</td></tr>
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<b>The Gyrox team</b><br />
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">To contact the autogyro circumnavigation team email gyroxgoesglobal@gmail.com</div>The GYROX Teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15913097194536611948noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3969453786501704363.post-69422162761244406542015-07-15T22:08:00.001+01:002015-07-15T22:08:31.087+01:00Winter Woes in the Middle of Summer<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
If you have been wondering why there has been no movement on Roxy's tracker or many updates as to the onward journey North through Canada...then all will now be explained.<br />
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Norman departed the airport at Schefferville on Friday the 10th July after a short but pleasant night in this remote Iron-Ore mining town in the remote Canadian wilderness. It was due to be a long 5 hour flight further north to the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inuit" target="_blank">Inuit</a> named, Kuujjuaq, a small but busy community near the northernmost coastline of mainland Canada.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MaDVK_4wyO8/Vaa9TSMElZI/AAAAAAAAGaM/QK6vb0OQ6tA/s1600/photo%2B%252810%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MaDVK_4wyO8/Vaa9TSMElZI/AAAAAAAAGaM/QK6vb0OQ6tA/s320/photo%2B%252810%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Norman, about to depart Schefferville</td></tr>
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It turned out in the end to be a trouble free flight with good weather, plenty of blue sky and favorable winds that shortened the flight time considerably. The most noteworthy thing that Norman reported was the complete lack of human presence for the whole of the flight. Not another human being was spotted once between Schefferville and Kuujjuaq!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_tG1V3T7zbQ/Vaa9LlWWj5I/AAAAAAAAGZk/XJ2KQt79iJY/s1600/GGG%2B01%2Btowards%2BKuujjuaq%2BCanada.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="179" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_tG1V3T7zbQ/Vaa9LlWWj5I/AAAAAAAAGZk/XJ2KQt79iJY/s320/GGG%2B01%2Btowards%2BKuujjuaq%2BCanada.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A hundred thousand lakes but not a single fisherman.<br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3-mf7oHmNi8/Vaa9LxYN6GI/AAAAAAAAGZs/EMg8UpSlGug/s1600/GGG%2BNorthern%2BQuebec%2Blandscape%2Bis%2Bhuge%2Bv%2Bsmall%2B%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3-mf7oHmNi8/Vaa9LxYN6GI/AAAAAAAAGZs/EMg8UpSlGug/s320/GGG%2BNorthern%2BQuebec%2Blandscape%2Bis%2Bhuge%2Bv%2Bsmall%2B%25281%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The trees are thinning out...a sure sign of nearing the frozen north</td></tr>
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Norman arrived at Kuujjuaq and was greeted by a team from <a href="http://www.airinuit.com/en/air-inuit/air-inuit" target="_blank">Air Inuit</a> who had stepped in to look after Norman's arrival because the airport handlers had gone away on vacation! Air Inuit is what we would probably call a 'Bush Airline', flying smaller aircraft between the remote communities in Northern Canada. It does have larger jet airliners for use between the southern cities but up here in the widerness you are more likely to see a Twin Otter or King Air on the ramp, which was great for Norman and Roxy who fitted right in straight away.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YosGrAkWn-s/Vaa9LuQWFLI/AAAAAAAAGZo/FNMe7sUcWJw/s1600/GGG%2B04%2Barriving%2BKuujjuaq.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YosGrAkWn-s/Vaa9LuQWFLI/AAAAAAAAGZo/FNMe7sUcWJw/s320/GGG%2B04%2Barriving%2BKuujjuaq.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Arriving at Kuujjuaq. The water on the right is the Koksoak River.</td></tr>
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The guys at Air Inuit helped Norman find accommodation and joined him for dinner where the chat was all about flying small aircraft in these high latitudes. Norman had intended to spend a full day in Kuujjuaq to have a rest after two long and draining flights and also to give Roxy a quick check over before the flight over Ungava Bay and the Hudson Strait to Iqaluit on Baffin island, now more correctly called Nunavut. Iqaluit is not only the capital of Nunavut province but also possibly the last stop in North America before Norman and Roxy fly to Greenland. We say possibly the last stop but this is all down to weather, especially wind directions which may mean another stop further north in Nunavut.<br />
But all plans for that next flight to Iqaluit came to a sudden halt the following morning when the weather reports from our contacts in Iqaluit showed any kind of arrival was out of the question due to a 200 ft ceiling and heavy rain. This was also bore out by the scene outside Norman's accommodation that morning...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-g6i-qrAwEK4/Vaa9hbiWhPI/AAAAAAAAGa8/w1GjyQ1PF6s/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-g6i-qrAwEK4/Vaa9hbiWhPI/AAAAAAAAGa8/w1GjyQ1PF6s/s1600/photo.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Great weather for ducks but not for Gyro's</td></tr>
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It then became an hourly vigil of the weather reports, both at Kuujjuaq and from Iqaluit...the Gyrox Team were poised to let the world know that Norman was flying again and Norman was ready to jump into his famous red suit and brave the elements...but, it never happened.<br />
The weather remained bad in Kuujjuaq and actually got worse in Iqaluit with fast, freezing winds blowing straight into the path Roxy would take.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XcRWUE1SfoA/Vaa9OI1iBrI/AAAAAAAAGZ0/Vxb3RDNVK5U/s1600/GGG%2Btypical%2Bweather%2Bthis%2Bweek.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="172" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XcRWUE1SfoA/Vaa9OI1iBrI/AAAAAAAAGZ0/Vxb3RDNVK5U/s320/GGG%2Btypical%2Bweather%2Bthis%2Bweek.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A wind map designed to halt any slow aircraft heading east.</td></tr>
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But Norman has faced longer delays, many times in the past and instead of moping about decided to explore the world of the Inuit and the frozen (ok, muddy) north.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tswdr2Yf_YU/Vaa9TcTEIEI/AAAAAAAAGaE/div5PbVjGXo/s1600/photo%2B%252811%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tswdr2Yf_YU/Vaa9TcTEIEI/AAAAAAAAGaE/div5PbVjGXo/s320/photo%2B%252811%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Norman selfie in Kuujjuaq main street...Note the sign in English and Inuit</td></tr>
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On a trip to a supermarket, Norman was surprised to see how well stocked it was...including paddles and fully set up fishing rods stacked alongside the cold drinks and M&M's.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NaJwAst8z-s/Vaa9T_mdRiI/AAAAAAAAGaI/g-SSAGMSy68/s1600/photo%2B%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NaJwAst8z-s/Vaa9T_mdRiI/AAAAAAAAGaI/g-SSAGMSy68/s320/photo%2B%25281%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'll have a Cola light, a bag of apples and a paddle please :-)</td></tr>
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More strange sights greeted Norman as he made his way around the community...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aiTeF53Z6BA/Vaa9f8s0T0I/AAAAAAAAGbA/P73kF1Nr1ig/s1600/photo%2B%25289%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aiTeF53Z6BA/Vaa9f8s0T0I/AAAAAAAAGbA/P73kF1Nr1ig/s320/photo%2B%25289%2529.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not many trees this far north so maybe it's an Inuit Totem made out of local stone?<br /><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fTv1Bx6HCqw/Vaa9XFYE-nI/AAAAAAAAGaU/0AdKdu1XRSY/s1600/photo%2B%25285%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fTv1Bx6HCqw/Vaa9XFYE-nI/AAAAAAAAGaU/0AdKdu1XRSY/s320/photo%2B%25285%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not much snow yet but sledges and Skiddoos are everywhere...<br /><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2thfKlhHeO4/Vaa9fvAKciI/AAAAAAAAGa4/kcV8nIkRqGQ/s1600/photo%2B%25288%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2thfKlhHeO4/Vaa9fvAKciI/AAAAAAAAGa4/kcV8nIkRqGQ/s320/photo%2B%25288%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Local churches are designed to cope with the weather and not to look pretty.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NlYlWzKyAy0/Vaa9cu05TeI/AAAAAAAAGa0/zWEbFebK7MI/s1600/photo%2B%25287%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NlYlWzKyAy0/Vaa9cu05TeI/AAAAAAAAGa0/zWEbFebK7MI/s320/photo%2B%25287%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Large pieces of machinery abounded...with no obvious idea of what they are used for.</td></tr>
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Being a remote community, everything has to come in by air or sea. Norman was amazed that the fuel storage center gets one delivery a year and it arrives by sea.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Lxs5rIgXeys/Vaa9cdzGuJI/AAAAAAAAGbE/BH8eI87mH70/s1600/photo%2B%25286%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Lxs5rIgXeys/Vaa9cdzGuJI/AAAAAAAAGbE/BH8eI87mH70/s320/photo%2B%25286%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kuujjuaq's fuel terminal</td></tr>
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So, what happens next? We can say that Norman is being magnificently looked after by his new buddies from Air Inuit and it is now a waiting game, not only to see how the weather improves at Kuujjuaq, but also to make sure it improves for all the upcoming legs of this historic journey.<br />
We will of course keep you all updated as we get the latest news...<br />
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The Gyrox team<br />
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<a href="https://www.justgiving.com/gforgyro/" target="_blank">Consider donating to Norman's chosen UK charity: Bowel Cancer UK</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">To contact the autogyro circumnavigation team email gyroxgoesglobal@gmail.com</div>The GYROX Teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15913097194536611948noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3969453786501704363.post-17221099202310055822015-07-10T19:55:00.001+01:002015-07-10T19:55:19.985+01:00Norman heads into the Canadian Wilderness<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 15.4559993743896px;">Norman has departed from Schefferville airport where he stayed the night. He is now heading further north across the Canadian wilderness to the first of a long line of airports whose names would make a great Scrabble score! First stop - Kuujjuaq on the river Koksoak near Ungava Bay. </span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-p5iAHrxdM1A/VaAQqkf9HCI/AAAAAAAAGYg/hrzXvigWNeg/s1600/Untitled.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="241" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-p5iAHrxdM1A/VaAQqkf9HCI/AAAAAAAAGYg/hrzXvigWNeg/s320/Untitled.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kuujjuaq in the far north of Quebec Province</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 15.4559993743896px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 15.4559993743896px;">He will also accomplish a first just a few miles after departing Schefferville...the first time he has flown further North than at any time since he left Larne 5 years ago! Both Larne and a </span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 15.4559993743896px;">point 3 miles north of Schefferville lie at 54' 51" N Latitude...</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-40TS-mRfzM8/VaAQkfxWY9I/AAAAAAAAGYU/hVDeH194Jpo/s1600/61832782.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="223" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-40TS-mRfzM8/VaAQkfxWY9I/AAAAAAAAGYU/hVDeH194Jpo/s320/61832782.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kuujjuaq terminal...civilisation in the tundra!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 15.4559993743896px;"><br />Norman had an interesting stopover in Schefferville, an Iron Ore mining town, where everything was covered in a rust coloured dust! Luckily, the guys at Air Inuit found a place for Roxy to spend the night and saw Norman safely ensconced in the town's 'modern' hotel.</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4PND4pY9dGw/VaAQ61OxFBI/AAAAAAAAGY8/CT_4Y8Rlg_g/s1600/photo%2B3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4PND4pY9dGw/VaAQ61OxFBI/AAAAAAAAGY8/CT_4Y8Rlg_g/s320/photo%2B3.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">'Roxy' all tucked for the night in Schefferville</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 15.4559993743896px;"><br />The flight yesterday was quite an epic one and Norman reported that he saw only two other human's during his 5 hour flight and crossed only one road! Today's flight is into an even more barren area where Norman's only hope of a diversion landing would be on the permafrost or a convenient lakeside. But at least Kuujjuaq is a bit bigger than Schefferville with more cafe's and a post office, it even has a small beach... <i class="_4-k1 img sp_6-ALyxN5kwE sx_085816" style="background-image: url(https://fbstatic-a.akamaihd.net/rsrc.php/v2/yQ/r/d5zD6zt_Twr.png); background-position: 0px -486px; background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: 18px 504px; display: inline-block; height: 16px; vertical-align: -3px; width: 16px;"><u style="left: -999999px; position: absolute;">wink emotic</u></i><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_XGHnmmdpR4/VaAQwCh5J-I/AAAAAAAAGYs/ybXATjEzVwU/s1600/photo%2B1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_XGHnmmdpR4/VaAQwCh5J-I/AAAAAAAAGYs/ybXATjEzVwU/s320/photo%2B1.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Norman's hotel in Schefferville</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-K43hXSS7Ir0/VaAQ1erpesI/AAAAAAAAGY0/ZLv9QDPA9aw/s1600/photo%2B2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-K43hXSS7Ir0/VaAQ1erpesI/AAAAAAAAGY0/ZLv9QDPA9aw/s320/photo%2B2.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rust-dust is the prevailing colour as seen from Norman's hotel room</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Follow Norman's route via the onboard tracker - <a href="http://share.findmespot.com/shared/faces/viewspots.jsp?glId=0ft5ixJKpvl36j7EUyzbvXy7mnyRRfSND" target="_blank">Spot</a><br />
<br />
We apologise for the lack of blog posts recently, this has been due to workloads and logistics of getting information back.<br />
<br />
A series of catch up blog posts is being prepared to bring the flight up to date.<br />
<br />
The Gyrox Team<br />
<br />
********************************<br />
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<a href="https://www.justgiving.com/gforgyro/" target="_blank">Consider donating to Norman's chosen UK charity: Bowel Cancer UK</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/AviationEgypt" target="_blank">Get more updates from Norman’s Flight Support Team</a></div>
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</div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">To contact the autogyro circumnavigation team email gyroxgoesglobal@gmail.com</div>The GYROX Teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15913097194536611948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3969453786501704363.post-24248989996851091552015-06-12T16:30:00.000+01:002015-06-12T16:30:11.291+01:00A Tale of Time Zones, Mountains and States. Part One<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<br />
As we all followed the snaking line that marked Norman’s progress from
the west coast of Oregon into the Rockies it was easy to think that all was
going very easily for our intrepid pilot in his tiny yellow Autogyro. But a 2D
image, albeit a live tracker, does not show the realities of flying in this
region.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Those of us, who have followed the flight since day one, back in 2010,
will know that a departure followed by an arrival does not tell the story of
the flight. For this we have relied on Norman to send us back reports and
photos of the flights. But, as in all things technical, the vagaries of the
internet have meant that although Norman is flying through the country that
rules the internet, getting a good connection out in the Wild West is harder
than when he was in the deserts of Saudi Arabia. This has meant that we get a
knock on effect where Norman is a stop or two further on than the photos we are
receiving.</div>
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Therefore, this is a recap, covering Norman’s progress so far.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7-T5nvrLa-E/VXr1p66A6WI/AAAAAAAAGXc/LkD7-JaCz94/s1600/With%2BStewart%2BBailey%2BMuseum%2BCurator.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7-T5nvrLa-E/VXr1p66A6WI/AAAAAAAAGXc/LkD7-JaCz94/s320/With%2BStewart%2BBailey%2BMuseum%2BCurator.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Norman signing the display board that was used by the Evergreen Museum whilst Roxy was on display. With Stewart Bailey, the Museum Curator.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
As we know, there were 2 start days…the first,2nd June, was a washout
as Norman hit a wall of weather between McMinnville airport where Roxy had been
based since last autumn and the Pacific coast, which meant he had to return to
wait out the weather front.</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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The actual start of the flight happened on the morning of June 3<sup>rd</sup>,
a much quieter affair compared to the previous day when the mass media
converged on the <a href="http://evergreenmuseum.org/" target="_blank">Evergreen Museum </a>to see Norman off. <o:p></o:p><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-M9Y_5B69T_8/VXr1lna_QeI/AAAAAAAAGXU/qo5GHIJ-KaA/s1600/20150601_114514.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-M9Y_5B69T_8/VXr1lna_QeI/AAAAAAAAGXU/qo5GHIJ-KaA/s320/20150601_114514.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Norman gives a press conference prior to his 1st departure.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3ORYYGOfq3M/VXr1pr_i-_I/AAAAAAAAGXg/us8x2XcQndo/s1600/20150601_113617.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3ORYYGOfq3M/VXr1pr_i-_I/AAAAAAAAGXg/us8x2XcQndo/s320/20150601_113617.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All suited up and ready to go on June 2nd. Little did the media know that he would be back a few hours later.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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But even though it was a grey day with low clouds, Norman decided that
the forecast gave him a chance to get out and reach the ‘official’ starting
point of Tillamook Airport on the Pacific Coast, west of Portland Oregon. <o:p></o:p><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-piQb5TjtEMo/VXr1OI0mBfI/AAAAAAAAGXM/G6WVOG2oZDc/s1600/Untitleddeprain.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-piQb5TjtEMo/VXr1OI0mBfI/AAAAAAAAGXM/G6WVOG2oZDc/s320/Untitleddeprain.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Norman waves goodbye to small group who had turned out to see the 'actual' start of the journey home. A good idea of the weather at that time.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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On reaching the coast, he flew along the shoreline, thus making it a
true coast to coast flight when he does the same in Maine. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Norman was once again hosted by the team at <a href="http://www.sportcopter.com/" target="_blank">Sportcopter</a> during his
overnight stay in Scappoose before departing the next day, 4<sup>th</sup>
June, heading east across Oregon.<o:p></o:p><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tm3NuNmwvPc/VXr1J3i4VbI/AAAAAAAAGW8/egtNId-3yJI/s1600/IMG_5519%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tm3NuNmwvPc/VXr1J3i4VbI/AAAAAAAAGW8/egtNId-3yJI/s320/IMG_5519%25281%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Norman taxi's out from the SportCopter facility where their team waved him off.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6JEHx1Bh9sk/VXr1LazdzpI/AAAAAAAAGXE/q39geZdYk3M/s1600/IMG_5533%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6JEHx1Bh9sk/VXr1LazdzpI/AAAAAAAAGXE/q39geZdYk3M/s320/IMG_5533%25281%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Norman waves bye to the team from SportCopter as he starts the 2nd day of the flight across America. </td></tr>
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<br /></div>
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Touching the southernmost parts of Washington State, Norman and Roxy
followed the Columbia River through the Columbia Gorge as he made his way
across Oregon to his next stop at the Hermiston Municipal Airport; set in a
vast agricultural area made up of thousands of those circular fields created by
an ever-moving irrigating arm that turns around a central pivot, watering an
area with a diameter of up to 800 meters!<o:p></o:p><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iKzYs5gSp3Y/VXr2yMcyhyI/AAAAAAAAGXw/yHpVqtuIBvk/s1600/Untitled.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="163" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iKzYs5gSp3Y/VXr2yMcyhyI/AAAAAAAAGXw/yHpVqtuIBvk/s320/Untitled.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not a square field to be seen!</td></tr>
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Norman sent us this little anecdote of his arrival at Hermiston…<o:p></o:p></div>
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<i>"Yes arrived Hermiston, only one elderly lady running the office, no
knowledge of my arrival, seemed everyone else had gone home early.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>No matter she was very nice and gave me a lift to the Best Western and also
got the Gyro in a T hanger with open sides, so not so secure but out of the sun
at least. She thought another proper hanger would have been possible had anyone
else been around (this was all between 4 and 5 pm)."</i><o:p></o:p></div>
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We are preparing the next blog which covers the flights from Hermiston
to Yellowstone Park and Cody. This will be coming very soon.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Remember to follow Norman live via his ‘Spot’ tracker by clicking this
link…<o:p></o:p></div>
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http://share.findmespot.com/shared/faces/viewspots.jsp?glId=0ft5ixJKpvl36j7EUyzbvXy7mnyRRfSND</div>
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The Gyrox Team<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://www.gyroxgoesglobal.com/" target="_blank">For more info go to our website</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/GyroxGoesGlobal/143540602375581" target="_blank">Follow and 'Like' us on Facebook</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://twitter.com/GyroxGoesGlobal" target="_blank">Follow us on Twitter</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://www.justgiving.com/gforgyro/" target="_blank">Consider donating to Norman's chosen UK charity: Bowel Cancer UK</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/145814145446737/?fref=ts" target="_blank">Consider joining the authorised Facebook fan page</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/AviationEgypt" target="_blank">Get more updates from Norman’s Flight Support Team</a><o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">To contact the autogyro circumnavigation team email gyroxgoesglobal@gmail.com</div>The GYROX Teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15913097194536611948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3969453786501704363.post-12577896500427419592015-06-04T17:00:00.000+01:002015-06-04T22:07:00.627+01:00And We're Off!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><i><b>Yes, we can announce that the Gyrox Goes Global adventure is truly
back on track and Norman and Roxy are heading home. <o:p></o:p></b></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><i><b>They slipped out of McMinnville yesterday during a break in the
weather, catching us all by surprise, headed out to the Ocean so that the
flight can truly be called a coast to coast attempt.<o:p></o:p></b></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><b><i>Norman sent us his clarification as to what happened yesterday and
this is in his own words…</i><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><b>Hi everyone, yes the weather was
still a mixed bag…on the way over to Tillamook I flew around a few big rain
bursts. By contrast it was a nice bright breezy day by the coast and I spent an
enjoyable 15 minutes or so flying up the beach at 75 mph at 20 feet.<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><b>I then waited on the ground for
quite some time at Tillamook; the FBO guy was out in his truck on the airfield
and I had to wait until he appeared back to sign the FAI forms (<i>these are
needed to claim various aviation records</i>). I then took off around 4:00 pm to
Scappoose where <a href="http://www.sportcopter.com/" target="_blank">Sportcopter </a>are based. </b></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Oxce218RsSo/VXB0nBbnV9I/AAAAAAAAGWc/oTQOAdaVtRU/s1600/scappoose%2BSportcopter%2BHQ.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Oxce218RsSo/VXB0nBbnV9I/AAAAAAAAGWc/oTQOAdaVtRU/s320/scappoose%2BSportcopter%2BHQ.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Scappoose Airport</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><b>About an hour to fly back into the murky
mountains following Highway 6 and I then had to loiter a bit and detour to the
north at the last to avoid the worst of getting wet…a great feeling looking
down at the still glistening roads after a heavy downpour and yet you are
flying in the dry just behind it all…<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NW9ICrJceZg/VXB0t4h6JiI/AAAAAAAAGWk/vaND5ymsP68/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NW9ICrJceZg/VXB0t4h6JiI/AAAAAAAAGWk/vaND5ymsP68/s320/photo.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Norman did notice when passing this newsstand that he has made the front pages!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><b>I was very grateful for the big
American sized Forestry logging trucks…being quite large means the forestry
access roads are also quite substantial and so where it might appear on the
tracker that I have been on occasions flying away from the security (in case of
emergency landings) of the local public road network in the heavily forested
mountains, it actually has been the case that there are some equally as good
logging tracks to follow. These tracks are more temporary of course and probably
won’t show on the satellite maps.<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;"><b>I am now in a very pleasant B&B at the end of the runway at Scappoose. Tomorrow, improving weather will allow me an earlier start circa 10-11 am, to head up the Columbia Gorge, following the Colombia River to my next planned stop at Hermiston Municipal Airport in NE Oregon.</b></span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ihFY68gdPgY/VXB0nWEdrhI/AAAAAAAAGWg/rQ83-XxcQ24/s1600/a5f7b6a6-359d-4f6f-bd05-477bac16d925.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="235" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ihFY68gdPgY/VXB0nWEdrhI/AAAAAAAAGWg/rQ83-XxcQ24/s320/a5f7b6a6-359d-4f6f-bd05-477bac16d925.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Beautiful Colombia Gorge</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_QPE-9DNGHQ/VXB0d1GxILI/AAAAAAAAGWQ/2LLlkOl8FHM/s1600/HoodRiver.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="193" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_QPE-9DNGHQ/VXB0d1GxILI/AAAAAAAAGWQ/2LLlkOl8FHM/s320/HoodRiver.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Colombia River</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;"><i><b>* * *</b></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><i><b>We will be checking Norman’s tracker and will announce the
departure on his Facebook pages.<o:p></o:p></b></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><b><i>You can follow Norman’s progress live whilst he is in the air by
clicking this link.</i><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><b>http://share.findmespot.com/shared/faces/viewspots.jsp?glId=0ft5ixJKpvl36j7EUyzbvXy7mnyRRfSND</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><b><i>For latest updates check out and ‘like’ the Gyrox Goes Global
Facebook page.</i><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><b>https://www.facebook.com/pages/GyroxGoesGlobal/143540602375581</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><b>The Gyrox Team</b></span></div>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">To contact the autogyro circumnavigation team email gyroxgoesglobal@gmail.com</div>The GYROX Teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15913097194536611948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3969453786501704363.post-72785403550795069002015-06-02T23:17:00.001+01:002015-06-03T06:59:04.117+01:00Rain Stops Play!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<i><b>Many of you may have been wondering what happened yesterday when after a heartwarming departure from McMinnville airport in Oregon, in front of well-wishers, new friends and the assembled ranks of the media, why half way through his flight Norman turned Roxy around and returned to the airport he had not long left behind, for what he thought would be the last time.</b></i></div>
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<i><b>All will be explained in Norman's own words...</b></i></div>
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<i><b><br /></b></i></div>
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<i><b> * * *</b></i></div>
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<i><b><br /></b></i></div>
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<b>After a tremendous send-off day yesterday from both the Museum and from McMinnville Airport, the weather then decided to throw the proverbial spanner into the works!</b></div>
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<b>I departed lightly loaded from the Museum, using the car park access roads: as good as they have been for all my various local flights of late they are not comparable to the 5,420 ft Main Runway sitting just across the highway at McMinnville Municipal Airport. So I landed there to load Roxy up with all my luggage. Re-packing the Gyro for the expedition flight was both nostalgic and frustrating...great to be finally getting loaded up for our 'Flying Road-trip' across America, the aircraft looks and feels much different when loaded heavy, but it's slightly frustrating too as various items in the luggage are always packed away in the wrong place.</b></div>
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<b>On heading out from Larne originally, I remember it took me about 2 weeks to finally get every item in the bag or storage places that it needed to go in...and I expect it will now again take a few flying days to really settle in and get organised properly.</b></div>
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<b>Once packed (approximately at least) and ready, I departed 'heavy', bound for Tillamook. I reached about half way to the coast before the broken confused cloud base, that had been flyable, became more organised and presented itself as an unbroken wall of white. As the mountain range and tree-lined ridge climbed, the cloud base reduced and soon enough the two met and closed the path ahead. I investigated a couple of route options, always mindful to retain my 'escape route' back out to the east, only to meet the same impassable conditions.</b></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rUqYlLRJ3bQ/VW4koP-MDvI/AAAAAAAAGWA/5X9Th92c9AQ/s1600/spot%2Boregon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="158" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rUqYlLRJ3bQ/VW4koP-MDvI/AAAAAAAAGWA/5X9Th92c9AQ/s320/spot%2Boregon.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The point where the tracker showed something had changed</td></tr>
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<b>In the event it was a very easy decision to turn back, there was simply no safe passage ahead. This morning a similar weather pattern has continued and as I write this piece for the blog, I am very happy to look out the window at a very soggy and misty Aircraft Museum as it makes you feel much more relaxed when the vexing decision that has to be made by all pilots over whether to commit to flying that day or not is easily made for you by the weather.</b></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uotg0lWPmJ0/VW4kWXKAr0I/AAAAAAAAGVo/CLbc-22Lk-o/s1600/photo%2B1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uotg0lWPmJ0/VW4kWXKAr0I/AAAAAAAAGVo/CLbc-22Lk-o/s320/photo%2B1.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Great weather for ducks...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SHkvtlF5pvI/VW4kfI0XuSI/AAAAAAAAGV4/aVGuEnPhTbY/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SHkvtlF5pvI/VW4kfI0XuSI/AAAAAAAAGV4/aVGuEnPhTbY/s320/photo.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Weather not so good for little autogyro's</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<b><br /></b></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
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<b>Tomorrow the weather is looking to be improving, so hopefully we can saddle up once again and head off for them thar hills once more.</b></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
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<b>Cheers</b></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
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<b>Norman</b></div>
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<b> * * *</b></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
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<b><i>We will of course bring you the latest updates as we get them, including any news on the re-start of the flight.</i></b></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
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<b>The Gyrox Team</b></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">To contact the autogyro circumnavigation team email gyroxgoesglobal@gmail.com</div>The GYROX Teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15913097194536611948noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3969453786501704363.post-17286939411852781272015-06-01T15:19:00.001+01:002015-06-01T15:40:51.356+01:00The Great Day Has Arrived<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Yes, it is finally here; 5 years and 2 months since Norman
departed Sandy Bay in Larne back in March 2010; the start of the final phase of
Norman’s flight around the World begins today, 1<sup>st</sup> June!<o:p></o:p></div>
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Norman has been at the<a href="http://evergreenmuseum.org/" target="_blank"> Evergreen Aviation and Space Museum</a> at
McMinnville airport in Oregon for the last two weeks, getting ‘Roxy’ ready for
the big day; undertaking local flights to check all is working well and making
last minute adjustments where necessary. One of the flights included a stop at
<a href="http://www.sportcopter.com/" target="_blank">Sportcopter</a>, a local Autogyro facility where the members gave Norman and Roxy a
wonderful welcome which included some multi-ship formation flying to get some
great air to air shots of our intrepid duo.<o:p></o:p></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rHBVJcTMQOE/VWxmcl5zoyI/AAAAAAAAGU0/o41sxU6zKGQ/s1600/Flying%2BOregon%2BMcM%2Bto%2BSkappooseblog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="179" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rHBVJcTMQOE/VWxmcl5zoyI/AAAAAAAAGU0/o41sxU6zKGQ/s320/Flying%2BOregon%2BMcM%2Bto%2BSkappooseblog.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Norman takes a 'Selfie' whilst flying over the Oregon countryside</td></tr>
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G-YROX, the MT-03 Autogyro, which has been affectionately named Roxy
(an anagram of the registration), has been on show in the Evergreen museum
since last autumn after arriving in the USA in a container from Japan. The long
hoped for Russian permits to allow the Gyro to enter Russia and continue on to
Alaska never came through as the authorities stuck their heads in the sand,
ignoring all our efforts to make this a true circumnavigation. But, as we all
know, Norman can never be called a quitter and over the summer last year a new
plan came to fruition. <o:p></o:p></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5nQbHxasdFM/VWxmhxzI1GI/AAAAAAAAGVM/lbwf2KdzO6o/s1600/sportcopter%2Bcrew%2BJim%2Bis%2Bto%2Bmy%2Bleftblog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5nQbHxasdFM/VWxmhxzI1GI/AAAAAAAAGVM/lbwf2KdzO6o/s320/sportcopter%2Bcrew%2BJim%2Bis%2Bto%2Bmy%2Bleftblog.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Norman and Roxy with the crew from SportCopter</td></tr>
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Roxy is already the farthest flown Autogyro in history and already
holds many FAI World Records for distance flown and times over set courses. But
the new plan gives Norman and Roxy a chance at two new records.<o:p></o:p></div>
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1…To set the time for an autogyro to cross from the West Coast United States to East coast of Canada.<o:p></o:p></div>
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2…To be the first autogyro to cross the North Atlantic from North America
to the United Kingdom, setting a number of other records for specific routes along the way...Canada - Greenland - Iceland etc..<o:p></o:p></div>
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Flying solo, with no following support, Norman will be hoping to meet
up with like-minded enthusiasts and pilots along the way. He is always happy to
chat and give talks to clubs and schools about his 5 year adventure, so if you
are anywhere along his route and would like to have Norman as guest of honour
please let us know. Contact details below.<o:p></o:p></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GcWAeulXATE/VWxmd7bC06I/AAAAAAAAGU8/Bq0N36DOK_o/s1600/GGG%2Bnew%2BTurtle%2Bpac%2Band%2Bnew%2BEvergreen%2BStickerblog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GcWAeulXATE/VWxmd7bC06I/AAAAAAAAGU8/Bq0N36DOK_o/s320/GGG%2Bnew%2BTurtle%2Bpac%2Band%2Bnew%2BEvergreen%2BStickerblog.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Norman's famous TurtlePac fuel bladder is now firmly in place in the rear seat</td></tr>
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Although Norman flies Roxy away from McMinnville for the final time
today, he is not going far…just a short hop to the coast near Portland at
Tillamook Airport. From there he will start the transcontinental flight to
Maine on Tuesday morning with his first planned stop at Pendleton Municipal Airport,
Oregon, in the North East of the state. <o:p></o:p></div>
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We will be giving updates regularly in this blog and on his Facebook
pages as to the upcoming stops during his journey. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Atk19zaSoOY/VWxmn9xHG7I/AAAAAAAAGVU/1_JuRslgEMs/s1600/IMG_5149blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Atk19zaSoOY/VWxmn9xHG7I/AAAAAAAAGVU/1_JuRslgEMs/s320/IMG_5149blog.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Norman affixes the SportCopter sticker to Roxy</td></tr>
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Norman says that he has mixed emotions about today. Obviously he is
raring to get back in the saddle and complete what he set out to do all those
years ago but he will also be sad to leave behind all the good friends he has
made in Oregon and especially at the Evergreen museum where Roxy has been well
looked after by a really great bunch of people who really cared for our little
yellow friend.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Norman feels comfortable in the fact that he will be flying through one
of the most GA friendly countries in the world and expects to make many new
friends along the way.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-V5mMeMpEJ-I/VWxmgx81EYI/AAAAAAAAGVE/HC_cGkjcnbA/s1600/Stewart%2Bcurator%2BLarry%2Bdirector%2Band%2BNSblog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-V5mMeMpEJ-I/VWxmgx81EYI/AAAAAAAAGVE/HC_cGkjcnbA/s320/Stewart%2Bcurator%2BLarry%2Bdirector%2Band%2BNSblog.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A fond farewell to friends from the Evergreen Museum</td></tr>
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Anyone who followed the blog during the previous flights throughout the
years will know that we liked to showcase not only the flying adventure but
also the places and people Norman met along the way. Expect much more of the
same during this second phase of the odyssey. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Norman is expected to depart McMinnville at around 3 pm local time today
amidst a bevy of news and media crews. <o:p></o:p></div>
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You can follow his flights all the way back to Larne via his on-board ‘Spot’
tracker by clicking this link…<o:p></o:p></div>
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<o:p> http://share.findmespot.com/shared/faces/viewspots.jsp?glId=0ft5ixJKpvl36j7EUyzbvXy7mnyRRfSND</o:p></div>
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If you want to be one of those who would like to meet Norman on arrival
at your local airport during his journey please send us an email to either…<o:p></o:p></div>
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ops@gasupportegypt.com or gyroxgoesglobal@gmail.com</div>
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If you are from the media industry and would like to know more and how
to get involved at some point please send an email to…<o:p></o:p></div>
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worldreachpr @ <a class="c_nobdr t_prs" href="http://gmail.com/" target="_blank">gmail.com</a></div>
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So all that is left to say on this momentous day is ‘Onwards and
Upwards Norman and Roxy, the Emerald isle is beckoning”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Clear skies, fair winds and many happy landings.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The Gyrox Team<o:p></o:p></div>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">To contact the autogyro circumnavigation team email gyroxgoesglobal@gmail.com</div>The GYROX Teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15913097194536611948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3969453786501704363.post-8526320363971629312015-05-18T19:11:00.000+01:002015-05-19T07:25:00.513+01:00The Long Wait is Nearly Over!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Most regular readers will be aware that over the past winter
Roxy has been enjoying a very relaxing stay in a very exclusive hangar
"resort" in McMinnville, just south of Portland, Oregon. This luxury
resort normally only accommodates residents who have moved in the highest
circles of their society, achieved the very pinnacle of their careers and
amassed the most numerous of accolades; an extremely distinguished clientele
who are offered permanent residence strictly "by invitation only"...
and you can understand why...a light and airy hangar with full air conditioning
24/7 including temperature/humidity/dust control and legions of highly trained
staff continually fussing over even the smallest of details to ensure that
these pampered guests appear meticulously polished and groomed at all times. Everyone
is preened in constant readiness to meet and satisfy their adoring fans when
the gated community doors are opened to the public each day.</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fv-eBRQn6jQ/VVokZwrXgeI/AAAAAAAAGTY/ZL5-xLH4O2M/s1600/GYROX%2Bwith%2Bthe%2BSpruce%2Bgooseblog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="188" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fv-eBRQn6jQ/VVokZwrXgeI/AAAAAAAAGTY/ZL5-xLH4O2M/s320/GYROX%2Bwith%2Bthe%2BSpruce%2Bgooseblog.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Roxy shares floor space with the celebrities of the aviation world.<br />
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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Which must beg the question; how did we ever manage to blag
our way in?!<o:p></o:p></div>
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(Note that I say it "normally" only accommodates
such guests...in our case, it simply flags up how very, very fortunate we have
been to be allowed our temporary winter billet surrounded by such iconic and
famous aircraft on permanent display.) Many thanks again to the <a href="http://www.evergreenmuseum.org/" target="_blank">EvergreenAviation and Space Museum</a> for proving to be such perfect hosts. <o:p></o:p></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FOMOZfcR2nU/VVokZDjy2zI/AAAAAAAAGTQ/cUBFu9f3xiQ/s1600/GYROX%2Bspirit%2B6blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="181" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FOMOZfcR2nU/VVokZDjy2zI/AAAAAAAAGTQ/cUBFu9f3xiQ/s320/GYROX%2Bspirit%2B6blog.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Roxy with The Spirit of St Louis (exact replica) and Howard Hughes' Spruce Goose</td></tr>
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It has also been extremely interesting to be able to stop
and chat to the many people who have wandered past our own little
"enclosure" in the Museum while I have been busy working on various
background maintenance tasks....The enclosure is surrounded by a low chain link
fence that serves to keep the visitors a safe distance from all the exhibits.
However I have now discovered that the chain also has the equal (and opposite)
effect of safely keeping the exhibit away from the public... for in my case of
course, it is a live exhibit on display (at those times when I happen to be
"in residence"), and the view that meets the eye for the passing
public is akin perhaps to watching some sort of over active performing monkey
struggle and squeeze into a bright red suit in the highly optimistic hope of
being finally ready to go off flying any time soon...</div>
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<o:p></o:p>At such times I sense an idea of what it must feel like to
be one of the lesser side show attractions at a travelling circus (you know the
ones, right at the end of the line and often overlooked) and think perhaps I
should really be busy dancing a little jig or telling a few jokes to entertain
the folks who happen to be passing by! Our lowly status is very short lived
however and is dramatically transformed once the monkey is fully suited and
booted, for then, all of a sudden, it's Show Time!... The little chain is
removed, heads turn and the once static fixed exhibit now transforms into being
a fantastic active flying machine; rolled out and being walked through the
concourse to the huge hangar doors at the rear of the display building. Once
outside we are no longer a Museum Exhibit, but are free again to take to the
wide open Oregon skies.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ig8SLVdVNA4/VVokSDKs1wI/AAAAAAAAGTI/TTDNVAJBUco/s1600/untitled-5blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ig8SLVdVNA4/VVokSDKs1wI/AAAAAAAAGTI/TTDNVAJBUco/s320/untitled-5blog.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Norman and Roxy...Star Attractions </td></tr>
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A few hours later sees our safe return to the Museum (often
just before closing time) and on rolling Roxy back into her enclosure I often
think what must the other exhibits be thinking. Most now are of course
permanently grounded but perhaps they would say "Oh to have the same
chance of taking to the air yet again! Even just for one more flight..."<o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jSH-KxFTY_M/VVrWlZYO4SI/AAAAAAAAGT0/iyl82Xt59RU/s1600/GGG%2Bgrab%2Bof%2BMcM%2B05blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="156" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jSH-KxFTY_M/VVrWlZYO4SI/AAAAAAAAGT0/iyl82Xt59RU/s320/GGG%2Bgrab%2Bof%2BMcM%2B05blog.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Norman arriving back at the Evergreen Museum hangars, McMinnville airport.</td></tr>
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And so we should also look toward our next flight, or should I say the continuation of the flight, the one that has kept me focused and occupied for the past 5 years...<br />
The plan going forward is to take off in early June from
McMinnville and initially, at least, head west...this is in the opposite
direction to where we ideally want to go but it is necessary to backtrack a
little to reach the Pacific Coast. From the Coastal airfield at Tillamook (a
former Naval air Station and still home to an absolutely enormous wooden
Airship hangar - it remains the largest wooden built structure in the world,
apparently) we will then be able to turn Eastbound once more to continue
onwards on the global circumnavigation challenge. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Portland Oregon to Portland Maine</b><o:p></o:p></div>
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Both Portland Airports are major transport hubs and as such
are very busy, very complicated and very expensive for small light aviation
traffic to fly in and out of. <o:p></o:p></div>
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So instead for practicality, we have elected to use smaller
more GA friendly airports near to each Portland City and that also happen to be
near to the western and eastern US Coastlines. <o:p></o:p></div>
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It means perhaps our route should really be called
"Within the very near vicinity of Portland to Portland" but I think
everyone will agree that simply "Portland to Portland" has a much
better ring to it...<o:p></o:p></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aCPltgILWXs/VVom3ImI1BI/AAAAAAAAGTk/wjlXAUlqrR0/s1600/map2.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="160" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aCPltgILWXs/VVom3ImI1BI/AAAAAAAAGTk/wjlXAUlqrR0/s320/map2.gif" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Coast to Coast - Route is subject to change</td></tr>
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Broadly speaking from Tillamook, the route will then fly
east, pass "within the very near vicinity" of Portland Oregon and up
the mighty Columbia Gorge, before turning south east to follow the Snake River
and north west to pass by the "Craters of the Moon". Hopefully, we
are then able to overfly Yellowstone and then on eastwards to take in the
sights of Bighorn, Thunder Basin and the Black Hills of South Dakota. Mount
Rushmore (with the 4 carved president heads and newly formed Native American
head) is also close by here. Crossing the Missouri River the easterly progress
is maintained through the wide agricultural expanses of the mid-west, through
Minnesota and Wisconsin to reach Oshkosh, home of both a world renowned
aviation Museum and a huge Annual Fly-In Air show (alas this is held later in
the summer). Passing south of the great lakes then brings us close by Niagara
Falls before reaching over to the eastern coastline and "within the very
near vicinity" of Portland Maine.</div>
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<o:p></o:p>From this point, the overall route pauses briefly (for a
visit to Nantucket Island) before heading north and then eastwards up into
Eastern Canada, Greenland, Iceland, Faeroe Islands, Outer Hebrides, Scottish
west coast and back home to Larne, Northern Ireland. For a more detailed
description of that sector we shall have to wait for a future blog... </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ErMNzteRBU4/VVom3Ls068I/AAAAAAAAGTo/U-hgEJxeu0w/s1600/map5.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="160" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ErMNzteRBU4/VVom3Ls068I/AAAAAAAAGTo/U-hgEJxeu0w/s320/map5.gif" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The final legs...then Home at last!</td></tr>
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Cheers<br />
<br />
Norman<br />
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">To contact the autogyro circumnavigation team email gyroxgoesglobal@gmail.com</div>The GYROX Teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15913097194536611948noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3969453786501704363.post-43273424070459365902014-12-27T22:35:00.000+00:002014-12-27T22:37:40.846+00:00All at Sea - Part Two<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b><i>This is the second part of Norman's Christmas and New year blog post 2014 in which he describes what has been happening to and what will be planned for the Gyrox Goes Global adventure. In part one he described how 3 years of stalemate ended with his decision to forego the 'full' circumnavigation attempt as any hope of flying across the Pacific using Russian airfields as stepping stones to Alaska was dashed by the 'powers that be' in Russia. </i></b></div>
<div>
<b><i>In this part, written by Norman, we find out how 'Roxy' finally left Japan, where she is now and what Norman has planned for 2015...</i></b><br />
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<b style="text-align: center;"><i> </i></b></div>
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<b><i><br /></i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><u>Moving Times</u></b></div>
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<b><u><br /></u></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><b>My first
goal was to move the aircraft from Shonai Airport – as I was not permitted to
fly Roxy over to North America, the next best thing was to order up a shipping
container and send her over there by sea.</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><b>Firstly
the logistics of shipping an aircraft by this method threw up some challenges…by
consultation with Gerry Speich back at Rotorsport UK, we knew that by removing
the mainwheels and rotorhead the MT-03 is capable of fitting into a standard 20
foot shipping container, however the big unknown was how to maneuver the
aircraft into the container without any wheels in place….this would remain a
concern until we actually had a go at getting it in the box…more of this later
on…!<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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</div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><b>Prior to
that we had to organize the move of the aircraft from Airport to Seaport…fortunately
Shonai Airport is only about 30 minutes drive from Sakata Seaport and so with
the help of Kudo Masanobu (Shonai Airport) and Endo Hirofumi (Nippon Express) we
devised a plan…</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-S16sVQ7RNpo/VJ73KU40d6I/AAAAAAAAGM0/G2twaDFBLWI/s1600/1GGG%2BFinal%2Broll%2Bout%2Bfrom%2BShonai.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-S16sVQ7RNpo/VJ73KU40d6I/AAAAAAAAGM0/G2twaDFBLWI/s1600/1GGG%2BFinal%2Broll%2Bout%2Bfrom%2BShonai.jpg" height="177" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Roxy gets her final roll-out at Shonai Airport.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><b>The first job was to hire a
flatbed truck (of the type used to transport cars that have broken down). The
truck was allowed to enter ‘airside’ at the airport and we were able to quickly
roll Roxy up onto the trucks rear loading ramp and secure in place for the
journey. </b></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_whrGy2kQSI/VJ73LKxBE2I/AAAAAAAAGNA/pA-XD2yqy0o/s1600/2GGG%2BShonai%2BAirport%2Bstickers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_whrGy2kQSI/VJ73LKxBE2I/AAAAAAAAGNA/pA-XD2yqy0o/s1600/2GGG%2BShonai%2BAirport%2Bstickers.jpg" height="191" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Roxy is loaded onto the flat-bed truck and Norman receives airport stickers from the management.</td></tr>
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<b><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">A lovely ceremony was held
outside the Airport building to mark the </span><span style="font-size: 15px;">aircraft's</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> final departure after her 3
years of enforced residency, a somewhat bitter sweet experience as you can
imagine, given that my real aim had been to fly her onwards rather than proceed
on the back of a truck. </span></span></b></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zZJAwQKu8gs/VJ73LPgQyfI/AAAAAAAAGM8/ohTXghauQp8/s1600/3GGG%2BGood%2Bluck%2Bbanner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zZJAwQKu8gs/VJ73LPgQyfI/AAAAAAAAGM8/ohTXghauQp8/s1600/3GGG%2BGood%2Bluck%2Bbanner.jpg" height="179" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Norman receives a 'Good Luck' banner from the airport staff.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BRZaMyrClpw/VJ73MbycFuI/AAAAAAAAGNM/GbIgXp6Aubg/s1600/4GGG%2BShonai%2Boperations%2Bstaff.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BRZaMyrClpw/VJ73MbycFuI/AAAAAAAAGNM/GbIgXp6Aubg/s1600/4GGG%2BShonai%2Boperations%2Bstaff.jpg" height="179" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Norman and Roxy with the airport and operations staff</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CzjxMKbtVas/VJ73OaDZwFI/AAAAAAAAGNU/pdZy53HTF24/s1600/5GGG%2BFirestation%2Bcrew.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CzjxMKbtVas/VJ73OaDZwFI/AAAAAAAAGNU/pdZy53HTF24/s1600/5GGG%2BFirestation%2Bcrew.jpg" height="179" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Norman and Roxy with the Shonai Airport Fire service who have hosted Roxy for the last 3 years.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><b>The journey to the Sakata
Seaport went smoothly, with just the odd look of curiosity from fellow road
users and passers-by!</b></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kxySpcQBdkg/VJ73PYZtA4I/AAAAAAAAGNc/H7nuZYeknXU/s1600/7GGG%2BLeaving%2BShonai%2Bfor%2BSakata%2BPort.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kxySpcQBdkg/VJ73PYZtA4I/AAAAAAAAGNc/H7nuZYeknXU/s1600/7GGG%2BLeaving%2BShonai%2Bfor%2BSakata%2BPort.jpg" height="179" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After 3 years, Roxy is finally on the move again.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hjm9n2OfEJo/VJ73Q6mp01I/AAAAAAAAGNk/vbr3vGOtvvM/s1600/8GGG%2BShonai%2Bto%2BSakata%2Bcoastal%2Broute.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hjm9n2OfEJo/VJ73Q6mp01I/AAAAAAAAGNk/vbr3vGOtvvM/s1600/8GGG%2BShonai%2Bto%2BSakata%2Bcoastal%2Broute.jpg" height="205" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Taking the coastal road to Sakata Sea Port.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><b>Unloading
the Gyro was easily done inside one of the large cargo holding sheds at the port
and a quick discussion followed with the Nippon Express ‘stuffers’ (for that is
what you do when loading a container at the docks - you literally ‘stuff’ the
goods into the box) about how to load up the shipping container the next day.</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FvGhA0vQI-4/VJ76Uad9oiI/AAAAAAAAGOE/5Cr9XubTCBE/s1600/1GGG%2Barrival%2Bat%2BSakata%2BPort.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FvGhA0vQI-4/VJ76Uad9oiI/AAAAAAAAGOE/5Cr9XubTCBE/s1600/1GGG%2Barrival%2Bat%2BSakata%2BPort.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Roxy arriving at Sakata Seaport</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<b><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">When it came, the next day
proved to be quite dramatic! Our primary objective was to get the Gyro to fit
in the box…there was no problem in length or width but the mast on a MT03 gyro
is normally much higher than can fit in through the </span><span style="font-size: 15px;">door frame</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> of a standard 20
foot shipping container. We had already removed the Rotor blades at the airport
and to now further reduce the overall height I removed the whole Rotor Head
assembly from the mast head. Next the main wheels and brake caliper assemblies
were also removed and replaced with small trolley wheels (think supermarket trolley
size). </span></span></b></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9ICYKy_ACMY/VJ76UFijNNI/AAAAAAAAGN4/GUfNLy_nTBg/s1600/2GGG%2Bulitmate%2Blow%2Bprofile%2Bwheels.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9ICYKy_ACMY/VJ76UFijNNI/AAAAAAAAGN4/GUfNLy_nTBg/s1600/2GGG%2Bulitmate%2Blow%2Bprofile%2Bwheels.jpg" height="300" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Roxy looking very odd with her new main undercarriage wheels!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: 11pt;">This gave the Gyro a very odd
appearance, almost scraping its belly along the floor but it had the desired
effect of reducing the overall height whilst keeping some degree of
maneuverability in order to roll the aircraft into the container. The big
question now was were the trolley wheels
small enough in diameter? There was only one way to find out for sure; we
rolled Roxy to the slight ramp to enter the container and initially we tried
pushing her in nose first…the front end fitted but alas the mast section was
still about </span><span style="font-size: 15px;">5 mm</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> too high for the doorframe!</span></b></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lcOYUisdsbg/VJ76WNrC1tI/AAAAAAAAGOQ/Hq-pIFd89fc/s1600/3aaGGG%2Bjust%2Bsqueezes%2Bin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lcOYUisdsbg/VJ76WNrC1tI/AAAAAAAAGOQ/Hq-pIFd89fc/s1600/3aaGGG%2Bjust%2Bsqueezes%2Bin.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There's always Plan B</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: 11pt;">We all looked at each other a
little aghast and with rising trepidation we hauled her back out and tried
again, this time going in tail first. The slight ramp up into the container kept
the nose wheel lower than the raised container floor and this meant that a
favourable angle was kept on the mast as it approached under the doorframe…and with
much whooping and hollering, in a lovely controlled manouvre, much like a limbo
dancer performs, the mast gracefully slid under and inside the doorframe with
only </span><span style="font-size: 15px;">3 mm</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> to spare!!</span></b></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5EC3ajJTxW4/VJ76UUSh1fI/AAAAAAAAGN8/z1V6D31bc1U/s1600/3aGGG%2B3mm%2Bto%2Bspare%2Bplenty%2Bof%2Broom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5EC3ajJTxW4/VJ76UUSh1fI/AAAAAAAAGN8/z1V6D31bc1U/s1600/3aGGG%2B3mm%2Bto%2Bspare%2Bplenty%2Bof%2Broom.jpg" height="204" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">3 millimeters more and Roxy would still be in Japan :-)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><b>A big
relief all round as those 3 mm prevented the need to use a special container
with a higher roof (which are all twice as long at 40 feet, the addition of
which would have easily added over US$1000 to the overall shipping costs!</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><b>With
Roxy now safely inside the box all that remained was to chock the suspension
bow/airframe, load in the boxes of spare parts, blades and other assorted ‘luggage’
and lash everything down with copious quantities of cargo strap tape. </b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-g-TjE52Du7I/VJ7_TppnE5I/AAAAAAAAGPU/77coEN3vp1E/s1600/4GGG%2Bwell%2Bsecured.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-g-TjE52Du7I/VJ7_TppnE5I/AAAAAAAAGPU/77coEN3vp1E/s1600/4GGG%2Bwell%2Bsecured.jpg" height="320" width="243" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Roxy and assorted 'luggage' being battened down for the long sea voyage.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><b>After one last check inside,
the very last, almost ceremonial, act was to close and lock the doors followed
by affixing a special security seal that we would only remove again in America. </b></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7N_DeZKB0g8/VJ76YruT6JI/AAAAAAAAGOg/8CGL67RBaCs/s1600/5GGG%2Bfinally%2Bready%2Bto%2Bclose%2Bthe%2Bdoors.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7N_DeZKB0g8/VJ76YruT6JI/AAAAAAAAGOg/8CGL67RBaCs/s1600/5GGG%2Bfinally%2Bready%2Bto%2Bclose%2Bthe%2Bdoors.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The next time these pair will be together is on the other side of the Pacific Ocean!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XXqUupZzWfE/VJ76aVPpleI/AAAAAAAAGOo/x2filB50cLI/s1600/6GGG%2BKudo-san%2Band%2BNippon%2BExpress%2Bhandlers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XXqUupZzWfE/VJ76aVPpleI/AAAAAAAAGOo/x2filB50cLI/s1600/6GGG%2BKudo-san%2Band%2BNippon%2BExpress%2Bhandlers.jpg" height="184" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Time for one final photo call...Kudo-San, Norman, Roxy and the Nippon Express 'Stuffers'</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: 11pt;">All boxed up and ready to go,
I </span><span style="font-size: 15px;">couldn't</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> resist taking a marker pen and signing a small GYROX label on the front door….almost as proof to myself that it would definitely be the same box
that would arrive at the other end!! </span></b></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0v0jhlBQmTo/VJ76bTC9MbI/AAAAAAAAGOw/2R2qN1Vga3A/s1600/7GGG%2Bsealing%2Bcontainer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0v0jhlBQmTo/VJ76bTC9MbI/AAAAAAAAGOw/2R2qN1Vga3A/s1600/7GGG%2Bsealing%2Bcontainer.jpg" height="216" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Norman gets the job of sealing the container</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jBoNeBbVL64/VJ76cZYQPSI/AAAAAAAAGO4/8HNbqlAMMVg/s1600/8GGG%2BKudo-san%2Bchecks%2Bthe%2Block.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jBoNeBbVL64/VJ76cZYQPSI/AAAAAAAAGO4/8HNbqlAMMVg/s1600/8GGG%2BKudo-san%2Bchecks%2Bthe%2Block.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kudo-San double checks and it is time to start then next chapter.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: 11pt;">The </span><span style="font-size: 15px;">Aircraft's</span></b><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><b> journey across to America was slightly convoluted, as is the
vagaries of international shipping routes…First, a small feeder container
vessel took our box from Sakata Port, Yamagata Prefecture, Japan, directly to
the large international hub seaport of Busan in South Korea, then from Busan it
was a direct sailing across the North Pacific to Tacoma Port near Seattle. From
there our box was trucked by road some 200 miles south to arrive at the
Evergreen Aviation and Space Museum in McMinnville, Oregon. (just south of
Portland). The Museum very kindly offered to put Roxy on temporary display over
the winter period and this proved to be a great help in the ongoing and ever
present logistics of keeping the aircraft both Secure and Airworthy at all
times…there surely cannot be many lucky Gyros that find themselves in hangers
that are not only strictly Temperature and Humidity controlled, but also in the
company of some of the world’s most iconic aircraft, including the huge Howard
Hughes ‘Spruce Goose’ Hercules flying boat, a fine example of a B17 Flying Fortress,
an X-15 Rocket plane and a Mach 3 Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird (one of only 32 that
were ever produced). </b> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3aoOGGUjD3w/VJ8CjjioEvI/AAAAAAAAGPg/t57tTsm3nfs/s1600/GGG%2Barriving%2Bat%2BEvergreen%2BMuseum%2BHangar%2Bdoors.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3aoOGGUjD3w/VJ8CjjioEvI/AAAAAAAAGPg/t57tTsm3nfs/s1600/GGG%2Barriving%2Bat%2BEvergreen%2BMuseum%2BHangar%2Bdoors.jpg" height="176" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The container with Roxy inside, arriving at the Evergreen Air and Space Museum</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><b><u>The Arrival</u></b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><b><u><br /></u></b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><b>I
arranged to meet the Container as it was delivered to the Museum; however my
plans were a little compromised by a delay in Customs clearance entering the
USA at Tacoma. Customs, in their wisdom, decided to hold onto our box to
conduct a random x-ray check using a huge machine that can scan the contents of
a whole container without opening it…However, soon enough, after several extra
days delay, the sight of our box arriving on the back of a big American haulage
truck soon brought a smile to our faces. The next immediate problem we faced
was how exactly to get the aircraft out of the box again!</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><b>When we loaded in Japan, we
had the advantage of having the Container down on the ground. It was
comparatively easy (apart from the limbo dance element) to simply roll the
aircraft up a slight incline and into place. Now we were faced with a new dilemma,
the box was now elevated, sitting high on the back of the road truck. One
option would have been to rent a crane to lift the box down to ground level,
but on further discussion with Terry, the resident ‘go to’ man and head ‘Fixer’
at the Museum, we opted for a slightly more creative approach. By strapping a
small flatbed trailer onto the forks of the resident forklift truck we were
able to construct a rough and ready form of ‘elevating platform’ on which to
roll the gyro out at container level and lower gently to the ground. </b></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ltajpiURKQs/VJ8ClyGetDI/AAAAAAAAGP4/3mUTs1YdSZo/s1600/GGG%2Bcoming%2Bout%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ltajpiURKQs/VJ8ClyGetDI/AAAAAAAAGP4/3mUTs1YdSZo/s1600/GGG%2Bcoming%2Bout%2B2.jpg" height="186" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Where there's a will...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HuKqvM3QKfk/VJ8Cos9ESAI/AAAAAAAAGQA/v8T4n9XKPP4/s1600/GGG%2Bcoming%2Bout%2B5%2Btrailer%2Btouchdown!%2Bbig%2Brelief%2Ball%2Bround!!.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HuKqvM3QKfk/VJ8Cos9ESAI/AAAAAAAAGQA/v8T4n9XKPP4/s1600/GGG%2Bcoming%2Bout%2B5%2Btrailer%2Btouchdown!%2Bbig%2Brelief%2Ball%2Bround!!.jpg" height="190" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There's a way...Roxy is slowly lowered back to the ground.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-a0rcKrB3Vgw/VJ8Co8reGBI/AAAAAAAAGQE/YODK1n6UEzg/s1600/GGG%2Bcoming%2Bout%2B7%2Bon%2Bthe%2Bground%2Bat%2Blast_Terry%2Band%2Bhis%2Bground%2Bcrew.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-a0rcKrB3Vgw/VJ8Co8reGBI/AAAAAAAAGQE/YODK1n6UEzg/s1600/GGG%2Bcoming%2Bout%2B7%2Bon%2Bthe%2Bground%2Bat%2Blast_Terry%2Band%2Bhis%2Bground%2Bcrew.jpg" height="187" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A job well done!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><b>As can be seen in the photos,
all went very smoothly with the able assistance of the Truck Driver and 2 of
Terry’s groundsmen crew. </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><b>2 days of reassembly followed,
to return the aircraft to flight worthy status and this was in turn followed by
a comprehensive check flight around the open fields surrounding the Museum. </b></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RNMjuhxfYyo/VJ8Cks1lvrI/AAAAAAAAGPw/7HUyuAergjg/s1600/GGG%2Bcoming%2Bout%2B11%2Bremounting%2Brotor%2Bassisted%2Bby%2BLarry%2Band%2BTerry%2B(driving).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RNMjuhxfYyo/VJ8Cks1lvrI/AAAAAAAAGPw/7HUyuAergjg/s1600/GGG%2Bcoming%2Bout%2B11%2Bremounting%2Brotor%2Bassisted%2Bby%2BLarry%2Band%2BTerry%2B(driving).jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Roxy starting to look normal again, especially with proper wheels back on.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ppYTbpp3D_M/VJ8CkCWzlYI/AAAAAAAAGPk/GjaLb8e7-jU/s1600/GGG%2Bcoming%2Bout%2B12%2Bslightly%2Blonger%2Bwingspan%2Baircraft%2Bin%2Bthe%2Bbackground.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ppYTbpp3D_M/VJ8CkCWzlYI/AAAAAAAAGPk/GjaLb8e7-jU/s1600/GGG%2Bcoming%2Bout%2B12%2Bslightly%2Blonger%2Bwingspan%2Baircraft%2Bin%2Bthe%2Bbackground.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Getting up high to affix the rotors, but still being dwarfed by Howard Hughes' behemoth!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><b>All too
soon it was time to roll Roxy into the 2<sup>nd</sup> of the two huge display
halls at the Museum and with the Museum now closed to visitors for the day, we
were able to line Roxy up for a few very exclusive photo shots with some of the
other ‘residents’ before proudly placing her in her winter-time display spot…Roll
on the Spring time again!!<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YSHgnSl3yHo/VJ8u3bkpOaI/AAAAAAAAGQ0/xGQXFxJihBA/s1600/GGG%2Bcoming%2Bout%2B8%2BRoxy%2Bmeets%2BHercules%2Bthe%2BSpruce%2BGoose.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YSHgnSl3yHo/VJ8u3bkpOaI/AAAAAAAAGQ0/xGQXFxJihBA/s1600/GGG%2Bcoming%2Bout%2B8%2BRoxy%2Bmeets%2BHercules%2Bthe%2BSpruce%2BGoose.jpg" height="182" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Hughes H-4 Hercules 'Spruce Goose' may dwarf Roxy but our little autogyro has flown 10,000+ more miles than her new neighbour.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--K5DGSPLKYI/VJ8u3s_aKZI/AAAAAAAAGQ4/6DJFjufKahw/s1600/GGG%2Bcoming%2Bout%2B9%2BRoxy%2Bmeets%2Bthe%2BB17%2BFlying%2BFortress.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--K5DGSPLKYI/VJ8u3s_aKZI/AAAAAAAAGQ4/6DJFjufKahw/s1600/GGG%2Bcoming%2Bout%2B9%2BRoxy%2Bmeets%2Bthe%2BB17%2BFlying%2BFortress.jpg" height="140" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Roxy stands proud next to a Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-p6_KS_Tw7WU/VJ8uwF5PuRI/AAAAAAAAGQg/--3jNUhH-SY/s1600/GGG%2Bcoming%2Bout%2B13%2Bmeeting%2Bnew%2Bfriends.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-p6_KS_Tw7WU/VJ8uwF5PuRI/AAAAAAAAGQg/--3jNUhH-SY/s1600/GGG%2Bcoming%2Bout%2B13%2Bmeeting%2Bnew%2Bfriends.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Roxy meets some impressive new friends...on the left is the nose of a F101 Voodoo, in the far corner is a F4 Phantom, hovering above that is a S61 Sea King and immediately behind the well traveled Gyro is P51 Mustang...and we mustn't forget the many space vehicles that make up the backdrop!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-F1gU2Cw-5uA/VJ8uvT8W8vI/AAAAAAAAGQY/5VEIUxblcFU/s1600/GGG%2Bcoming%2Bout%2B14%2Bmeeting%2BSR71%2BLockheed%2BBlacbird.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-F1gU2Cw-5uA/VJ8uvT8W8vI/AAAAAAAAGQY/5VEIUxblcFU/s1600/GGG%2Bcoming%2Bout%2B14%2Bmeeting%2BSR71%2BLockheed%2BBlacbird.jpg" height="120" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An enthusiasts dream...Roxy will be cuddling up to the world's fastest conventional aeroplane...the Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird! </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qXhJ7OiX7aE/VJ8u2yzwdvI/AAAAAAAAGQw/jGM-yki8n9Y/s1600/GGG%2Bcoming%2Bout%2B16%2Bmeeting%2BSR71%2BLockheed%2BBlacbird.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qXhJ7OiX7aE/VJ8u2yzwdvI/AAAAAAAAGQw/jGM-yki8n9Y/s1600/GGG%2Bcoming%2Bout%2B16%2Bmeeting%2BSR71%2BLockheed%2BBlacbird.jpg" height="161" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There are many superlatives that can be said about the SR-71, but that is also true for our little friend Roxy :-)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pyizecNcHyk/VJ8u4NsK9AI/AAAAAAAAGRE/jK9glsR5GEA/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pyizecNcHyk/VJ8u4NsK9AI/AAAAAAAAGRE/jK9glsR5GEA/s1600/photo.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Extremes...the world's furthest flying autogyro with the world's biggest single seat fighter (F101 Voodoo) both underneath the worlds fastest rocket powered aircraft, the amazing X-15 which reached 4,500 mph!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><b><u>In Closing</u></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><b><u><br /></u></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><b>I hope
everyone has a very happy and fun filled festive season for the end of 2014…and
with the difficulties of Russian Bureaucracy now safely behind us, I also hope
that 2015 can finally be the year that we successfully complete the whole Gyrox
Goes Global adventure.<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><b>When we
started out on this Journey back in 2010, no one could have predicted the many
twists and turns of how this Gyro-saga has finally played out across the
surface of the globe. With the prospect of some very exciting and adventurous
flying ahead (a record setting US Coast to Coast flight, followed by the first
attempt of crossing the Atlantic Ocean by an Autogyro), I hope that everyone
reading this can once more pick up again and follow the journey online, right
through to the finish point back at Sandy Bay Playing fields, Larne Harbour,
Northern Ireland.<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><b>Best Festive
Wishes and a Happy New Year to all, <o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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</div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><b>Cheers! </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><b>Norman and G-YROX/Roxy</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mcrEpO6s29s/VJ8uwdl1SbI/AAAAAAAAGQk/Jv1OQ8_hQ1k/s1600/GGG%2Bcoming%2Bout%2B15%2Bmeeting%2BSR71%2BLockheed%2BBlacbird.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mcrEpO6s29s/VJ8uwdl1SbI/AAAAAAAAGQk/Jv1OQ8_hQ1k/s1600/GGG%2Bcoming%2Bout%2B15%2Bmeeting%2BSR71%2BLockheed%2BBlacbird.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from all of us at Gyrox Goes Global</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">To contact the autogyro circumnavigation team email gyroxgoesglobal@gmail.com</div>The GYROX Teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15913097194536611948noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3969453786501704363.post-7741101226009069132014-12-26T19:42:00.000+00:002014-12-26T19:42:06.435+00:00All at Sea - Part One<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;"><b>At the time of writing, 'Roxy' has now voyaged on (rather than over) the high seas…encased
in a steel box bound for the US West Coast….needless to say a lot has happened
since our last update from Japan, as I will explain.<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;"><b>Early
August, 2014, saw a concerted and very focused team effort by Russian flight
planners, a Senior Far East Navigator and our own personal contact (Dmitry in Vladivostok)
to secure the support and approval of no less than 8 Far East Russian airfields….The
plan called for a routing that would need to use all of these stops en-route
between exiting Japan and reaching across the Bering Sea to enter the USA via Alaska.
In addition, at the same time the logistics of providing fuel along the route was
also made viable. I was very heartened by the fact that all of the en-route airfields
reported back as being very keen to see this World Record setting aircraft pass
through their areas and the general level of support for the whole project in
the region was very high. With all this careful additional preparation work in
place, we felt that surely this time our submission to the Russian Civil
Aviation Authority (FATA) would be successful at long last…</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BI2cH74kl0E/VJ2yazLkJbI/AAAAAAAAGMI/6xoXAVPPjPc/s1600/a6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BI2cH74kl0E/VJ2yazLkJbI/AAAAAAAAGMI/6xoXAVPPjPc/s1600/a6.jpg" height="191" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Norman even visited Vladivostok and made many new friends at the Flying Club there.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;"><b>By
mid-August 2014 however, we were given, <i>yet
again</i>, the news that the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) had again failed to make any response
about our most recent application to FATA. This latest setback came after 3
solid years of trying to reason, persuade, cajole, embarrass and moralise the
FSB into giving <i>some</i> sort of reaction
about our flight plans….For, at least with some sort of feedback, we would
have then been given a chance to adjust our plans accordingly to meet any
concerns that they would have had (although such was our thorough initial planning
there could be little that they could really complain about). However the FSB,
instead of giving a courteous/helpful response back to FATA, chose instead to simply
ignore us all totally (as they have repeatedly done on every occasion for the
last 3 years) and thus no response at all, good or bad, was given to the often
repeated request to do so by their own Civil Aviation Authority. As the FSB acts
as a statutory consultee, it then followed that no overall permission could possibly
be given by FATA without first receiving some (any) sort of commentary from the
FSB. </b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fdyB3L9nA9k/VJ2z5-Mll2I/AAAAAAAAGMU/LDngaMKYUn0/s1600/a4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fdyB3L9nA9k/VJ2z5-Mll2I/AAAAAAAAGMU/LDngaMKYUn0/s1600/a4.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Norman even enjoyed flying GA aircraft in Russia, something he was never allowed to do with Roxy.<br /></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;"><b>It
thus became (and remained) a stalemate situation, with the FSB seemingly
content to simply say nothing, safe in the knowledge that no onward flight permission
could be awarded to us while they did so….it could be viewed that perhaps this
is a somewhat “creative” way to effectively say No, without actually having to
say anything (or actually having to face the awkward task of conjuring up a
good practical, aviation related reason as to why this very competent little aircraft,
that has already flown half way around the world through 18 other consecutive countries,
would suddenly be deemed incapable of crossing their so different 19th one…</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;"><b>Had
we been given the benefit of an understandable, rational explanation for a
refusal to give permission, then of course we could have wholly respected that
decision and adjusted our own plans accordingly…or at least then been given a
fighting chance to counter-argue our own case for subsequent flight approval. But
that did not happen; the FSB just chose to continue to say nothing.</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">So,
having spent 3 stationary years trying to extract some/any sort of civilized
response from the powers that be, I eventually have had to take on the view that
we could easily be made to sit and wait for a further 3 years (or more) and even
perhaps be still no further on. I was forced therefore to make the very
frustrating and unfortunate decision that I would have to abandon the hope of a
full circumnavigation and to simply push </span><span style="font-size: 15px;">onward</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> again without the Russian
Sector. </span></span></b><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-753ACqGoYwQ/VJ20u_AEhHI/AAAAAAAAGMc/Wls7cSdRpt8/s1600/a9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-753ACqGoYwQ/VJ20u_AEhHI/AAAAAAAAGMc/Wls7cSdRpt8/s1600/a9.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Vladivostok Flying Club show their thanks to Norman for visiting them.<br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gopzI7pZTNA/VJ21S5OhNaI/AAAAAAAAGMk/knJ7eybn7Dg/s1600/Artem%2BFriday%2Bclass%2Bc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gopzI7pZTNA/VJ21S5OhNaI/AAAAAAAAGMk/knJ7eybn7Dg/s1600/Artem%2BFriday%2Bclass%2Bc.jpg" height="129" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Norman was more than happy to give talks to Russian schools about the Gyrox adventure and the children were looking forward to the arrival of our plucky adventurer.<br /><br /></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS PGothic"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"><b>In late August I
therefore very reluctantly organised the shipment of Roxy over the Pacific Ocean by
container vessel from Japan directly to the US west coast. This action of
course terminated the full FAI circumnavigation flight record attempt.....and
as you can appreciate, this has been very difficult for me to absorb having
spent the best part of the last 6 years planning and making this whole attempt
happen. </b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS PGothic"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"><b>However we are where we are, we cannot make
the Russian Federal Security Service appear any more benevolent towards (or
even remotely interested in) what must seem to them as a very insignificant and
pointless activity. It is however a very sad day for all our Russian
supporters and aviation enthusiasts who are denied all the fun and excitement
of seeing a World Record being attempted right on their doorsteps. Sad too for all
the other Russian Agencies who, by the indifference and tactlessness of one
powerful agency lurking in their midst, are then made to appear wholly powerless
and ineffectual in carrying out their own, more accommodating, inclusive and
supportive good works. It’s also an especially sad day for the Federation
Aeronautique Internationale and FAI endorsed World Record aviation attempts in general; no longer can a Record attempt be solely timed and measured against the basic challenges
of aircraft/pilot versus the natural, simple elements of the worlds geography,
weather and climate…, rather, in our case at least, the fickle whims, spirit sapping
bureaucracy and wholly restrictive indifference of a small but powerful section
of one of the major countries in the world seems to call all the shots and all seemingly
in the name of Federal “security”. It is surely a sign, conversely, of much
“insecurity” that a countries ruling security elite feels it has to act in such
a defensive “stick your head in the sand” type of manner…stand up Russia and
allow yourself to engage in proper international sporting and record setting
competition…How can a small, quirky little aircraft flying an officially
sanctioned and recognised FAI Circumnavigation Record attempt ever have shown
cause or good reason to become a “security” threat?? And if it is not a Security
threat then why oh why has The Russian Federal Security Service not simply made
the all so necessary comment that it actually has no real objections to the
flight going ahead….</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS PGothic"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"><b>So, while I leave Mr Putin to ponder his next
best diplomatic move…I simply draw inspiration from the fact that at least I
am still in a far, far better place than I was when first diagnosed with Bowel
Cancer back in 2003....everything else compared to that is obviously a huge
bonus, even just to be here at all!! <o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS PGothic"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"><b>So, with that
optimistic, positive attitude restored to my mind I then set about planning the
next phase of the expedition, to move the aircraft physically (and me mentally)
beyond the Russian impasse and set us up for the continued onward (and
homeward) journey. </b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS PGothic"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"><b>Cheers</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS PGothic"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"><b>Norman</b></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VbbHAL533Js/UasqF-x80pI/AAAAAAAAGKY/hL3PAEPbxLo/s1600/.%2B029.jpgc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VbbHAL533Js/UasqF-x80pI/AAAAAAAAGKY/hL3PAEPbxLo/s1600/.%2B029.jpgc.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Norman and Roxy at Shonai Airport where she has been based for 3 years awaiting permission to move on</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;"><b> * * * * * * </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;"><b><i>The second part of this blog update will appear tomorrow and will detail the way Roxy left Shonai after 3 years stuck there waiting for permission to continue the quest. The 2nd part will also detail where Roxy is now...and if you don;t know then you are in for a big surprise! </i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;"><b><i>And finally we will give details on how the Gyrox Goes Global adventure will finally be returning home to Larne in Northern Ireland...over 5 years after this tiny but determined autogyro with her equally determined and brave pilot lifted off from Larne in 2010.</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;"><b><i>The Gyrox Team</i></b></span></div>
</div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">To contact the autogyro circumnavigation team email gyroxgoesglobal@gmail.com</div>The GYROX Teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15913097194536611948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3969453786501704363.post-58628295776561583772013-06-02T12:24:00.000+01:002013-06-03T09:06:33.375+01:00Having a Rubbery Time In Japan: Part Two<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<i>As promised here is the second part of Norman's blog explaining the work that is underway to get 'Roxy' ready for a speedy departure from Japan when the hoped for Russian permits come through. This section follows on from part one where Norman explained the need to replace the rubber hoses that criss cross the whole of the engine and pulse the lifeblood - oil, fuel and coolant - around the aircraft to keep it flying. These had to be checked and replaced ready for the all important CAA inspection. Norman continues...</i><br />
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;">Part
2<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;">How
best to run the engine up to operating temperature and give it a good workout
on the ground? It’s quite easy in our case with the help of a strong rope and a
good anchor point to tie off to. We attached the rope to the keel at the rear
most point of the Gyro (under the Rudder) then attached the other end to a
large eye bolt on the back of the spare luggage handling machine on the apron.
We were then able to happily run the engine to full power while the Gyro was held
stationary, pulling against the rope. Continuous full power was thus achieved
for some minutes and the systems could be fully checked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-J9QCoBnd-Nk/Uasp1Lr-2VI/AAAAAAAAGKM/cbunuzzZEko/s1600/.+017.jpgc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-J9QCoBnd-Nk/Uasp1Lr-2VI/AAAAAAAAGKM/cbunuzzZEko/s320/.+017.jpgc.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With some eager helping hands from the airport fire brigade, Norman re-attaches a blade to the Hub bar. Note the bolts neatly lined up ready to be fitted and the sturdy shopping basket!</td></tr>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;">The
other main task prior to CAA inspection was to remount the main rotor on top of
the mast. During the severe winter weather that Shonai endures, the snow can
build up to perhaps 2 metres, conditions which are definitely not ideal for
flying in an open topped aircraft! So, as with last year, during the main
winter months I have removed the main rotor, splitting the two blades apart and
storing these separately to the aircraft.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;">The
first task now was to re-attach the blades to the Hub Bar. The whole rotor is
slightly coned upwards when it sits on the aircraft as the slightly bent Hub Bar
(sitting in the middle), angles both blades upwards by a small amount at their
roots. Gravity then makes the tips of the blades sag when at rest, but when the
aircraft weight comes to hang off the spinning rotor during flight, the rotor
takes on its natural shallow cone shape again and thus reduces the stress felt
overall by the blades. This means while re-attaching the blades to the Hub Bar,
the middle of the rotor has to be kept higher than the tips and we use an old
plastic shopping basket for support. It’s perfect for this operation! ( note: the
whole rotor is upside down at this point - to tighten the Hub bar bolts)</span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3dE98Ag-NAw/Uaspnh8k_NI/AAAAAAAAGKE/D8UHiNlH2ew/s1600/.+020.jpgc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3dE98Ag-NAw/Uaspnh8k_NI/AAAAAAAAGKE/D8UHiNlH2ew/s320/.+020.jpgc.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At times like this an overhead crane comes in useful!</td></tr>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;">Re-mounting
can be a tricky job if done by hand, the two blades which are bolted to the Hub
bar in the middle can be lifted by one person but they are quite heavy and very
unwieldy to move into position single handed. Much better then to use a crane
hoist and very luckily I am able to borrow the services of one of these at the
airport! Even better still, I usually have about 6 firemen volunteering to hold
the rotor steady and manoeuvre the gyro directly under the blades…. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;">With
the main rotor successfully attached, we were then able to take to the airport
apron for some taxi ground manoeuvres and check that the Pre-rotator system
(the device that spins the rotors up prior to takeoff) was functioning properly.
Some final cleaning and tidying followed and we were now ready for inspection.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VbbHAL533Js/UasqF-x80pI/AAAAAAAAGKU/Lu9o-EzxLkI/s1600/.+029.jpgc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VbbHAL533Js/UasqF-x80pI/AAAAAAAAGKU/Lu9o-EzxLkI/s320/.+029.jpgc.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Roxy is looking pristine as she and Norman undergo taxiing trials in the Shonai Airport sunshine.</td></tr>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;">Keeping
the aircraft legal and ready to fly has been a constant challenge each year
that the flight has been out of the UK and this year has been no exception.
Very luckily through discussions with the UK CAA, this year we were able to
come up with a very neat, 2 part solution. Part 1 - my normal CAA surveyor,
Brian Spurle visited me three weeks ago (at home) to check and audit the
aircraft’s paperwork files (a now weighty tome that would be difficult to ship
around the world) and Part 2 - another CAA surveyor, Paul Farrel, happened to
be in Nagoya Japan with other work during late May and so was able to make a
weekend day trip visit up to Shonai to conduct the physical inspection part of
the survey. This innovative 2 part plan worked out very well and I am pleased
to say that overall, through this cooperative approach we managed to re-permit G-YROX
quite smoothly. </span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sA4NjEspl9o/UasqMwQiCyI/AAAAAAAAGKc/qaxXk0mJLeE/s1600/engine+hose+change+CAA+permit+with+Paul+Farrel.jpgc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="191" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sA4NjEspl9o/UasqMwQiCyI/AAAAAAAAGKc/qaxXk0mJLeE/s320/engine+hose+change+CAA+permit+with+Paul+Farrel.jpgc.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">CAA inspector, Paul Farrel shakes hands with Norman as Roxy passes her inspection.</td></tr>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;">So
with “Permit to Fly” safely in hand for another year, all we now need is the
elusive Russian “Permission to fly”…..</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;">Cheers, Norman</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><i>So, with everything now ready for the resumption of the circumnavigation all we can do is hope and wait for the elusive permits from the Russians. If you haven't already done so then could you please help Norman's case by writing a letter to President Putin stating the need to let Norman fly through Russia, mentioning that it is for a good cause and that the world is watching and waiting. You can write a short message to the President via this link...</i></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://www.eng.letters.kremlin.ru/" target="_blank"><i>http://www.eng.letters.kremlin.ru/</i></a></span></div>
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<i>Thank you.</i></div>
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<i><br /></i></div>
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<i>The Gyrox Team</i></div>
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<a href="http://www.gyroxgoesglobal.com/" target="_blank">For more info go to our website</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/GyroxGoesGlobal/143540602375581?sk=info" target="_blank">Follow and 'Like' us on Facebook</a></div>
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<a href="http://twitter.com/GyroxGoesGlobal" target="_blank">Follow us on Twitter</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.justgiving.com/gforgyro" target="_blank">Consider donating to Norman's chosen UK charity: Bowel Cancer UK</a></div>
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/145814145446737/?fref=ts" target="_blank">Consider joining the authorised Facebook fan page</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.stomawise.co.uk/" target="_blank">Check out the Stomawise charity website</a></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">To contact the autogyro circumnavigation team email gyroxgoesglobal@gmail.com</div>The GYROX Teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15913097194536611948noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3969453786501704363.post-92142956722622405292013-05-29T14:37:00.002+01:002013-05-30T11:26:22.282+01:00Having a Rubbery Time in Japan!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<i>As Norman waits patiently in Japan to see whether the latest appeal to President Putin is successful, preparations to get 'Roxy' ready for the next flight continue apace. </i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Norman has kindly sent us some photos showing the first stage in getting Roxy ready for the all important CAA inspection and in his own words describes the action...</i><br />
<br />
<b><u>Having a Rubbery Time in Japan!</u></b><br />
<b><u><br /></u></b>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">One
of the big challenges this spring, apart from seeking the elusive Russian entry
permission… was the fact that the aircraft engine would need some additional
maintenance over and above its normal routine servicing. As a precaution, Rotax
engines are obliged to have all their rubber components changed periodically to
prevent the rubber ageing and weakening while attached on the engine, which in
turn could lead to leaks. So it was this year that I needed to arrange this
task to be performed before the next CAA annual re-permitting inspection that allows
the aircraft to fly on for another year.</span> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PVgyA4MULwA/UaYBSkSG4_I/AAAAAAAAGJA/O9G0qE9ChRg/s1600/engine+hose+change+start.jpgc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="185" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PVgyA4MULwA/UaYBSkSG4_I/AAAAAAAAGJA/O9G0qE9ChRg/s320/engine+hose+change+start.jpgc.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jay Cook, like a surgeon, prepares for the clinical procedure ahead.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;">New
Hoses, seals and gaskets were duly ordered up and I brought them out to Japan
in a very battered old suitcase with only one roll along wheel….a bit too
battered as it turned out as the dishevelled, Jet lagged foreigner limping
along on one wheel in the ultra efficient Tokyo Haneda International Airport
terminal soon drew the attention of the Customs men at security…some probing
questions followed about the somewhat bizarre contents of my suitcase, but my
equally bizarre explanation of needing all these rubber attachments to fix onto
my own 5 metre long aircraft that I had flown all the way from the UK seemed to
miraculously placate them - perhaps they are very used to seeing all the best
jet setting international pilots roll up with one wheel missing on their
luggage…<span style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTZcmjUdO3FD7-PrA1Sa-0cIYBHCt7I2IocqYjf59LCswpb_vnTsFROoIq3aeTED4ws5wSRXRyiWzu07H-Pov0Z_iCKrUl36AX1vkmK-LZ8eGLzz3UeQohYIHSQd8lEfOUNaNw1QdnV6Ue/s1600/.+011.jpgc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTZcmjUdO3FD7-PrA1Sa-0cIYBHCt7I2IocqYjf59LCswpb_vnTsFROoIq3aeTED4ws5wSRXRyiWzu07H-Pov0Z_iCKrUl36AX1vkmK-LZ8eGLzz3UeQohYIHSQd8lEfOUNaNw1QdnV6Ue/s320/.+011.jpgc.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Make sure you remember how it all goes back in again!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;">The
next piece of the maintenance jigsaw involved the reappearance of a previous
GGG stalwart, namely Jay Cook, who seasoned blog readers may remember looked
after Roxy in the Philippines during the winter of 2010-11. Jay volunteered to
give me a hand with the hose change out job and duly arrived with tools and
knowhow to lead the task of removing all the old hoses and replace with the
new.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wEY171lDlTQ/UacHHlMYZbI/AAAAAAAAGJ0/ePQ-Nh6Av4U/s1600/.+016.jpgc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wEY171lDlTQ/UacHHlMYZbI/AAAAAAAAGJ0/ePQ-Nh6Av4U/s320/.+016.jpgc.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All go in the temporary GGG workshop</td></tr>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;">Now
to look at a Rotax 914 Engine, you could easily be lost as to where to start
with the Rubber Spaghetti that you are faced with. There are separate hose
systems for oil, water coolant, air and fuel along with some further rubber
components hidden deep within the carburettors. However taking one system at a
time, we soon worked our way around, although not without plenty of battling
with some of the more obstinate hose clips who would conspire to position
themselves in the most awkward angles and hard to reach places. As Jay
accurately predicted on the first day, we would probably both end up losing
some skin on our knuckles in the coming week…</span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OwYREMWUPcA/UaYCXu0yIYI/AAAAAAAAGJc/K88AaZ2Khj8/s1600/engine+hose+changed+scrapped+rubber.jpgc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="190" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OwYREMWUPcA/UaYCXu0yIYI/AAAAAAAAGJc/K88AaZ2Khj8/s320/engine+hose+changed+scrapped+rubber.jpgc.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The scrapped engine hoses that had seen Norman and Roxy halfway around the globe.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;">Draining,
changing out and then refilling the systems with their respective fluids, we then
had the slightly nervous but most satisfying sensation of knowing there were no
leaks and that all the tasks were complete. Engine testing followed to purge
the systems of any possible trapped air and give all the seals a proper check
while the engine was up to operating temperatures. With great relief on my part,
the engine fired up first time and I am happy to report is now running very
well again.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;">The
final task was to meticulously go around all the newly installed pipework and
check that there would be no rubbing or chafing on any surfaces. A quick trip
to the local “Ninja boot shop” (see blog 29 Dec 2011) secured 2 metres of best
quality, clear, reinforced, “aviation grade” (well, almost!) garden hose and
yet another pack of cable ties (which along with Velcro is surely one of the
all time best inventions of the 20<sup>th</sup> Century) with which to protect and
sleeve any vulnerable hose sections.</span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Z9xFsJgo9bE/UaYAjaSO2kI/AAAAAAAAGIw/yqw-NQ2bByg/s1600/engine+hose+change+thumbs+up+with+firemen.jpgc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="179" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Z9xFsJgo9bE/UaYAjaSO2kI/AAAAAAAAGIw/yqw-NQ2bByg/s320/engine+hose+change+thumbs+up+with+firemen.jpgc.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Norman and the Shonai Airport Fire crew give the thumbs up to a job well done .</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;">So
the hoses were now complete but we still had to pass the CAA inspection…more in
part 2, coming soon.</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;">Cheers </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;">Norman<span style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;">****************************************</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><i>We will of course bring you part two of the preparations for the resumption of the world record breaking flight and to help make sure that it does go ahead please remember to keep sending those letters to President Putin requesting he let Norman fly through the east of Russia and complete this special project. The link to send letters is...</i></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://www.eng.letters.kremlin.ru/" target="_blank">http://www.eng.letters.kremlin.ru/</a></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>The Gyrox Team</i></div>
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<br /></div>
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***************************************</div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://www.gyroxgoesglobal.com/" target="_blank">For more information go to the website</a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/GyroxGoesGlobal/143540602375581?sk=info" target="_blank">'Like' us on Facebook</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://www.justgiving.com/gforgyro" target="_blank">Consider donating to Norman's chosen UK charity: Bowel Cancer UK</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://twitter.com/GyroxGoesGlobal" target="_blank">Follow us on Twitter</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/145814145446737/?fref=ts" target="_blank">Consider joining the authorised Facebook Fan Page</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://www.stomawise.co.uk/" target="_blank">Check out the Stomawise charity website</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">To contact the autogyro circumnavigation team email gyroxgoesglobal@gmail.com</div>The GYROX Teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15913097194536611948noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3969453786501704363.post-4059140674213346542013-05-27T10:17:00.002+01:002013-05-27T14:19:10.517+01:00A Personal Plea to Putin<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
As the months have rolled by, Norman, still ensconced in Shonai Airport, Japan, where Roxy has been housed since July 2011, has been resolutely trying to gain permission to enter Russian airspace to continue his record breaking circumnavigation of the globe in an autogyro/gyrocopter.<br />
At every step he has been hampered by bureaucracy, secrecy and at times deaf ears. Frustration is now Norman's middle name.<br />
Of course this lack of movement by the Russian authorities has kept us back at team HQ very quiet, not publishing too much in case we rock the boat in any way, but as we reach the 3rd year of this quest Norman has decided to bypass the usual paths of the Russian Civil aviation maze and go straight to the top...President Putin himself!<br />
<br />
A few weeks ago, Norman decided to write a personal letter to the Russian President showcasing his plight in trying to do the simple feat of flying in the far Eastern portion of this huge country. He also showed in the letter that he has fulfilled all requirements subjected by the Russian Civil Aviation Authority and this includes hiring a Russian navigator to ride with him in Roxy. There appears to be no reason for the Russians not to grant a permit to fly there...but the latest attempt has effectively been met by a brick wall.<br />
<br />
So why has Norman decided to write to President Putin now? It just so happens that on the 17th and 18th June this year the 39th G8 Summit of the world's top economically powerful countries will meet at the beautiful Lough Erne estate in Northern Ireland, not far from where Norman lives and the Gyrox adventure began. Amongst the G8 countries attending will be the UK, USA and of course...Russia with President Putin headlining the list of world leaders.<br />
<br />
With this in mind, Norman has written to President Putin reminding him of the exceptionally warm welcome he will receive from the Northern Irish people and that it would show good faith on his behalf if the authorities could show the same kind of welcome to Norman and his little aircraft, after all, his flight is not just a record breaking flight but is raising awareness and funds for a number of Cancer charities.<br />
<br />
Here is the letter Norman sent to the President...<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.1500000000000001; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 24px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">An open letter to President Putin of the Russian Federation. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.1500000000000001; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 15px; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>Dear Mr Putin, </i></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.1500000000000001; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<i><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 15px; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">My Name is Norman Surplus I am very pleased to hear that you are planning to attend the 39</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 9px; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: super; white-space: pre-wrap;">th</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 15px; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> G8 Summit at the Lough Erne Resort in my homeland of Northern Ireland. I am sure you will be afforded a warm welcome in our very small, but very beautiful country!</span></i></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.1500000000000001; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 15px; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>Currently, I am attempting to set an official FAI world record journey to make the first circumnavigation of the globe flying an Autogyro/Gyrocopter aircraft and to date, have made great progress flying through 18 consecutive countries from Northern Ireland, through Europe, Middle East, India and S.E. Asia to reach Japan. However, now I have been stuck (for almost two years) trying to get permission to fly through the Russia’s Far Eastern region to be allowed to fly onwards from Japan to reach Alaska. This is the only routing that is available to my small open cockpit aircraft to enable me to cross the vast expanse of the Pacific Ocean and making this short Bering Sea Crossing is only possible in the brief Arctic summer months. After crossing the North American continent I will then fly on through Greenland, Iceland and the Faroe Islands to reach Scotland and then back home to my starting point in the port town of Larne in Northern Ireland. </i></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.1500000000000001; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 15px; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>So far, I have been making all my applications (via the British Embassy) to your Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Moscow for permission to fly across Russia, however we have had great difficulty in being given permission as my British Registered aircraft needs to fly outside (or below) the commercial international airways and also use some small, non-international airfields en route. Out of the 18 countries so far flown, Russia has proved to be the only country where this permission has proved to be so difficult. Being such an unusual request it is now thought that a special exemption / permission given directly from the Russian Government/ Presidents office would be needed to allow this flight to proceed and this is the reason for my sending this letter and appealing directly to you at this time. </i></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.1500000000000001; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 15px; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>The circumnavigation flight is a small scale, non commercial venture, raising awareness and funds for Cancer charities. As per the rules for foreign aircraft flying within Russian domestic airspace, we already have a very experienced Russian Navigator ready and waiting to assist in the logistics of flying across the Far Eastern Region - a journey which is expected to take approximately 6-7 days. </i></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.1500000000000001; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 15px; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>We are asking to make our entry to Russia (flying in from Northern Japan) in the first week in June 2013. This is the earliest opportunity that the Bering Sea will be made passable by the sub Arctic summer climate and it also allows the flight to proceed with the benefit of very long hours of daylight. </i></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.1500000000000001; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 15px; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>I therefore make this simple appeal to you directly; purely in the name of improved international cooperation and perhaps it can also be seen as a friendly, non political, non sectarian, “goodwill gesture” between our two countries, promoting the “spirit of outdoor adventure” for which you are well known! Simply put: as you are to be hosted in my country, that I could be similarly hosted in yours….to make a good news story for everyone!! </i></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.1500000000000001; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 15px; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>Best Regards, Norman Surplus</i></span></div>
<i><span id="docs-internal-guid-34293fda-e54f-b2d4-f017-54c8b2535835"></span></i><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.1500000000000001; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 15px; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>GyroxGoesGlobal.com </i></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 15px; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 15px; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>*************************************</i></span></div>
</div>
Norman is not putting all his eggs in one basket and is also hoping that we, all Norman's followers, can also write an email to the Kremlin pleading for the President and the authorities to let Norman in so he can continue and finish his amazing and worthwhile flight. You can send your requests to the Kremlin by email to...<br />
<a href="http://www.eng.letters.kremlin.ru/" target="_blank">http://www.eng.letters.kremlin.ru/</a><br />
<br />
This will take you to a website at the Kremlin and you will find a form to fill in and a box where you write your message. Remember to click the button marked 'Letter to President'.<br />
One email may not make much difference but if we get a few hundred sent this week then someone will take notice!<br />
<br />
Over the coming days we will keep you updated with any progress and also have a blog about the work done on Roxy to keep her airworthy and be re-certificated after all this time. There should be some nice photos to go with that, so keep watching our media pages for updates.<br />
<br />
Good luck with your letters and lets make this a real attempt at getting Norman and Roxy home again.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-amtcNv1tO2I/Tj5U90whU6I/AAAAAAAAE30/BNQhLfLosXs/s1600/norman4539.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="208" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-amtcNv1tO2I/Tj5U90whU6I/AAAAAAAAE30/BNQhLfLosXs/s320/norman4539.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Norman and Roxy, raring to go....</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The Gyrox Team<br />
<br />
************************************<br />
<a href="http://www.gyroxgoesglobal.com/" target="_blank">For More Information go to Our Website</a><br />
<a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/GyroxGoesGlobal/143540602375581?sk=info" target="_blank">Follow and 'Like' us on Facebook</a><br />
<a href="http://www.justgiving.com/gforgyro" target="_blank">Consider Donating to Norman's Chosen UK Charity: Bowel Cancer UK</a><br />
<a href="http://twitter.com/GyroxGoesGlobal" target="_blank">Follow us on Twitter</a><br />
<a href="http://www.stomawise.co.uk/" target="_blank">Check out the Stomawise Charity Website</a><br />
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/145814145446737/" target="_blank">Consider Joining the Official Gyrox Fan Page on Facebook</a><br />
************************************<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">To contact the autogyro circumnavigation team email gyroxgoesglobal@gmail.com</div>The GYROX Teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15913097194536611948noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3969453786501704363.post-71381076096125415672012-12-24T12:09:00.000+00:002012-12-24T12:09:42.309+00:00A Christmas Message - 2012<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>As another year comes to a close and we enter the holiday
season, Norman has sent us special seasons greeting which includes the first
part of a recap of what 2012 held for him during his long stay in Japan whilst
waiting for the permission (that sadly never arrived) to continue the
circumnavigation.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>Always upbeat, here in his own words is Norman's Christmas
greeting.</i></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><u>Christmas 2012</u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><u><br /></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Hello again everyone, well what a fantastic Olympic year 2012
has turned out to be… though unfortunately it has also been an extremely
frustrating year for the Gyrox Goes Global project. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It began well enough; initial spring time optimism pointed
towards a timely return to the circumnavigation record attempt once the Bering
Sea became unfrozen. But late spring slipped steadily into summer without any
sign of the elusive (but still very necessary) Russian Flight Permission being
granted. Seemingly endless negotiations continued throughout the summer months and
as if in an exact replay of this same time last year, we now still find
ourselves remaining firmly stuck in Japan for a second winter…. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
However, remaining ever the optimist (at this point I think
the GGG motto should read “<b><i>Spes oritur aeternum</i></b>” - <b>hope
springs eternal!</b>), the encouraging news going forward into the new year is
that I have finally managed to make contact with a highly regarded Far East
Russian Navigator who is willing to assist and accompany me on the onward
journey in late May 2013. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Looking back on the year, I spent most of the summer simply
waiting. I was constantly hoping for improving news from Russia (in fact <i>any</i> news coming out of Russia would have
be seen as good progress…) and thus kept the GGG project in a constant state of
readiness to immediately fly on towards Alaska, once the green light would be
given by the Russian Authorities. All well and good only the “Green for Go” light
never came…in fact at times it felt more like the traffic lights had been decommissioned
and unable to give out any signals at all….</span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7Fy7fFhVh_4SVbiK39Dgdu2zAMOD6ihaI08lob9IRVg2hHGH2p8PstNxkmfIQTkEjP6NNp5S9v6xjvKE70JyDQkPnXXQjfOqyv4IY6AHAfr9cxG0GWBCyhIAOge21LATWOrdb6yIcMUGV/s1600/cherry+picking+with+dougie+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7Fy7fFhVh_4SVbiK39Dgdu2zAMOD6ihaI08lob9IRVg2hHGH2p8PstNxkmfIQTkEjP6NNp5S9v6xjvKE70JyDQkPnXXQjfOqyv4IY6AHAfr9cxG0GWBCyhIAOge21LATWOrdb6yIcMUGV/s320/cherry+picking+with+dougie+1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dougie arrives in time to help Norman with the cherry harvest.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">I was however able to put the enforced down time to
good use and thus embarked on various local projects that would keep me busy.
My “gastronaught” puppet co-pilot supplied by Stomawise UK ( Named “Dougie”
after Douglas Bader, a very famous disabled pilot) arrived during the summer
and he instantly became involved with many of the activities, including
assisting in the annual Cherry picking harvest at a local family run farm. This was a most enjoyable experience,
although it also meant a very early start to the day to pick enough Cherries in
time for each day’s market.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Xafl4ZtZSXQ/UNgwHGsIqXI/AAAAAAAAGFA/a5kXt6ygO0U/s1600/cherry+picking+with+dougie+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Xafl4ZtZSXQ/UNgwHGsIqXI/AAAAAAAAGFA/a5kXt6ygO0U/s320/cherry+picking+with+dougie+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Rice planting was another wholly fascinating and
unusual activity, especially for someone who hails from “Norn Iron” - where </span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">potatoes are our staple </span><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px;">feed-stuff</span><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">…</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-phil0RdV1KU/UNgwU01gX1I/AAAAAAAAGGA/xgiDbpbx6sc/s1600/rice+planting+0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-phil0RdV1KU/UNgwU01gX1I/AAAAAAAAGGA/xgiDbpbx6sc/s320/rice+planting+0.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">The rice seedlings are cultivated in long polythene
tunnels in seed trays and then taken out to be planted in the regular rice
fields. Normally the planting out is undertaken by a very bizarre looking,
spindly wheeled tractor, but on one occasion I joined an organised community
planting day to experience the job of planting the rice out by hand, as it
would have been traditionally done many years ago.</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XdjHyoMXTps/UNgwWzvNIhI/AAAAAAAAGGI/8gxcXxOthxI/s1600/rice+planting+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="193" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XdjHyoMXTps/UNgwWzvNIhI/AAAAAAAAGGI/8gxcXxOthxI/s320/rice+planting+1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VjWohM8yzVY/UNgwZQBfUXI/AAAAAAAAGGU/BM6EaPbiUAI/s1600/rice+planting+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VjWohM8yzVY/UNgwZQBfUXI/AAAAAAAAGGU/BM6EaPbiUAI/s320/rice+planting+3.jpg" width="256" /></a></div>
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It might not look as pretty as a sports car, but the modern planting
tractor is <i>definitely</i> the rice farmer’s
best friend in the spring time… as trying to plant out a whole field by hand alone
must have been very hard work in the past, especially while you are being baked under the hot spring
sunshine…still, at least the oozy, warm mud squeezing through your toes was
quite good fun! </div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dHc3AvRSz4s/UNgwbAjr3UI/AAAAAAAAGGg/Ld2_ADFhzWg/s1600/rice+planting+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="210" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dHc3AvRSz4s/UNgwbAjr3UI/AAAAAAAAGGg/Ld2_ADFhzWg/s320/rice+planting+4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Dzd4tVWEsvM/UNgwYB5iorI/AAAAAAAAGGQ/5cEIQ3sfB7U/s1600/rice+planting+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Dzd4tVWEsvM/UNgwYB5iorI/AAAAAAAAGGQ/5cEIQ3sfB7U/s320/rice+planting+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">During the summer the rice grows quickly and a clever
method is used mid season to combat pests and encourage the eventual yield of
the crop. Once planted out with seedlings the fields are initially flooded to
help the rice grow rapidly, but this then makes it difficult to enter the field
with any large machinery to perform any necessary crop spraying.</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2qvdXjCHqco/UNgwd9bKU8I/AAAAAAAAGGs/VUD-GpUtyls/s1600/spray+helo+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="176" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2qvdXjCHqco/UNgwd9bKU8I/AAAAAAAAGGs/VUD-GpUtyls/s320/spray+helo+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"> </span>A highly effective solution has emerged in recent years and
that is to employ large remote controlled helicopters that can hover just a few
metres above the crops. Very specialised teams of remote control pilots (who
are often also farmers themselves) are then very active mid season moving from
field to field during a few brief hectic weeks work. </div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gcKb7uTvzAM/UNgwccK3RsI/AAAAAAAAGGo/QjRJFS1DA0s/s1600/spray+helo+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="178" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gcKb7uTvzAM/UNgwccK3RsI/AAAAAAAAGGo/QjRJFS1DA0s/s320/spray+helo+1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--mfGWmTL1D0/UNgwe6W_kHI/AAAAAAAAGG0/tQQWfCb_EoE/s1600/spray+helo+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="102" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--mfGWmTL1D0/UNgwe6W_kHI/AAAAAAAAGG0/tQQWfCb_EoE/s320/spray+helo+3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">Rice Harvest season came up next (in early autumn) and
I was thus able to complete the full growing cycle by having a lesson at
driving a combine harvester.</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eM9BraANjOA/UNgwM0_yBpI/AAAAAAAAGFo/MTNmrXRrZ3U/s1600/rice+harvest+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="204" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eM9BraANjOA/UNgwM0_yBpI/AAAAAAAAGFo/MTNmrXRrZ3U/s320/rice+harvest+1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I was very privileged to actually be allowed to take the
controls as rice cultivation, as you can well imagine, is a very serious business
in Japan - it proved to be great fun none the less! </div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EC7c1TpiWoI/UNgwS5DtVcI/AAAAAAAAGF4/JoDoU2DNXR8/s1600/rice+harvest+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="195" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EC7c1TpiWoI/UNgwS5DtVcI/AAAAAAAAGF4/JoDoU2DNXR8/s320/rice+harvest+3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KGgjYI4qZ3c/UNgwQA2uREI/AAAAAAAAGFw/67rgKkkvxqA/s1600/rice+harvest+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="172" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KGgjYI4qZ3c/UNgwQA2uREI/AAAAAAAAGFw/67rgKkkvxqA/s320/rice+harvest+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Later in the year, on a day trip over to Sendai, I came
across this very peculiar sight - it was a small boy standing outside a
shopping centre holding a piece of carrot on the end of a long stick….what on
earth was going on?</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yLMOISvI9FQ/UNgwJKRDXQI/AAAAAAAAGFM/V0_Efxc4Elg/s1600/horse+and+carrot+on+a+stick+close+up.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="203" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yLMOISvI9FQ/UNgwJKRDXQI/AAAAAAAAGFM/V0_Efxc4Elg/s320/horse+and+carrot+on+a+stick+close+up.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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All was revealed when the small boy duly offered up the
carrot to a very well behaved horse! No chance of any bitten fingers here! The
horse was part of a promotion for a local riding school and the staff where
taking no chances when it came to potential personal injury claims…</div>
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Trust the Japanese to
have thought of everything!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM5jsultW9P4Hteb44iAA0AwYWfc6apF6j514I-cwQHDGSDgU6K_dtQmKeuzcCs1BjEJUm6SNLeFwhAuKy2KTB1EWPfkbPpbEH6JAalT8RsJc-WsGX1Fh74qL6JiLXNt8K2Seg2wXtBogB/s1600/horse+and+carrot+on+a+stick.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="195" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM5jsultW9P4Hteb44iAA0AwYWfc6apF6j514I-cwQHDGSDgU6K_dtQmKeuzcCs1BjEJUm6SNLeFwhAuKy2KTB1EWPfkbPpbEH6JAalT8RsJc-WsGX1Fh74qL6JiLXNt8K2Seg2wXtBogB/s320/horse+and+carrot+on+a+stick.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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On the same Sendai trip I spotted an enormous inflatable Japanese
Santa hung from the ceiling in a shopping mall, I was especially drawn to his
somewhat contradictory jet black hair and white flowing beard…. Complete with umbilical air pipes to keep both
he and Rudolf fully pumped up over the festive season, I thought what a perfect
way to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-x_-eGA017Uw/UNgwLrkMDKI/AAAAAAAAGFc/T6MK4r_HvjQ/s1600/inflateable+santa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="269" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-x_-eGA017Uw/UNgwLrkMDKI/AAAAAAAAGFc/T6MK4r_HvjQ/s320/inflateable+santa.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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And in case you are all suffering from aching feet during
the endless Christmas shopping trips of late, the Japanese have triumphed once
again…..what better solution can be found than by supplying some complementary
sofas in your busy department store, especially for the reluctant partners of shopaholics
to rest up a while…</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ujLud7GhAQ0/UNgwgU9dYjI/AAAAAAAAGHA/4jQwMpHfclo/s1600/waiting+sofas+Sendai+Japan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="166" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ujLud7GhAQ0/UNgwgU9dYjI/AAAAAAAAGHA/4jQwMpHfclo/s320/waiting+sofas+Sendai+Japan.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Until the next installment…. </div>
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From all at the Gyrox Goes Global team and from myself and my family, we wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy, Healthy and successful New year, </div>
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Best Wishes</div>
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Norman.</div>
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* * *</div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><a href="http://www.gyroxgoesglobal.com/" target="_blank">For More Information Visit the Website</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/GyroxGoesGlobal/143540602375581?sk=info" target="_blank">Follow the Adventure on Facebook</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;"><a href="http://twitter.com/GyroxGoesGlobal" target="_blank">Follow us on Twitter</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;"><a href="http://www.justgiving.com/gforgyro" target="_blank">Consider Donating to Norman’s UK Charity: Bowel Cancer UK</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;"><a href="http://www.stomawise.co.uk/" target="_blank">Check out the Stomawise Website</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=145814145446737&v=wall&ref=ts" target="_blank">Consider Joining the Authorised Facebook Fan Page</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">To contact the autogyro circumnavigation team email gyroxgoesglobal@gmail.com</div>The GYROX Teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15913097194536611948noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3969453786501704363.post-34179930662688601312012-11-18T18:08:00.001+00:002012-11-22T17:17:05.927+00:00Deja Vu and Russian Interlude.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<i>Way back in March 2010, none of the people gathered at the playing fields in Larne,
Northern Ireland, to watch the departure of Norman Surplus and his tiny flying
machine (that would affectionately come to be known as ‘Roxy’) had any idea or
inkling that two and a half years later the pair would still be half way around
the world waiting to make that final flight back home.</i></div>
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<i>With a strong feeling of Déjà Vu we have to announce that the circumnavigation
has had to be put on hold for the winter; once again bureaucracy has forced
this brave adventure to stall due to paperwork.</i></div>
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<i><br /></i></div>
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<i>Anyone who has been following the story over the last 12 months will
know that Russian permission to fly into and through their country has not been
forthcoming, which has meant many days and weeks of pleading and visiting
embassies and suchlike. In the end, Norman decided to go and see the people on
the ground and put his case to the people involved. This meant a journey to Vladivostok
in Russia’s Far East to meet aviators, officials and the local people in an
attempt to get them on side for a continuation of the flight next spring…Here,
in Norman’s own words, is what happened…</i></div>
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<i><br /></i></div>
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<i>********************************************</i></div>
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23<sup>rd</sup> October 2012 saw me taking a “time travelling” journey…
flying as a regular passenger with Vladivostok Air. </div>
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First, I flew from the 21<sup>st</sup> century marvels of modern Tokyo
(Narita) airport, Japan, directly back in time to the mid 20<sup>th</sup>
century, soviet era, Khabarovsk Airport in the Russian Far East. This was
quickly followed by another quantum leap forward again on a connecting flight
to the brand new Vladivostok International Airport, a quantum leap forwards
perhaps but with a few anomalies which would suggest this was indeed the 21<sup>st</sup>
century, but perhaps in a parallel sort of universe, one where many things
would not appear to be exactly as you would expect them to be…</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0jRogfytDY8/UKkMo7VIRGI/AAAAAAAAGCA/Qyqt1IiP6Ig/s1600/vlad+sign+big+5+c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="183" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0jRogfytDY8/UKkMo7VIRGI/AAAAAAAAGCA/Qyqt1IiP6Ig/s320/vlad+sign+big+5+c.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Norman at the sign for Vladivostok</td></tr>
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Passing briefly through Khabarovsk Airport I saw a surprising mixture
of new and old technologies working in perfect harmony, at one level they
employed the seemingly ubiquitous modern X-ray security scanner (set up in the
entrance hall), but at the same time they also had the wisdom to employ an airport
cat, who busied himself strolling around the same foyer (with an air of self
importance worthy of any 1950’s branch line railway station master) confidently
greeting various passengers as they arrived. One could only presume that this “old
technology rodent catcher” was employed to keep check on any of the more “unwanted
customers” who might be lurking under or behind the rows of empty and darkened counters
dotted about in the huge expanse of the old soviet style building, a building
which had clearly seen many, many better days in the past…. All seemed to be working
in perfect harmony however until the cat’s strolling reached the security scanner’s
desk, where, in a fantastic display of technology misalignment, the security
guard promptly leaned down to stroke the cat rather than keeping a close watch
on his screen…would be International smugglers take note - I think I have found
a loophole for you - before heading to the airport, simply equip yourself with
a remote controlled cat….</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6w2aHOUsy0M/UKkPV8stZcI/AAAAAAAAGCQ/swm1gpPZEI8/s1600/vlad+sign+small+6+c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6w2aHOUsy0M/UKkPV8stZcI/AAAAAAAAGCQ/swm1gpPZEI8/s320/vlad+sign+small+6+c.jpg" width="188" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Norman at a Vladivostok landmark, celebrating the city's maritime history</td></tr>
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First impressions of Vladivostok were similarly surprising, but for
very different reasons - the recent Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC)
summit was hosted by Vladivostok in September 2012 and it was clear that all
the stops had been pulled out to achieve a regeneration of the area worthy of
holding such a prestigious global event. A huge new conference centre (soon to
become a new campus for Vladivostok University) was constructed on a nearby Island
along with 2 fantastic new road bridges, the new International Airport
terminal, rail links and miles of new dual carriageways. The city of
Vladivostok is a great mixture of architectural styles, reflecting perhaps its
colourful history as the principal trading post and sea port of this region for
hundreds of years. Some of the heavy shoreline fortifications are still
preserved (now in museum form) from the time that the port served as a strong
strategic base for the Soviet Pacific Fleet. The port was so well guarded by
its shore defences that it is proudly stated that no attempt has ever been made
to conquer it from the sea. Such grandeur all around, but with it some quirky
anomalies, most noticeable was the number of buildings old and new (even
including one of the newly built train stations) where the steps in the
stairwells were often not of uniform height. Some would see a good 4-6 cm
difference in height from the next tread. Such a basic requisite for safety -
treading on evenly spaced steps - you could perhaps forgive the odd 1-2 cm and
simply put it down to the builders having a bad day or perhaps suffering from the
<i>occasional </i>hangover…. 4-6 cm however perhaps
suggests the builders simply never actually reach the hangover stage… </div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8TsUHJgk-cM/UKkPzYoe-1I/AAAAAAAAGCY/TqiXIoegwb0/s1600/primorsky+flying+club10+c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="178" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8TsUHJgk-cM/UKkPzYoe-1I/AAAAAAAAGCY/TqiXIoegwb0/s320/primorsky+flying+club10+c.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An aerial view of Vladivostok taken during one of Norman's local flights with the flying club.</td></tr>
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My main reason to visit Russia at this time has been to meet with local
contacts, Airport officials and flying club members of the Primorsky Flying
Club. I was royally treated everywhere I went and my hosts ensured that I
experienced a flavour of their real Russian Far East hospitality. </div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--qe8H19FfAY/UKkRbn6dwcI/AAAAAAAAGCg/foETvd-ESls/s1600/a1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="170" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--qe8H19FfAY/UKkRbn6dwcI/AAAAAAAAGCg/foETvd-ESls/s320/a1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Norman at the rather rustic but functional clubhouse of the Primorsky Flying Club</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tDtxHMmV6v8/UKkR9rltYvI/AAAAAAAAGDI/4vBAN8OK_Bc/s1600/a2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="193" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tDtxHMmV6v8/UKkR9rltYvI/AAAAAAAAGDI/4vBAN8OK_Bc/s320/a2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pre-flighting...the Russian way!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
Hospitality,
that included rapidly drinking at least (!) 5 toasts of very fine Cognac with
some local sausage, cheese and chocolate immediately prior to being strapped
into a Yak 52 Aerobatic aircraft for a quick 10 minute sortie above the runway.
Numerous dives, loops and barrel rolls followed with a low pass and a wing
waggle to finish for the club members watching below.</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Hrv3HhMqn74/UKkSCZpW66I/AAAAAAAAGDg/TVoqau2RVqU/s1600/a5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Hrv3HhMqn74/UKkSCZpW66I/AAAAAAAAGDg/TVoqau2RVqU/s320/a5.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Norman is strapped into the rear seat of the Yak-52 ready for take-off</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2-f2NRy8cuA/UKkSA6JREwI/AAAAAAAAGDY/lE429JSLtpk/s1600/a4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2-f2NRy8cuA/UKkSA6JREwI/AAAAAAAAGDY/lE429JSLtpk/s320/a4.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Norman thanks the Yak-52 pilot, Valeri Tamarovski, for the experience.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
We returned to that
lovely, flat, stable, concrete runway and on climbing out of the aircraft I was
then informed by my highly experienced pilot that we had pulled around 6 Gs (the
meter in my rear cockpit seat had actually registered 7 G) in the turns….by
comparison a high speed roller coaster reaches about 3 G…another smoked sausage
anyone? The hospitality carried on into
the evening and after I had presented a talk on the GGG circumnavigation, I was
hosted by the Chief of the Air Club for a fine supper. However this time I lost
count after about 10 Cognac toasts, but thankfully the drive back into town afterwards didn't involve any impromptu aerobatic manoeuvres … </div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SPYE3FwABKE/UKkSD2gupTI/AAAAAAAAGDo/pZtX8s2qqIY/s1600/a6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="191" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SPYE3FwABKE/UKkSD2gupTI/AAAAAAAAGDo/pZtX8s2qqIY/s320/a6.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Norman with members of the Primorsky Flying Club.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dRNB2x4pMtk/UKkSHJoKABI/AAAAAAAAGD8/whL6ehTPIpk/s1600/a9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dRNB2x4pMtk/UKkSHJoKABI/AAAAAAAAGD8/whL6ehTPIpk/s320/a9.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Norman receives a complimentary Primorsky FC cap from the 'Chief of the Air Club'... Aleksander Urbanovich </td></tr>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
A further delightful bonus of the trip was to make contact with a local
Language school in the town of Artem (close by the international airport),
where I was staying in a local hotel. I was asked to give my GGG talk to a
number of the English speaking classes. To have a native English speaker was
seen as quite a rare event in this outlying town and so, yet again, I was
royally treated. </div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-b2Wn5mj9IAM/UKkR5LSd0YI/AAAAAAAAGCw/Foy_U3pVU8U/s1600/Artem+Friday+class+c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="129" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-b2Wn5mj9IAM/UKkR5LSd0YI/AAAAAAAAGCw/Foy_U3pVU8U/s320/Artem+Friday+class+c.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Norman's talk about the flight is greatly appreciated by the staff and pupils of the Artem language school.</td></tr>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
A local tradition on the arrival of any traveller is to be
presented with some heavy black bread and salt. The bread is broken and then
dipped into the salt and eaten. We enacted this tradition in the first
classroom which was very interesting for me, but I then had to try to start my
talk with a mouth full of very hard to swallow bread much to the amusement of
the students!<br />
(Read more about Norman's visit to the language school via their website - <a href="http://lingvaplus.ucoz.ru/news/urok_vstrecha_s_anglijskim_puteshestvennikom_normanom_sjurplasom/2012-11-12-575" target="_blank">Click Here</a>) </div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GlOxyxKg1yo/UKkR6c1WZWI/AAAAAAAAGC0/LO5vfE8xUCA/s1600/DSC01286+c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GlOxyxKg1yo/UKkR6c1WZWI/AAAAAAAAGC0/LO5vfE8xUCA/s320/DSC01286+c.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Norman is presented with the traditional Black Bread and Salt by local children.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cUlwdImbNdc/UKkR7Q-dITI/AAAAAAAAGDA/mKbhdQnXW6Q/s1600/DSC01291+c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cUlwdImbNdc/UKkR7Q-dITI/AAAAAAAAGDA/mKbhdQnXW6Q/s320/DSC01291+c.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Maybe not the best starter to have before trying to give a talk.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
A further unexpected bonus came later in the trip when the Air Club
Chief offered to take me for a 45 minute local flight around the Artem and
Vladivostok area. It was a bitterly cold day with a fierce wind chill standing
on the concrete runway, but the compensation was that the visibility aloft was
excellent and we had a great view around Vladivostok’s famous Golden Horn Bay. </div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-x8_5kANU9LQ/UKkR_TsA6GI/AAAAAAAAGDQ/nn8QPMcqmis/s1600/a3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="181" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-x8_5kANU9LQ/UKkR_TsA6GI/AAAAAAAAGDQ/nn8QPMcqmis/s320/a3.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Norman prepares for his flight around the Vladivostok area on a bitterly cold day with suitably attired Flying club members</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0WCuDdk3_L4/UKkSGL83BKI/AAAAAAAAGD0/LFEyi291eVo/s1600/a8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0WCuDdk3_L4/UKkSGL83BKI/AAAAAAAAGD0/LFEyi291eVo/s320/a8.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Norman returns to the ground after the flight in the Tecnam P2002JF, piloted by Aleksander Urbanovich </td></tr>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
Another anomaly, best appreciated perhaps from the air, is the fact that a very
impressive, newly built, dual carriageway road goes all the way out from the
City Centre, over the 2 new bridges to the APEC summit campus buildings, then carries
on past the campus entrance and on over and around the next few hills until it
was well out of the sight of any of the delegates, then, in the middle of the
island, it simply and abruptly stops…. quite literally, a road to nowhere! </div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9Z8MYSsmek8/UKkSFM4g7OI/AAAAAAAAGDw/B72mZhNUXYM/s1600/a7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="198" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9Z8MYSsmek8/UKkSFM4g7OI/AAAAAAAAGDw/B72mZhNUXYM/s320/a7.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Good to see that there are other rotor-craft in this part of Russia. Norman gives the thumbs up to the Kamov KA-27 with its contra-rotating rotors!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
I am very pleased to report that the trip was able to produce some very
positive results for the continuation of the circumnavigation (which due to the
onset of the long winter season in the Bering Sea will now be in the late
spring of 2013). It is perhaps best to wait for a little while longer to firm
up these plans before we present the full details to the GGG blog, but we are
confident moving forward, that we have now found a good way to break through
the bureaucratic logjam that has kept us grounded in Japan for all this time.<br />
I would also like to thank personally our main contact in Vladivostok, Dmitri Igrushin, who looked after me extremely well during my stay there. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
Best Regards</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
Norman </div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-T3x_GcX4H1s/UKkSITxmkrI/AAAAAAAAGEI/K-OA8KZdKVY/s1600/russian+halloween+c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="170" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-T3x_GcX4H1s/UKkSITxmkrI/AAAAAAAAGEI/K-OA8KZdKVY/s320/russian+halloween+c.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just time, before heading back to Japan, for Norman to join in the Halloween fun with local children, who gave this years party an aviation theme in honour of Norman. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<o:p> *****************************************</o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<i>As Norman says, we are finally feeling confident that 2013 will see the
completion of this flight, which will still be a world record breaking achievement
as Norman will still be the first to fly an autogyro around the world. </i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<i>Since writing the article for us, Norman returned to Japan where he was
able to secure ‘Roxy’ for the long winter hibernation and has since returned to
Northern Ireland for a long awaited reunion with his family. </i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<i>We all wish Norman and his family a well earned rest and a joyful
reunion and hope that all Norman’s followers will be back in 2013 to witness the
climax of this marathon adventure.</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<i>The Gyrox Team</i></div>
<br />
<span style="text-align: center;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: center;">*****************************************</span></div>
<span style="text-align: center;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.gyroxgoesglobal.com/" target="_blank">For more information visit our website</a></span></div>
<span style="text-align: center;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/GyroxGoesGlobal/143540602375581?sk=info" target="_blank">Follow the Adventure on Facebook</a></span></div>
<span style="text-align: center;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://twitter.com/GyroxGoesGlobal" target="_blank">Follow us on Twitter</a></span></div>
<span style="text-align: center;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.justgiving.com/gforgyro" target="_blank">Consider Donating to Norman's Chosen UK Charity: Bowel Cancer UK</a></span></div>
<span style="text-align: center;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<div class="ecxmsonormal">
<span style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=145814145446737&v=wall&ref=ts" target="_blank">Consider Joining The Authorised Facebook Fan Page</a><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://lingvaplus.ucoz.ru/news/urok_vstrecha_s_anglijskim_puteshestvennikom_normanom_sjurplasom/2012-11-12-575" target="_blank">Check out the Russian Language School</a></span></div>
</div>
<span style="text-align: center;">
</span>
<br /></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">To contact the autogyro circumnavigation team email gyroxgoesglobal@gmail.com</div>The GYROX Teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15913097194536611948noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3969453786501704363.post-42487875134266005282012-07-06T18:28:00.001+01:002012-07-06T18:31:16.600+01:00Norman Gets a New Crew Member!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;"><i>As the preparations continue apace for the hoped for resumption of the circumnavigation, including a possible re-routing of the flight, Norman has been joined at Shonai Airport by his new travelling buddy, Dougie!<o:p></o:p></i></span></div><div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;"><i>But don't worry, this will still be a solo circumnavigation as Dougie is a Stomawise puppet who will be accompanying Norman for the rest of the flight to promote the <a href="http://www.stomawise.co.uk/" target="_blank">Stomawise Cancer Charity</a> which Norman is now involved with. For a fuller explanation it is best if we share with you the official press release to explain what it is all about.</i><o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;">* * *</span></div><div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"></div><div class="ecxmsonormal" style="background: white;"><span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;"><b><u>UK Health Support Website Gets Boost From Worldwide Aviation Adventurer</u></b></span><span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="ecxmsonormal" style="background: white;"><span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;"><b><u><br />
</u></b></span></div><div class="ecxmsonormal" style="background: white;"></div><div class="ecxmsonormal" style="background: white;"><span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.stomawise.co.uk/" target="_blank">Stomawise</a> which supports people who have undergone abdominal surgery has got a boost from a worldwide aviation adventurer. Norman Surplus who is attempting to be the first person to fly an autogyro around the world is taking a <a href="http://www.stomawise.co.uk/" target="_blank">Stomawise</a> ‘passenger’ as part of his work to raise awareness of bowel cancer and ostomy surgery on his travels.</span></div><div class="ecxmsonormal" style="background: white;"><span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GO313QKbp6k/T_cQcNXKOqI/AAAAAAAAFw0/uLjCTa9h8IA/s1600/dougie+flight+briefing+Japan1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GO313QKbp6k/T_cQcNXKOqI/AAAAAAAAFw0/uLjCTa9h8IA/s320/dougie+flight+briefing+Japan1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dougie, the Stomawise 'traveller' arrives in Japan and is briefed on all things aviation.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="ecxmsonormal" style="background: white;"><span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.stomawise.co.uk/" target="_blank">Stomawise</a> </span><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #2a2a2a;">is an internet based non-profit support network which now gets tens of thousands of visitors a week to its information based website from the UK and beyond. Currently in Japan after flying solo half way round the world, Norman greeted Stomawise puppet ‘Dougie’ also known as a Gastronaut. Surplus gave him a guided tour of the open cockpit aircraft that has already seen quite a few adventures in the 13,000 miles (21,000km) of travel across Europe, the Middle East, the Indian Sub-continent and SE Asia.</span></span></div><div class="ecxmsonormal" style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #2a2a2a;"><br />
</span></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WtXA_Z4-_IU/T_cRSzzmMwI/AAAAAAAAFxM/YyVKuHufbjk/s1600/dougie+on+apron+8+Japan1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="184" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WtXA_Z4-_IU/T_cRSzzmMwI/AAAAAAAAFxM/YyVKuHufbjk/s320/dougie+on+apron+8+Japan1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Norman shows his new companion around Roxy's cockpit and rear seat.<br />
<br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="ecxmsonormal" style="background: white;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;">On meeting Dougie for the first time Norman said “I underwent surgery and Chemo treatment for advanced stage Bowel Cancer back in 2003. Although my treatment didn't require me to be fitted with a stoma, it still made me much more aware of the types of practical difficulties faced by others in very similar situations. For young children it must be a particularly challenging time as they come to terms with and perhaps have to even relearn the practicalities of everyday life…. Dougie and his Gastronaut colleagues have a very important role to play in helping with that learning process in a fun and creative way. I am very happy that Dougie has been chosen as the flying Gastronaut and I am sure we are going to have some great adventures together!”</span></span><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #2a2a2a;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWAvBXB1HRFL0pRio4HTwXGC0P4Xmj8cuIhjGqExkWo9h2rxds7ntP6uHDk5c3i1Lk_6O0HL-x4ZkW_iytdjzQR5IZtuvMsKq5Zucbl56FM4-J0ivGABS4dxrtTPJGqk54Dn3eJtbZBgww/s1600/dougie+on+apron+7+Japan1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWAvBXB1HRFL0pRio4HTwXGC0P4Xmj8cuIhjGqExkWo9h2rxds7ntP6uHDk5c3i1Lk_6O0HL-x4ZkW_iytdjzQR5IZtuvMsKq5Zucbl56FM4-J0ivGABS4dxrtTPJGqk54Dn3eJtbZBgww/s320/dougie+on+apron+7+Japan1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dougie feels at home in the 2nd seat behind Norman</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="ecxmsonormal" style="background: white;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="ecxmsonormal" style="background: white;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;">Gastronauts are supplied mainly to children who have had to undergo surgery that results in them using a stoma bag to collect bodily waste. Norman, from Larne, County Antrim, Northern Ireland, is awaiting flight permission for the next leg of his journey into Russian airspace where authorities have delayed his journey by 10 months. If the Russian Civil Aviation Authorities do not give the green light soon Norman’s chance of crossing the Bering Sea to reach Alaska, the next stage after Russia, will be lost due to the short Arctic summer.</span><span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WNJSWicQ5n0/T_cRU22q6vI/AAAAAAAAFxU/QWW8rk2x_Mo/s1600/dougie+on+apron+Japan1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="199" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WNJSWicQ5n0/T_cRU22q6vI/AAAAAAAAFxU/QWW8rk2x_Mo/s320/dougie+on+apron+Japan1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Norman, Roxy and new friend Dougie are raring to set off again.<br />
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</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="ecxmsonormal" style="background: white;"></div><div class="ecxmsonormal" style="background: white;"><span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;">The charity is currently raising funds to purchase several static caravans across the UK to help post surgical ostomates in their recovery. The objective of the project is to assist people re-build their confidence and self esteem after abdominal surgery and the formation of a stoma. This is achieved by offering them a break from the day-to-day pressures of home where they can focus on their own needs. Norman who is currently located at Shonai Airport, Yamagata, Japan is a survivor of advanced stage bowel cancer. This life changing experience is one of the reasons for the world record flight and for his work in promoting awareness of this type of cancer.</span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB_YXIi8kjUeW8pPC_QBbkLVptlYbo9JrlduiKfXPuJLeTAHPnSkp0ytv1UvLpjRMOQdJyyPqCywPps299v1ui347SVfHegahyCifJOE3EcDSGqXhIqoICdXd-tCp_AlLdorYOf-o6rQ70/s1600/dougie+on+apron+10+Japan1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB_YXIi8kjUeW8pPC_QBbkLVptlYbo9JrlduiKfXPuJLeTAHPnSkp0ytv1UvLpjRMOQdJyyPqCywPps299v1ui347SVfHegahyCifJOE3EcDSGqXhIqoICdXd-tCp_AlLdorYOf-o6rQ70/s320/dougie+on+apron+10+Japan1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Norman and Dougie, both in their own flying gear.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="ecxmsonormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;"> * * *<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="ecxmsonormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="ecxmsonormal" style="background-color: white; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;"><i>We hope the arrival of Dougie to the team will inspire people to check out the <a href="http://www.stomawise.co.uk/" target="_blank">Stomawise website </a>and also to visit the GyroxGoesGlobal sites for more updates and photos of what should be an interesting new episode in the story of the first circumnavigation of the globe by autogyro.</i></span></div><div class="ecxmsonormal" style="background-color: white; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;"><i>We wish them the best of luck for a speedy return to flying.</i></span></div><div class="ecxmsonormal" style="background-color: white; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div class="ecxmsonormal" style="background-color: white; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;"><i>The Gyrox Team</i></span></div><div class="ecxmsonormal" style="background-color: white; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div class="ecxmsonormal" style="background-color: white; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;">* * *</span></div><div class="ecxmsonormal" style="background-color: white; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="ecxmsonormal" style="background-color: white; text-align: left;"></div><div class="ecxmsonormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #1f497d; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://www.gyroxgoesglobal.com/" target="_blank">For More Information Visit the Website</a><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="ecxmsonormal"></div><div class="ecxmsonormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #1f497d; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/GyroxGoesGlobal/143540602375581?sk=info" target="_blank">Follow the Adventure on Facebook</a><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="ecxmsonormal"></div><div class="ecxmsonormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #1f497d; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://www.stomawise.co.uk/" target="_blank">Check out the Stomawise Website</a><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="ecxmsonormal"></div><div class="ecxmsonormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #1f497d; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://twitter.com/GyroxGoesGlobal" target="_blank">Follow us on Twitter</a><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="ecxmsonormal"></div><div class="ecxmsonormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #1f497d; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://www.justgiving.com/gforgyro" target="_blank">Consider Donating to Norman’s UK Charity: Bowel Cancer UK</a><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="ecxmsonormal"></div><div class="ecxmsonormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #1f497d; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://grassroots2011.livestrong.org/faf/donorReg/donorPledge.asp?ievent=443028&supid=329965902" target="_blank">Consider Donating to Norman's Chosen North American Charity: Livestrong</a><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="ecxmsonormal"></div><div class="ecxmsonormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #1f497d; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=145814145446737&v=wall&ref=ts" target="_blank">Consider Joining the Authorised Facebook Fan Page</a><o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
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</div><div class="blogger-post-footer">To contact the autogyro circumnavigation team email gyroxgoesglobal@gmail.com</div>The GYROX Teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15913097194536611948noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3969453786501704363.post-83236908337996182022012-06-12T14:41:00.000+01:002012-06-13T12:16:39.272+01:0010 month Russian hold up puts pioneering UK world flight in doubt!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<em>We at the Gyrox Team are really saddened that once again we are having to call out to Norman's dedicated followers to come to our aid in a last ditch attempt to keep the flight on track.</em><br />
<em>The reasons for this are best described by publishing here the press release Norman has sent out to the world's media. The plea for your help is at the bottom of the release.</em><br />
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;"><u>“In this UK Olympic
year, Russia seems to have forgotten the fair play spirit of the games!“<o:p></o:p></u></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;">A
UK pilot’s world record gyrocopter flight is in serious doubt as Russian
authorities have delayed permission to enter their airspace for 10 months.
Cancer survivor and green entrepreneur Norman Surplus has already traversed 18
countries and achieved numerous new FAI World Records in his bid to be the
first to circumnavigate the globe in a gyrocopter. If the Russian Civil
Aviation Authorities do not give the green light soon Norman’s chance of
crossing the Bering Sea to reach Alaska, the next stage after Russia, will be
lost due to the short Arctic summer.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">The 49-year-old
adventurer from Larne, Northern Ireland has already flown his tiny, five metre
long craft half way around the world crossing some of the world’s most hostile
environments. He has been forced to wait, very patiently, in Japan since late
July last year<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> </i>for the Russian Civil
Aviation Authority who have been “processing” his onward flight permission - an
administration task that is normally supposed to take only <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">14 days</i>. He needs to make a transit through the Far Eastern Region
of Russia from Vladivostok to reach the Bering Sea and fly onwards into North
America.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;">Norman
has reported from his current location, Tsuruoka City in NW Japan: “The basic geography of the planet means that
the well established Bering Sea crossing route is the only realistic way that
any small type of aircraft can hope to cross the vast expanse of the Pacific
Ocean. There simply is no alternative route to use. I have flown half way
around the world through 18 countries to reach this point but Russia now
appears to be very disinterested in assisting in any way to help me continue on
this international World Record setting flight. None of the other countries,
whilst presenting many varied challenges of their own along the way, have been
so seemingly belligerent and stubborn. It’s as if they are simply not bothered
to give any assistance at all. It’s not like we are asking to land a Space
Shuttle in Siberia, we are just asking that they help, like so many of the more
obliging countries already passed, to send a small pioneering aircraft on its
way, unhindered, around the globe”. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;"><o:p><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">
</span></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;">He
continues “Our flight, named GYROX GOES GLOBAL is not a large commercially
sponsored expedition with endless resources of personnel and equipment to draw
on, nor is it run as some huge military sponsored expeditionary exercise. It is
a relatively low budget, privately funded charity flight, attempting to raise
funds along the way for Bowel Cancer UK and other cancer awareness charities.
Sitting here, constantly waiting for news from Russia, it is very easy to form
the impression that the Bureaucrats are thinking that by simply ignoring us,
for long enough, we will be forced to give up, pack up and go home and stop
bothering them. It is a very frustrating situation”.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;"><o:p><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">
</span></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;">Time
is now the biggest factor as the Bering Sea acts as a climatic gateway, it can
only be crossed in this small type of open cockpit aircraft in the few brief
Arctic summer months and we are already into June…The Russian permission needs
to come through realistically in the next few weeks so that the flight can have
enough time to cross North America and the North Atlantic before the end of the
summer. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;">And
in one further bureaucratic twist to this saga, the Japanese will require 3
weeks to process their exit permission to allow Norman to fly out of Japan.
This extra 3 weeks will have to be added on top of the Russian delay. There is
not a moment to lose if we would like to see Norman complete his epic World
Record setting journey especially in this special Jubilee and Olympic summer of
2012. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;">The
humble gyrocopter, which predates by some decades its more glamorous rotary
cousin the Helicopter, is the last remaining type of aircraft that has yet to
fly around the world. This, is despite the fact, that the first gyrocopter
actually flew way back in 1923 - 89 years ago….a very long time to wait for
this highly capable little aircraft to enjoy the recognition it rightly
deserves , hopefully the Russians can now act positively, quickly and
decisively to help bring all this long waiting process to an end. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;"><o:p><span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">We are effectively still stuck in Japan at the
moment and urgently in need of a big groundswell of popular support from our
many supporters and online followers around the UK and the World to help
convince our various local politicians to lobby the UK Foreign Office in London
to, in turn and on our behalf, urge the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs to
allow our “Gyrox Goes Global” flight permission application to be quickly acted
on and approved. </span></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;"><o:p><span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman';">
</span><span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;">Basic
World Geography dictates, that this northern routing across the Bering Sea to
Alaska is the only possible way that any light aircraft (from any country) can
hope to cross the vastness of the Pacific Ocean and as such, the Russians along
with the Americans in Alaska, should feel a sense of moral duty and obligation
to the World to act as a responsible gatekeeper, extending free access and
unhindered passage to all such flights wanting to cross this region, providing
that they are flying on an internationally recognised, Official FAI World
Record Circumnavigation attempt. </span><span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-size: small;">This
is an urgent action for, as everyone that has been following our ongoing
journey over the past three(!) summers knows, the weather windows for crossing
both the near Arctic conditions of the Bering Sea and the North Atlantic are
very short. Realistically we need to have the permission decision from Russia
in the next couple of weeks, if I stand any chance of completing the whole
circumnavigation before the end of this summer</span>. </span><span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;">If
anyone is able to offer any assistance (political or otherwise) in persuading
the Russians to “Play Fair” in this, our special Olympic Year of 2012, then I
would be most grateful for their support.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;">Many Thanks,</span></div>
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<span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;">Norman</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy4bqkXrvKMpW6-MszySJ7tWz3dil6BWgyNjHKOPhLZnv2G8N51JZKw0EoOIFnqf-N4ixV7ntLEayH2z_bFVtUpYqUpdU5wo-G2PFlBtP6neCYqVWi6XkR_JUpbvjkIxR2Z8PBNzfsp1vX/s1600/Shonai+first+flights+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy4bqkXrvKMpW6-MszySJ7tWz3dil6BWgyNjHKOPhLZnv2G8N51JZKw0EoOIFnqf-N4ixV7ntLEayH2z_bFVtUpYqUpdU5wo-G2PFlBtP6neCYqVWi6XkR_JUpbvjkIxR2Z8PBNzfsp1vX/s320/Shonai+first+flights+5.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><em>So how can you help? </em></span></div>
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<span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><em>Please share this blog post wherever you can...Facebook, Twitter, news pages or anywhere that you think it will get a reaction.</em></span></div>
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<span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><em>Check for this press release appearing in local and international newspapers and their websites and if it is possible reply to the article giving your support for Norman.</em></span></div>
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<span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><em>Forward this blog post, with your own message of support, to any governmental department you think might take an interest in supporting Norman.</em></span></div>
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<span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><em>Be vocal on Russian sites about their lack of support for Norman which is against the worldwide support the flight carries.</em></span></div>
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<span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><em>If you have any 'concrete' suggestions for Norman please use the comment box here or send a message via the Facebook pages. We will pass your ideas on to Norman straight away.</em></span></div>
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<span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><em>We sincerely hope that the next blog post will have good news and in advance, we thank all the supporters for their continued belief in Norman's venture.</em></span></div>
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<span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><em>The Gyrox Team</em></span></div>
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<span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><em>* * *</em></span></div>
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</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #1f497d; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://www.gyroxgoesglobal.com/" target="_blank">For More Information Visit the Website</a></span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #1f497d; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"></span></div>
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0cm 0cm 16.2pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #1f497d; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/GyroxGoesGlobal/143540602375581?sk=info" target="_blank">Follow the Adventure on Facebook</a></span></div>
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0cm 0cm 16.2pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">
<a href="http://twitter.com/GyroxGoesGlobal" target="_blank">Follow us on Twitter</a></span></div>
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0cm 0cm 16.2pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #1f497d; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://www.justgiving.com/gforgyro" target="_blank">Consider Donating to Norman’s Chosen UK Charity: Bowel Cancer UK</a></span></span></div>
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0cm 0cm 16.2pt;">
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</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #1f497d; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://grassroots2011.livestrong.org/faf/donorReg/donorPledge.asp?ievent=443028&supid=329965902" target="_blank">Consider Donating to Norman's Chosen North American Charity: Livestrong</a></span></span></span></div>
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</div><div class="blogger-post-footer">To contact the autogyro circumnavigation team email gyroxgoesglobal@gmail.com</div>The GYROX Teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15913097194536611948noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3969453786501704363.post-70154729079993959172012-05-15T19:24:00.000+01:002012-05-16T10:00:18.040+01:00The Countdown Begins!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<i>We have heard from Norman, who returned to Japan last week, about his preparations to resume the world's first circumnavigation by an Autogyro. He describes in his own words the hurdles he has to overcome, created naturally or by bureaucrats, to return to the air for his pioneering flight.</i><br />
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<i> </i></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">At the end of May another arctic spring
time approaches and with it we have, once again, a seasonal chance to fly
across the Bering Sea from Russia to Alaska, my only available routing to get
across the Pacific Ocean. For the second year running I am now poised to
recommence and (hopefully) complete my circumnavigation attempt, to return home
from the other side of the world. I have recently again travelled out to Shonai
Airport, Yamagata Prefecture, N.W Japan where G-YROX (aka “Roxy”) has been
waiting patiently “en route” for my return and from where we shall soon depart
for the remotest, vast wilderness of the Russian Far East. This section of the
flight is by far the most technically challenging given that the settlements to
be visited are very isolated and without roads in the northern latitudes (no
roads equals no vehicles and thus no need for fuel stations…), so working the
logistics for food, accommodation and fuel are of prime importance at the
moment. There are “airstrips” (of sorts…) in just enough of these settlements
to allow a transit to be possible and thankfully in our favour at least a Gyro
can perform very short take offs and landings using some fairly unprepared
surfaces.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Fsq4Wgq8o-M/T7KCXROq9WI/AAAAAAAAFKs/SAGUCpVJGSs/s1600/Sea_of_Japan_Map.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="209" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Fsq4Wgq8o-M/T7KCXROq9WI/AAAAAAAAFKs/SAGUCpVJGSs/s320/Sea_of_Japan_Map.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">No alternate landing field from Japan to Vladivostok</td></tr>
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<span lang="EN-GB">The Russian Authorities are currently
making final checks with the en route airfields to make certain that they are
currently open, secure and available (after the long winter of isolation) and
ready to receive our flight. Once we have the final go ahead from Russia then
we have to wait for the Japanese Authorities to have their turn at playing with
the “red tape” machine, to process my exit clearance to allow me to fly out of
Japanese airspace. (This can be a fairly lengthy exercise, lasting several
weeks, drawing on our previous experiences of flight applications…). </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">Finally, once the bureaucratic “made by man”
permissions are all in order, I can then give some (considerable) thought to
the physical “made by mother nature” permissions; primarily those of Climate
and Weather patterns en route for the lengthy open water crossing of the Sea of
Japan. As we have seen, the climate has already dictated a wait in Japan for 9
months since the last summer season, but the weather and crucially the wind
(both strength and direction) will of course have the final say “on the day”. Our
maximum operational range on longer flights is usually around 450 Nautical
Miles. As the “crow flies”, the straight line distance airport to airport from <b>RJSY</b> (Shonai) to <b>UHWW</b> (Vladivostok) is “only” 442 NM however, with (man-made) en
route airways corridor protocol and entry procedures for Vladivostok air
traffic control the actual flight from Shonai will actually work out to be
around 460 NM…</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">It therefore follows that although I have a
considerable margin of fuel reserves (my absolute range with full tanks would
be something more like 525 NM) this only translates to around an hour of extra
endurance in the air. To encounter a strong headwind on a flight of this
overall distance could easily add an hour onto the journey time and this,
remember, is a flight across the sea with no alternate airfields en route. It
is therefore vital that the predicted winds on the day are either a nice
tailwind to give me a helping hand or, worst case, a cross wind which has
minimal effect on journey time, for or against. Thankfully predicting the wind
(at least in the short view of a day or two in advance) is a well practised science
and one which gives reasonably accurate results.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">Therefore, in dealing with the wind, as
with the lengthy bureaucratic process, I may simply have to sit and wait for
the correct conditions to occur….</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">Cheers</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">Norman</span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qifmaYQiHC4/T7KDHnN1m6I/AAAAAAAAFK0/8IhsfbY_6NA/s1600/engine+running+May+2012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="177" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qifmaYQiHC4/T7KDHnN1m6I/AAAAAAAAFK0/8IhsfbY_6NA/s320/engine+running+May+2012.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking decidedly chilly, Norman prepares to do some engine runs at Shonai Airport, Japan this week. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span lang="EN-GB">* * *</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">It is great to hear from Norman and we at the Gyrox Team are gearing up ready to bring you all the latest news as it happens from wherever Norman is during the final stages of his record setting flight.</span></div>
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The Gyrox Team</div>
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<span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://www.justgiving.com/gforgyro" target="_blank">Consider Donating to Norman’s ChosenUK Charity: Bowel Cancer UK</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://grassroots2011.livestrong.org/faf/donorReg/donorPledge.asp?ievent=443028&supid=329965902" target="_blank">Consider Donating to Norman's Chosen North American Charity: Livestrong</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=145814145446737&v=wall&ref=ts" target="_blank">Consider Joining The Authorised Facebook Fan Page</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">To contact the autogyro circumnavigation team email gyroxgoesglobal@gmail.com</div>The GYROX Teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15913097194536611948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3969453786501704363.post-40610837411031062942012-03-28T09:56:00.000+01:002012-03-28T09:56:15.879+01:00Roxy is Airborne Again!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>We at the Gyrox team are very happy to announce that yesterday, 28th March 2012, Norman was able to take to the air again in his autogyro, G-YROX (Roxy); the first true flight since last July!</b><br />
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</b><br />
<b>Roxy has been in storage at Shonai airport, Japan, since the circumnavigation was put on hold last autumn because of weather conditions and bureaucratic delays. But as the weather is set to clear and the bureaucratic problems are solved it was time to dust off the rotors, put all the bits back together and following engine test runs earlier this week, take to the air again.</b><br />
<b><br />
</b><br />
<b>As we saw on Monday, the supposed first day of test flying, the weather still had a bearing on the schedule as a massive snow storm grounded everything, but yesterday the snow was cleared and Norman was at the airport early hoping to get some comprehensive test flights in.</b><br />
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<b>But, as is the case with flying and some would say...Murphy's Law, this first flight was delayed as a heavy rain storm crossed the area. It was strange that the whole of Japan was rain free except for that patch of sky over Shonai Airport!</b><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-muMYVdCMDVo/T3LIumxC7sI/AAAAAAAAFF4/YEluZE0QkI0/s1600/Shonai+has+only+rain+in+all+Japan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><b><img border="0" height="209" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-muMYVdCMDVo/T3LIumxC7sI/AAAAAAAAFF4/YEluZE0QkI0/s320/Shonai+has+only+rain+in+all+Japan.jpg" width="320" /></b></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The weather radar shows Japan is clear except for the area where Norman is. </b></td></tr>
</tbody></table><b>At least the airport staff let Norman wait out the rain in the airport office where he was able to keep warm and enjoy the hospitality as well as being supplied with cups of coffee.</b><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_7f35wWTEnQ/T3LKlHCVZKI/AAAAAAAAFGA/1kyrts3ZoT0/s1600/Shonai+first+flights+7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><b><img border="0" height="180" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_7f35wWTEnQ/T3LKlHCVZKI/AAAAAAAAFGA/1kyrts3ZoT0/s320/Shonai+first+flights+7.jpg" width="320" /></b></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Norman watches the rain outside the airport office window, flight suit and hot coffee at the ready.</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table><b>But the rain did clear and it was a relief for Norman to finally don the famous red flying suit, start the engine and set the rotor turning and for the first time in many months Roxy taxied out to take to the air again.</b><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj78iA4IsECKhgKFKdXC5NQkmyC3k-2v1EbM4ORWYDRNp6o7VelxLkRwNuSVQNZm00kX9cWnpv8txuCkgaupufwgX7wB6HXbuBY7NuQrsdAF3JZ36-NNyk-pwMAcH8kkC_Yz4tRYY8J7Q4P/s1600/Shonai+first+flights+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><b><img border="0" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj78iA4IsECKhgKFKdXC5NQkmyC3k-2v1EbM4ORWYDRNp6o7VelxLkRwNuSVQNZm00kX9cWnpv8txuCkgaupufwgX7wB6HXbuBY7NuQrsdAF3JZ36-NNyk-pwMAcH8kkC_Yz4tRYY8J7Q4P/s320/Shonai+first+flights+3.jpg" width="320" /></b></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Norman taxies Roxy out onto the rain-soaked taxiway at Shonai. Note the piles of snow still hanging on.</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table><b>And, as though there had been no long term storage at all, Roxy lifted off for the first time this year. Not ideal conditions and the Japanese aviation rules kept all flying within the airport zone boundary but Norman put Roxy through her paces with some extreme manoeuvres aimed at testing all airframe and engine specifications. </b><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bgsKu_t-TeE/T3LM0zIcfSI/AAAAAAAAFGQ/k2hEgUuET5o/s1600/Shonai+first+flights+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><b><img border="0" height="169" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bgsKu_t-TeE/T3LM0zIcfSI/AAAAAAAAFGQ/k2hEgUuET5o/s320/Shonai+first+flights+2.jpg" width="320" /></b></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Norman and Roxy take to the skies for the first time this year.</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table><b>This type of flying gave the assembled Japanese media and press who had arrived to chronicle the first flight, an impromptu airshow and hopefully helped the cause of the Autogyro for local flying. </b><br />
<b>Following an hours test flying Norman brought Roxy gently back to earth and following a press interview tucked Roxy up for the night, happy in the knowledge that she had performed perfectly and that there were many more flights to come.</b><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Mo8va_jiHwg/T3LOVSS6vOI/AAAAAAAAFGY/rEPOknP9qwU/s1600/Shonai+first+flights.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><b><img border="0" height="173" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Mo8va_jiHwg/T3LOVSS6vOI/AAAAAAAAFGY/rEPOknP9qwU/s320/Shonai+first+flights.jpg" width="320" /></b></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Roxy arrives back at Shonai after a successful test flight.</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table><b>One interesting titbit of information followed Norman's return to his hotel for the night. While he was in the middle of sending photos and information about yesterdays flying back to us at team HQ, Shonai was struck by a mild earthquake! Norman in his indomitable way joked about how much the building was swaying...</b><br />
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<b>Norman will be flying each day (weather permitting) from now until and including the 30th March.</b><br />
<b>Expected times for flying each day are...</b><br />
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<div class="ecxMsoNormal"><b>02:30 to 03:30 UTC (GMT) and </b></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal"><b>06:30 to 07:30 UTC (GMT)</b></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal"><b><br />
</b></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal"><b>Make sure you check into the on-line tracker to see his flights live, link below.</b></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal"><b>We will give updates and hopefully more photos of the flying each day.</b></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal"><b>The Gyrox Team</b></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal"><b> * * *</b></div><div class="ecxMsoNormal"></div><div class="ecxmsonormal"><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><a href="http://share.findmespot.com/shared/faces/viewspots.jsp?glId=0M3Zb2VvSqGOOKr8faf6ltSR80lVr0C4h" target="_blank">Follow <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Norman</st1:city></st1:place> and G-YROX Live On The Spot Tracker</a><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="ecxmsonormal"></div><div class="ecxmsonormal"><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><a href="http://www.gyroxgoesglobal.com/" target="_blank">For More Information Visit the Website</a><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="ecxmsonormal"></div><div class="ecxmsonormal"><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/GyroxGoesGlobal/143540602375581?sk=info" target="_blank">Follow the Adventure on Facebook</a><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="ecxmsonormal"></div><div class="ecxmsonormal"><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://twitter.com/GyroxGoesGlobal" target="_blank">Follow us on Twitter</a><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="ecxmsonormal"></div><div class="ecxmsonormal"><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><a href="http://www.justgiving.com/gforgyro" target="_blank">Consider Donating to Norman’s Chosen UK Charity: Bowel Cancer UK</a><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="ecxmsonormal"></div><div class="ecxmsonormal"><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><a href="http://grassroots2011.livestrong.org/faf/donorReg/donorPledge.asp?ievent=443028&supid=329965902" target="_blank">Consider Donating to Norman's Chosen North American Charity: Livestrong</a><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="ecxmsonormal"></div><div class="ecxmsonormal"><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=145814145446737&v=wall&ref=ts" target="_blank">Consider Joining The Authorised Facebook Fan Page</a><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="ecxmsonormal"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">To contact the autogyro circumnavigation team email gyroxgoesglobal@gmail.com</div>The GYROX Teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15913097194536611948noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3969453786501704363.post-82920383122807430562012-03-26T11:09:00.001+01:002012-03-26T11:13:46.700+01:00No Flying Yet!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><i>For those who were expecting to see Norman and Roxy flying today and have been watching the Spot tracker for some kind of movement, we have an explanation, sent from Norman himself, as to why there is a hold-up and for once we can tell you that it is not caused by bureaucracy!</i><br />
<i><br />
</i><br />
<i> * * *</i><br />
<i><br />
</i><br />
<b><u>Update on What is Happening</u></b><br />
<b><u><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><b>The Weather in Tsuruoka and at Shonai Airport has taken a decided and sudden turn for the worse...</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><b>Consider this first picture, taken just after I had put the Rotor back on Roxy a couple of days ago - you can see the arrival of the regular ANA flight from Tokyo in the background and the big piles of rapidly melting snow...</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3goad1XPwGk2NKA4FXQcHf9LfwzKpwyCNefsr1Af-OQXq-Itn9qyCR32vqcqT4aIB_LXbzTjzV5H_wKw1FJ3uk-ASLPaf5w-t7EIXRzDYYISH_Pj8mUXm8F8QgKl9nMi6V8smRHPbTrss/s1600/Shonai+late+snow+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3goad1XPwGk2NKA4FXQcHf9LfwzKpwyCNefsr1Af-OQXq-Itn9qyCR32vqcqT4aIB_LXbzTjzV5H_wKw1FJ3uk-ASLPaf5w-t7EIXRzDYYISH_Pj8mUXm8F8QgKl9nMi6V8smRHPbTrss/s320/Shonai+late+snow+3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><b>However now take a look at the conditions we were faced with yesterday - supposedly one of the first days that I have permission to fly…this is the same ANA flight at its stand (and was subsequently delayed because of the severe snow storms). While standing in the hanger we actually heard Thunder up above! - this was actually a very snowy thunderstorm…</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-viRq1L9T0vY/T3A9jy1BoYI/AAAAAAAAFFo/OhYFA34LuJQ/s1600/Shonai+late+snow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-viRq1L9T0vY/T3A9jy1BoYI/AAAAAAAAFFo/OhYFA34LuJQ/s320/Shonai+late+snow.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><b>So it was little wonder that Roxy and I have had to sit it out for a little while longer before taking to the skies...</b></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Od9tu1WgY-E/T3A9zxdkBWI/AAAAAAAAFFw/ffzF5DmsETI/s1600/Shonai+late+snow+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="179" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Od9tu1WgY-E/T3A9zxdkBWI/AAAAAAAAFFw/ffzF5DmsETI/s320/Shonai+late+snow+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Norman and Roxy raring to go, but still firmly stuck on Terra Firma as guests of the Shonai Airport Fire Service.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-GB"> </span>…the good news is the forecast is improving n the next few days so keep an eye on the tracker….</b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><br />
</b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><b>Cheers</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><b><br />
</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><b>Norman</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><b> * * *</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><i>We will of course keep you updated with any news of any flying as and when it happens,</i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><i>The Gyrox Team</i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><i> </i>* * *</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"></span></div><div class="ecxmsonormal"><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://share.findmespot.com/shared/faces/viewspots.jsp?glId=0M3Zb2VvSqGOOKr8faf6ltSR80lVr0C4h" target="_blank">Follow <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Norman</st1:city></st1:place> and G-YROX Live On The Spot Tracker</a><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="ecxmsonormal"></div><div class="ecxmsonormal"><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://www.gyroxgoesglobal.com/" target="_blank">For More Information Visit the Website</a><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="ecxmsonormal"></div><div class="ecxmsonormal"><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/GyroxGoesGlobal/143540602375581?sk=info" target="_blank">Follow the Adventure on Facebook</a><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="ecxmsonormal"></div><div class="ecxmsonormal"><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://twitter.com/GyroxGoesGlobal" target="_blank">Follow us on Twitter</a><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="ecxmsonormal"></div><div class="ecxmsonormal"><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://www.justgiving.com/gforgyro" target="_blank">Consider Donating to Norman’s Chosen UK Charity: Bowel Cancer UK</a><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="ecxmsonormal"></div><div class="ecxmsonormal"><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://grassroots2011.livestrong.org/faf/donorReg/donorPledge.asp?ievent=443028&supid=329965902" target="_blank">Consider Donating to Norman's Chosen North American Charity: Livestrong</a><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="ecxmsonormal"></div><div class="ecxmsonormal"><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=145814145446737&v=wall&ref=ts" target="_blank">Consider Joining The Authorised Facebook Fan Page</a><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="ecxmsonormal"><br />
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</div><div class="blogger-post-footer">To contact the autogyro circumnavigation team email gyroxgoesglobal@gmail.com</div>The GYROX Teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15913097194536611948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3969453786501704363.post-15077703833875819692012-03-20T12:55:00.002+00:002012-03-20T14:04:10.979+00:00Roxy re-awakens after long Japanese Winter Hibernation<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><em>Following a very long Japanese winter we at the Gyrox team can now happily announce that things are starting to happen in the Land of the Rising Sun. Norman has sent us an important update detailing the efforts to get Roxy ready for the resumption of the circumnavigation. This is what he has to say...</em><br />
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>I am very pleased to announce that Roxy (aka - the current long distance FAI World Record holding MT-03 Autogyro G-YROX) is this week planning a return to the (hopefully) clear blue skies of NW Japan after a lengthy enforced winter Hibernation period.<o:p></o:p></strong></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>The aircraft has been waiting patiently in Japan for the onward route through to the Bering Sea (via the Far East of Russia) to thaw after the long Arctic winter. Great care has been taken to keep the aircraft fit for purpose with the engine given regular exercise every few weeks during the snowy conditions that have seen several metres of snow fall in this relatively remote region of Japan’s Yamagata Prefecture. Roxy however has been tucked up safe and sound in a small alcove in the back of the fire station building at Shonai Airport.</strong></span></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>Now with spring rapidly approaching, the time has come to prepare for the coming flying season and we will now see a flurry of activity around the airport during the next two weeks. Through the winter, to assist in taking up the least amount of room in the fire station, the rotor blades were removed as can be seen in the photograph below which was taken during a recent engine run…note also the now melting snow in the background…<o:p></o:p></strong></span></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Buli8w48G3c/T2hd88VZ2LI/AAAAAAAAFFQ/DN_ghb_11xM/s1600/Shonai+Japan+Feb+2012+Engine+starts+first+go.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="235" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Buli8w48G3c/T2hd88VZ2LI/AAAAAAAAFFQ/DN_ghb_11xM/s320/Shonai+Japan+Feb+2012+Engine+starts+first+go.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shonai, Japan - Feb 2012 and the engine starts first time!</td></tr>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>The blades will be cleaned and inspected prior to putting them back on the rotor head and the aircraft thoroughly checked over prior to embarking on a series of short flights around the immediate vicinity of the Airport. Flight restrictions from the Civil Aviation Bureau will likely mean that the aircraft will be confined to flights within approximately a 3 km radius of the airport boundary, however considering that this is a highly capable and manoeuvrable Autogyro aircraft (and not a Jumbo Jet), this amount of space is ample to provide all the airspace needed to perform the requisite flight checks. Indeed it could even be said that an Autogyro could easily perform all its manoeuvres actually <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">within</i> the confines of the airport boundary fences!</strong> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>The plan is to allow the aircraft permission to fly 1 hour in the morning and 1 hour in the afternoon each day between the 23rd & 30th of March. However not all of these time sessions will be needed for check flights and local weather or other air traffic may have further limiting implications. It is expected that Roxy will exercise for about 5 hours in total during the week. The intention is to have the Satellite Tracker active during the these short flights, to allow the testing of the online tracking page and to allow our many European followers to practise their skills at getting up in the middle of the night to watch, live, a little yellow aircraft buzz about on the other side of the planet!! (Though of course, some may just elect to check on the overnight progress at a more leisurely pace, over the usual morning cup of coffee some hours later instead…)</strong></span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dpg0yla3d_A/T2heOkj_ESI/AAAAAAAAFFY/SxXh4Ui-9mE/s1600/DSC07624.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dpg0yla3d_A/T2heOkj_ESI/AAAAAAAAFFY/SxXh4Ui-9mE/s320/DSC07624.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Norman gives a thumbs up to the newly awakened Roxy.</td></tr>
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</strong></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> </span></o:p></span></span></div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><strong>It is such a rarity for this type of Aircraft to be allowed permission to fly in Japan that it may cause some considerable interest locally. On our first arrival in Shonai (inbound from Oki Island last July) I simply made a straight in approach to the airport and was cleared to land immediately. The aircraft was heavy with the circumnavigation luggage and generally, in these circumstances after a long sea crossing of many hours and into an unfamiliar airport, I will make a very steady and straightforward approach and landing (so as to not unduly worry the Air Traffic Officer on duty in the Control Tower). The gathered reception committee waiting to greet my arrival that day therefore saw very little of the unique flight characteristics of this aircraft while it was in the air. There was no need to stop, mid air and perhaps descent vertically, no need for tight turns, steep practised forced landings</strong> <strong>perhaps <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">across</i> the runway rather than along it, touch and go fly pasts and a host of other manoeuvres that would look quite odd to any spectator who is used to observing the motion of a more conventional aircraft (or even a helicopter…). By putting the aircraft through its paces (though always remaining fully within in its normal flight envelope - as UK Autogyros are not allowed to perform any “aerobatic” manoeuvres) next week, local Japanese onlookers will be treated to an impromptu display of a flying machine that will take to the air like no other aircraft they have ever seen!<o:p></o:p></strong></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><strong> <span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">GANBARO! ROXY….<o:p></o:p></span></span></strong></span></span></div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>Cheers</strong></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>Norman<o:p></o:p></strong></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">**Ganbaro! is the Japanese rallying cry that means “go on, you can do it, we are with you!” <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"> * * *</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><em>The Gyrox Team will make sure that where possible we will announce flying times and make sure links to the Spot Tracker appear on the various GGG sites and we hope everyone is feeling the excitement we are at the thought of Roxy and Norman taking to the skies again soon.</em></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><em>The Gyrox Team</em></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"> * * *</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"></div><div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 16.2pt;"><span style="color: #1f497d; 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font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><o:p><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;"> </span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://share.findmespot.com/shared/faces/viewspots.jsp?glId=0M3Zb2VvSqGOOKr8faf6ltSR80lVr0C4h" target="_blank">Follow <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Norman</st1:city></st1:place> and G-YROX Live On The Spot Tracker<o:p></o:p></a></span></span></o:p></span></span></div><div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 16.2pt;"><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><o:p><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;"> </span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://www.justgiving.com/gforgyro" target="_blank">Consider Donating to Norman’s Chosen UK Charity: Bowel Cancer UK</a></span></span></span></o:p></span></span></div><div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 16.2pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;"> <span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://grassroots2011.livestrong.org/faf/donorReg/donorPledge.asp?ievent=443028&supid=329965902" target="_blank">Consider Donating to Norman's Chosen North American Charity: Livestrong</a></span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;"></span></div><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;"><div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 16.2pt;"><span style="color: #1f497d; 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</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">To contact the autogyro circumnavigation team email gyroxgoesglobal@gmail.com</div>The GYROX Teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15913097194536611948noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3969453786501704363.post-61479223876022298792012-02-03T17:09:00.006+00:002012-02-03T17:36:51.295+00:00The GGG Essential Guide to:- Japanese food that looks too good to eat…Beware the non-slip Gravy!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><em>Welcome to the third installment of Norman's series of informative and tongue in cheek guides to the quirkier side of Japanese life.</em><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong><u>The GGG Essential Guide to:-</u></strong> <br />
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<strong><u>Japanese food that looks too good to eat…Beware the non-slip Gravy!</u></strong></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-H00KqePvV_Y/TywMwratmrI/AAAAAAAAFDI/Z9fk_tZFDA0/s1600/FOOD+plastic+non+slip+gravy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="262" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-H00KqePvV_Y/TywMwratmrI/AAAAAAAAFDI/Z9fk_tZFDA0/s400/FOOD+plastic+non+slip+gravy.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Think of culinary Japan and you automatically think of Sushi, Chopsticks, Soy Sauce and perhaps an irate Chef chasing you down the street brandishing a fearsome looking meat cleaver… no, sorry, that last stereotype is more likely to belong to a UK Chinese Restaurant at maybe around Pub closing time!!<br />
I refer to Chinese loosely in this context as, in the UK at least, the word is often used as a catch all description for any restaurant (especially a “take away” as opposed to a “sit in”) that just happens to have vaguely Oriental dishes on their menu. This is regardless of whether the dishes are actually from China or even anywhere else in the Far East... After all, gastronomic delights such as “Chips**, Cheese and Curry Sauce”, deep fried “Battered Pineapple Rings” or “Pickled Boiled Eggs” in a jar don’t immediately spring to mind as examples of rare delicacies transported from the mystic East aboard some ancient Chinese Sailing Junk. (Unless, of course, the eggs happen to be 600 years old and served up in a Ming Dynasty vase…) <br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"> </span></o:p></span></div><strong><em><span style="font-size: x-small;">** ”Chips” in the UK can be known as French Fries elsewhere and Potato Crisps in the UK can be called Potato Chips elsewhere - confused ? - you soon will be…</span></em></strong> <br />
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However, it is still possible that some of the slightly more authentic dishes on the menu may have had, at least in part, some Japanese influences in the past, even if only in a very broad brush comparison. Many “Oriental” dishes of course share the same Far East staple ingredients of Rice and Noodles (as does Japan) and these are served up in numerous permutations of styles and flavours. Such are the bewildering array of variations that can be conjured up from these two base ingredients that, just as the Inuit people of the Polar regions have their 40 odd different descriptions for types of “snow”, so too is there a huge variety and diversity in the numerous descriptions of all things “Noodle” and all things “Rice”.<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"></div></span>And herein lies the big problem….How can you possibly individually describe 150 items on your menu if 75 of them are best described as “Noodle Thing” and the other 75 should be called “Rice Thing”?? <span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"> </span></o:p></span></div></span>In the UK, the ubiquitous “Chinese” Take Away has an answer to this dilemma, by devising an enormous gaudy plastic Menu board which can easily take up the whole of one wall in the brightly neon lit shop. This Technicolor masterpiece, which describes each dish on the menu in exacting detail, can initially stun the customer at first glance, suddenly confronted them with this Wide Screen vision, a menu delivered in full HD but alas with no surround sound (unless of course someone is singing loudly in the queue behind you…). <span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"> </span></div></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">Where to look first? How can you ever find the Cheesy Chip and Gravy section hiding in this lot?? <br />
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Initially, the whole lengthy manuscript (seemingly of Magna Carter proportions), has to be studied in bewildering detail by the squinting (and perhaps swaying) occupants of the recently emptied public house next door. This all quickly becomes quite a cumbersome and laborious arrangement you might think… but not so, because once the preferred dish is eventually located on the menu board, the complex system’s trump card can be played. The auto-swaying customer can simply lean on the counter (for support and perhaps also to reduce the swaying a little…) and prepare to deliver their order. Like a goldfish with only a 3 second memory, the customer at this most crucial juncture in the transaction need not even remember one jot about the details of the food they are going to eat. There’s simply no need as the system will provide the answer. They only have one thing to remember and that one thing is… the Number….the number that the dish appears on the menu list. Sorted! Gone from the memory is actually what you are ordering and shortly going to eat (and/or possibly wear when spilt down the front of your shirt...), like an automaton delivering a speech with a synthesised voice, all you need to remember to say at the appropriate moment is - “I want that Noodle thing…Number 143…and a can of fizzy pop” *** (plus perhaps a small side dish of Cheesy Chips as a Hors D‘oeuvre to eat on the bus on the way home…)<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"></span></span></span></span></span></o:p></span></span><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><em>***it’s preferable to use your best Robot / Dalek voice for this bit if you are reading the text out to someone - however equally best not to use this same voice in a real Take Away restaurant or you may well snap the patience of the Head Chef… with the Meat Cleaver…shouting Exterminate! Exterminate! as he leaps at you over the counter…</em></div><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"></span><br />
So to cut through the sensory overload of making a concise, distilled and informed choice from the huge menu on offer (and perhaps also “multitasking” with some swaying, singing and squinting thrown in) the most efficient system to use is to simply to order by number.<br />
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Unless that is, you happen to live, say, in Japan...<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-j9uEZTxjuC4/TywPG6p4oDI/AAAAAAAAFDQ/GN4U3FLqa2M/s1600/FOOD+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="116" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-j9uEZTxjuC4/TywPG6p4oDI/AAAAAAAAFDQ/GN4U3FLqa2M/s400/FOOD+1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"> </span></div></span></span></span>By now, you might well have guessed that the Japanese (as we will see in many of these GGG Essential Guides…) have, of course, managed to go one better. Gone are the complex and gaudy plastic menu boards, gone also the more “trendy bistro” chalk and blackboard menus. In Japan, all is neatly replaced by an altogether more adventurous, 21st Century, artistic solution.<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt;"> <span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"> </span></span></div></span></span></span></span>Rather than trying to read the whole menu and having to imagine what the different dishes might be like, the Japanese regularly enjoy the fantastic concept of being able to actually see what they are going to get before they order it. A three dimensional menu showing exactly what you are going to get is often placed, pride of place no less, in the front window of many Japanese Restaurants. Represented in incredibly detailed plastic resins, there are row upon row of highly accurately detailed food dishes, all of which are available on the menu inside. By using plastic replicas like these you simply don’t have to use so many words to describe the ingredients of a dish and In this way, not only the look of the food is reproduced (after all, a good photograph in the menu could do this adequately), but the physical size, composition and texture of the meal can also be accurately depicted. It is very much a case of “WYSIWYG” (What You See Is What You Get).<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RWCH7NutGT4/TywPgwI2xWI/AAAAAAAAFDY/cG-M1CuKWsc/s1600/FOOD+plastic+puddings.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="235" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RWCH7NutGT4/TywPgwI2xWI/AAAAAAAAFDY/cG-M1CuKWsc/s400/FOOD+plastic+puddings.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span></span></div></span></span></span></span>The real challenge of course, is not the simple dishes on the menu, Green Peas and Carrots after all are perhaps not so hard to reproduce in plastic.... Where the real skill comes in is trying to represent things like Ice Cream Sundaes or delicate seafood salads.<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: small;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHuBFm_JQ1UAvHSNzjlxFnHIMOcJGV8zYRkG9McAdGioVQxorb9k3un4d2i4sfR6ItlHOW92T7rUtv0TqBb6cmPUreq77bPp376J4CVOsu6Fe1G4lD2fRJfr78svdxZ6K2wVCCUoB8inRn/s1600/FOOD+plastic+salad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHuBFm_JQ1UAvHSNzjlxFnHIMOcJGV8zYRkG9McAdGioVQxorb9k3un4d2i4sfR6ItlHOW92T7rUtv0TqBb6cmPUreq77bPp376J4CVOsu6Fe1G4lD2fRJfr78svdxZ6K2wVCCUoB8inRn/s400/FOOD+plastic+salad.jpg" width="353" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"></div></span></span></span></span></span></span>Here the art of the plastic food designers goes into realism overdrive! Nothing is too much trouble to reproduce for, just as the human eye can quite easily spot an obvious flaw in a painting, the eye is also drawn to any slight inaccuracies in a plate of reproduction food. You could say that the overall illusion is only as good as the worst item of plastic food on the plate. With this in mind, you soon find yourself searching in a bowl of Salad for the dodgiest looking item, the one giveaway thing that breaks down the illusion of realism….but more often than not there isn’t one!!<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: small;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LsE1gec04CE/TywQA-YUHxI/AAAAAAAAFDo/EimKq1ZU1fo/s1600/FOOD+Fruit+sundaes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="260" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LsE1gec04CE/TywQA-YUHxI/AAAAAAAAFDo/EimKq1ZU1fo/s400/FOOD+Fruit+sundaes.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"></div></span></span></span></span></span></span>Such is the attention to realism that even the condition of the food is considered, the Gravy looks runny, the fruit looks to be freshly washed and even the condensation on the inside of a (plastic) glass of (plastic) ice cream is modelled to give the illusion that the glass is very cold (when of course all the plastic is actually sitting at room temperature as seen below…)<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: small;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-O3uVneKbiKA/TywQjLisC0I/AAAAAAAAFD4/3NqisaywiOU/s1600/FOOD+Frosted+glass.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-O3uVneKbiKA/TywQjLisC0I/AAAAAAAAFD4/3NqisaywiOU/s400/FOOD+Frosted+glass.jpg" width="280" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"> </span></o:p></span></div></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
Not to be left out, even the kids are well catered for in Plastic!<br />
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As “WAON” the flying dog says here on the side of his bowl, delivering your dinner by aeroplane “is a lovely way to eat” and what kid wouldn’t want their food to land on the table piloted by a dog sitting in an open cockpit, complete with ears a-flappin in the wind! The Japanese really are the Kings of Cute!<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: small;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jQbtJnn4LXU/TywQyAEpL8I/AAAAAAAAFEA/YC6FD5raX3I/s1600/FOOD+FLYING+DOG.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><img border="0" height="386" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jQbtJnn4LXU/TywQyAEpL8I/AAAAAAAAFEA/YC6FD5raX3I/s400/FOOD+FLYING+DOG.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"> </span></div></span></span></span></span></span></span>However, If there has to be a down side to all this artistic ingenuity, I have managed to find it…On one occasion, yours truly was faced with the slightly embarrassing situation in a restaurant of knowing exactly what I wanted to eat from looking at the food in the window, but then, and this is the crucial bit…not being able to describe this order to the waiter inside the restaurant! The result was I had to then drag the poor waiter outside his own restaurant so I could point at the desired dish in the window! Luckily he saw the funny side of all of this and proceeded to produce the meal laid out exactly as I had seen it previously shaped in plastic! Quite amazing… <span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: small;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"> </span></div></span></span></span></span></span></span>I’d better warn you that this last picture is of some real noodle soup and I am pleased to report that it was very tasty!. The Dish is called “Udon” and to eat it you are given chopsticks (yes, even to eat soup….!) and a special wooden ladle called an “Otama” which gives its name to “otama-jyakushi” which is Japanese for a Tadpole! (because of the round body and long handle / tail).<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: small;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MFIsXuDBh9g/TywRABp8srI/AAAAAAAAFEI/gXbcz1XAIXg/s1600/FOOD+NS+hot+noodle+soup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><img border="0" height="341" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MFIsXuDBh9g/TywRABp8srI/AAAAAAAAFEI/gXbcz1XAIXg/s400/FOOD+NS+hot+noodle+soup.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></div></span></span></span></span></span></span><strong>See you all for another “GGG Essential guide” for use in everyday Japan very soon…</strong><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: small;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"> </span></div></span></span></span></span></span></span><strong>Sayonara! Cheers N. </strong><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: small;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><em>Another great insight into the side of Japanese life most of us never see. Keep checking back for the next installment and also for the latest news on the resumtion of the flight which is fast approaching.</em></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><em>The Gyrox Team.</em></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">* * *</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><o:p> </o:p><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">To contact the autogyro circumnavigation team email gyroxgoesglobal@gmail.com</div>The GYROX Teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15913097194536611948noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3969453786501704363.post-65097517159052191772012-01-10T13:49:00.007+00:002012-01-10T17:11:37.876+00:00The GGG Essential Guide to:- Japanese Techno Toilets and Other Ingenious Innovations.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><i>Welcome to part 2 of Norman's series of informative and tongue in cheek guides to the quirkier side of Japanese life.</i><br />
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<b><u>The GGG Essential Guide to:- Japanese Techno Toilets and Other Ingenious Innovations.</u></b><br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ccx3hMlrsoc/Twv9mPSuJWI/AAAAAAAAFCA/kjVCvMoYZyM/s1600/are+you+sitting+comfortablyc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="205" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ccx3hMlrsoc/Twv9mPSuJWI/AAAAAAAAFCA/kjVCvMoYZyM/s400/are+you+sitting+comfortablyc.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>The Japanese are well known around the world for having a real flair in developing novel and unusual gadgets - and for me the one device that demonstrates this highly innovative spirit most keenly is the (previously) humble toilet seat.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Cold winter weather in Japan often makes for a decidedly chilly atmosphere when visiting the 'Smallest room of the house'. This is especially felt where the Japanese, through adopting an entirely different philosophy towards heating the home, will put much emphasis on keeping the individual person warm rather than the entire house. Therefore, rather than employing a grand central heating system that can easily leak heat away to the outside environment, localised heating of some rooms or areas within a room is often used instead. For example, an electric heater is often found permanently attached to the underside of the dining table to keep your legs warm while you are sitting eating meals, this is combined with a thick table cloth that covers the table and also reaches to the floor all around the diners thus acting as a very effective blanket around your legs to keep the heat in.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bj270eeJ-bY/TwxtdLCuZSI/AAAAAAAAFC4/by00cUBUhaY/s1600/table+blanketc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="191" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bj270eeJ-bY/TwxtdLCuZSI/AAAAAAAAFC4/by00cUBUhaY/s320/table+blanketc.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Alternatively, an electrically heated rug stretched out on the floor can also help to keep your feet warm (as remember of course, you have no shoes on inside the house or restaurant). Further, rigid corrugated metal hot-water bottles (though now being replaced with more user friendly hard plastic variants) can be used to preheat beds.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;">However, the quiet, reserved, no nonsense toilet seat remains my favourite example of this philosophy in action...as to have a pre-warmed seat waiting for you before sitting down on a cold day is very much appreciated indeed!</div><div style="text-align: justify;">This being Japan however, to <i>only </i>achieve the desired warming of the seat with an integral, fully embedded, fully adjustable, thermostatically controlled heating element would simply be a waste of a great opportunity to showcase some <i>real</i> innovative thinking in the design process. Once a 'Chief Techno Toilet Designer' (CTTD) has committed his manufacturing company to developing an easy reach control console, to be positioned alongside the seat (and one which Captain Kirk would be most happy to see attached to his Commanders seat on the Bridge Deck of the USS Enterprise) then the full gambit of other 'must have' items can also be accommodated and factored in as further luxury upgrades.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Bk9M8GmTR_E/TwxtHJvlzsI/AAAAAAAAFCw/XOYOk0BfrVY/s1600/TT+control+armc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Bk9M8GmTR_E/TwxtHJvlzsI/AAAAAAAAFCw/XOYOk0BfrVY/s320/TT+control+armc.jpg" width="171" /></a></div>You then get a plethora of available options...full seat temperature control (as standard)), big flush - little flush (the Eco option). water pressure and temperature settings for an integral bidet shower unit (complete with hot air drying - which is a feature perhaps not for everyone's liking!), volume control for background running water soundtrack and/or music (presumably some suitably pleasant '<i>Chamber Music</i>') And as if these were not enough extra features, not only the actual seat gets high tech makeover treatment - one techno loo that I happened to encounter while visiting Kyoto had an additional sensor that both turned on the light and then made the seat lid flip up as you entered the room! Such attention to detail!!</div><br />
<b><u>Hair Today - Gone Tomorrow...</u></b><br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BcuTUz90Cu4/Tww3yZBCydI/AAAAAAAAFCQ/q_jM10qVT5E/s1600/haircut+japan+stylec.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BcuTUz90Cu4/Tww3yZBCydI/AAAAAAAAFCQ/q_jM10qVT5E/s320/haircut+japan+stylec.jpg" width="210" /></a></div>Whereas the UK has brought us fantastic innovations such as the Dyson Vacuum cleaner to sweep the floors of your local barber shop, the Japanese have once again outshone the competition with this very handy gizmo for catching hair as soon as it is cut, thus eliminating the need for even getting the Dyson out of the cupboard!</div><span style="text-align: justify;">In the UK this product would no doubt have a trendy techno name such as the 'Hair </span><span style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;">Catcher 3000</span><span style="text-align: justify;">' or the ,Catch-All-O-Matic'.</span><br />
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<b><u>You Have A Spare 5 Minutes?</u></b><br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--7L140CYKy8/Tww6onxURCI/AAAAAAAAFCg/gED4JoTMd3k/s1600/face+rollerc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--7L140CYKy8/Tww6onxURCI/AAAAAAAAFCg/gED4JoTMd3k/s320/face+rollerc.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;">Once you have your hair nicely trimmed what better than to be able to also give your face a bit of a massage, perhaps while you are standing</span> in the busy bus queue in town, waiting to go home from the barber shop. You would be the envy of your fellow bus passengers if you were suddenly able to produce the 'Face Roller-O-Matic' from your inside pocket for a quick 5 minute workout.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Alternatively if a bit of bothersome cut hair has sneaked down the inside of the neck seal of the Hair Catcher 3000 while at the barber shop, you could also quickly whip out your 'Back Scratcher-O-Tron' to scratch away that irritable itch...</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><b><u>Sushi and Satin...</u></b><br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-K0J9WxLSj_U/Tww-fjfCFTI/AAAAAAAAFCo/VyDx1upKiTk/s1600/cat+PJ+zoomc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="235" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-K0J9WxLSj_U/Tww-fjfCFTI/AAAAAAAAFCo/VyDx1upKiTk/s320/cat+PJ+zoomc.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Not to be left out, innovative products for the animal kingdom have also been well catered for in Japan. What about a nice Kimono style leisure suit in which your cat can lounge around the house? No problem sir! The zoomed image on the right features a nice pink shoulder padded neckline (that is assuming a cat has shoulders!), a lovely satin finish and on the left picture the highly appropriate Lucky Waving Cat logo. Any unfortunate Mice that would happen to meet this 'at home' cat would not necessarily risk being caught and eaten, rather, they would be at far greater risk of being invited in and offered some sushi or a fishy canape washed down with a Martini cocktail...Miaow!</div><br />
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<b>See you all for another 'GGG Essential Guide' for use in everyday Japan very soon...</b><br />
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</b><br />
<b>Cheers</b><br />
<b>Norman</b><br />
<b> <span style="font-size: large;"> * * *</span></b><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><i>Norman will be giving us another look at the quirkier side of Japanese life in the very near future. Keep watching the blog, website and Facebook pages for the latest news of the resumption of the flight. We will post any updates as soon as we get them,</i></div><i><br />
</i><br />
<i>The Gyrox Team.</i><br />
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<b> <span style="font-size: large;">* * *</span></b><br />
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<div class="ecxmsonormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #1f497d; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://www.gyroxgoesglobal.com/" target="_blank">For More Information Visit the Website</a><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="ecxmsonormal"></div><div class="ecxmsonormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #1f497d; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/GyroxGoesGlobal/143540602375581?sk=info" target="_blank">Follow the Adventure on Facebook</a><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="ecxmsonormal"></div><div class="ecxmsonormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #1f497d; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://twitter.com/GyroxGoesGlobal" target="_blank">Follow us on Twitter</a><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="ecxmsonormal"></div><div class="ecxmsonormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #1f497d; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://www.justgiving.com/gforgyro" target="_blank">Consider Donating to Norman’s Chosen UK Charity: Bowel Cancer UK</a><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="ecxmsonormal"></div><div class="ecxmsonormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #1f497d; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://grassroots2011.livestrong.org/faf/donorReg/donorPledge.asp?ievent=443028&supid=329965902" target="_blank">Consider Donating to Norman's Chosen North American Charity: Livestrong</a><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="ecxmsonormal"><br />
</div><div class="ecxmsonormal"> <b><span style="font-size: large;"> * * *</span></b></div><br />
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</div><div class="blogger-post-footer">To contact the autogyro circumnavigation team email gyroxgoesglobal@gmail.com</div>The GYROX Teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15913097194536611948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3969453786501704363.post-67190259712073945912011-12-29T14:07:00.005+00:002011-12-29T14:15:20.101+00:00New Year Ninjyas<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><i><b><br />
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<i><b>As 2011 comes to an end, all of us at the Gyrox Goes Global team can look back on a year of highs and lows for the Gyrox adventure. The feeling of Deja Vu is also prominent in our feelings with an urge to express the words 'if only'. But since the quest began in March 2010 the words 'if only' have been replaced with the phrase...'Oh well, there's always next year' and we are now looking forward to 2012 with a renewed optimism that Norman and Roxy will finally alight again on to the playing fields in Larne after completing the circumnavigation, hopefully sometime next summer.</b></i><br />
<i><b>In the meantime, Norman has decided to write a number of interesting and entertaining articles about the quirkier side of Japanese life as a New Year present to his supporters whilst they wait for the big day when flying starts again. So how best to start off a series on Japan (very much Norman's second home at the moment) and the unusual side of life there than an article on the famous but secretive Ninjyas.</b></i><br />
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<i><b> <span style="font-size: large;"> * * *</span></b></i><br />
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<b><u>How to Spot a Ninjya Living in Your Town</u></b><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0vtXL3jsuu4/TvxrdOsDC0I/AAAAAAAAFBM/O87IhL-yfas/s1600/Ninjas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0vtXL3jsuu4/TvxrdOsDC0I/AAAAAAAAFBM/O87IhL-yfas/s200/Ninjas.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><b>Japanese Ninjyas, (spelt Ninjas in some parts) are those masked superhero figures who are expert at all aspects of Martial Arts. They are often portrayed in films and comic books as mystical (almost mythical) in their superhuman powers and secretive ways. Yet, with their cunning masked disguise (and the highly overactive imagination of your GGG investigative observer) they could easily, almost certainly, be living next door to you in your temporarily adopted Japanese home town. You would simply never know - unless, that is, you are armed with the following 'official GGG essential guide' - How to Spot a Ninjya Living in Your Quirky Town...</b><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xsNjxnqjwcM/TvxtqCqP7kI/AAAAAAAAFBY/IVbaf2syS5s/s1600/ninjas+foot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xsNjxnqjwcM/TvxtqCqP7kI/AAAAAAAAFBY/IVbaf2syS5s/s320/ninjas+foot.jpg" width="194" /></a><b><u>The Ninjya Boot</u> - Ninjya typically wear baggy coverall outfits, robed from head to foot. However, to remain nimble on their feet and to perform all their rooftop leaps and overly dramatic high kicks (into thin air) they much prefer to wear boots that have very flexible soles and that prove very sticky for clambering around the rooftops on secret missions.</b><br />
<b>Rather surprisingly you can buy your very own set of Ninjya boots in regular shops without showing any ID proof of your real (or imaginary) special superhero status. </b><br />
<b>This boot was spotted in a large hardware store and rather helpfully was on offer in the shop as a 'buy one get one free' deal (which is very useful for fitting out your other foot!).</b><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dX0TN54LiUM/Tvxvo9EG2qI/AAAAAAAAFBk/B3zjviPn4RQ/s1600/ninjyas+at+day+job.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="167" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dX0TN54LiUM/Tvxvo9EG2qI/AAAAAAAAFBk/B3zjviPn4RQ/s200/ninjyas+at+day+job.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><b>In Tsuruoka I was fortunate to witness several Ninjya going about their every day 'cover' jobs. Typically it appears that they disguise themselves as Roofing Contractors - as seen here. </b><br />
<b>However, the baggy trousers and tell-tale Ninjya boots give away the fact that they are obviously on a top secret spying mission rather than simply photographing a broken roofing tile...</b><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-04seIl-CMXQ/Tvxxh2KzVcI/AAAAAAAAFBw/eqKVHmxUF64/s1600/Ninjya+Nest+2+with+sat+dish.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="192" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-04seIl-CMXQ/Tvxxh2KzVcI/AAAAAAAAFBw/eqKVHmxUF64/s200/Ninjya+Nest+2+with+sat+dish.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><b><u>The Ninjya Nest</u> - Again, on my travels on foot around the backstreets of Tsuruoka during the late summer I kept my camera handy and kept a keen and watchful eye on the rooftops. My ongoing vigilance paid off on one of my regular trips back from the shopping centre when I spied a very clever construction that could only be described as a 'Ninjya Nest'. This wooden igloo structure would make a fine operational base for a Ninjya hiding out in town; it looks innocent enough until you spot the satellite communications dish sticking out of the top...used for innocently watching the Sumo Wrestling World Championships??? I don't think so!! Interpol, CIA, MI6, NASA...all take note! The nest proved temporary however as it disappeared overnight shortly before a period of heavy rain was forecast...very clever these Ninjyas...</b><br />
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<b>More 'Official GGG Essential Guides', on various subject designed to help your ongoing survival in everyday Japan, coming soon...</b><br />
<b><br />
</b><br />
<b>Norman</b><br />
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<b> <span style="font-size: large;"> * * *</span></b><br />
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<b><i>Please note...No Ninjya was harmed during the writing of this article.</i></b><br />
<b><i>We at the GGG Team look forward to the next installment from Norman's Essential Guides as we are sure they will brighten up the winter months until the spring arrives and the serious business of circumnavigating globe continues.</i></b><br />
<b><i><br />
</i></b><br />
<b><i>The Gyrox Team</i></b><br />
<b><i><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></i></b><br />
<b><i><span style="font-size: large;"> * * *</span></i></b><br />
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<div class="ecxmsonormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #1f497d; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://www.gyroxgoesglobal.com/" target="_blank">For More Information go to the Website</a><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="ecxmsonormal"><br />
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</div><div class="ecxmsonormal"></div><div class="ecxmsonormal"><a href="http://www.justgiving.com/gforgyro" target="_blank">Consider Donating to Norman’s Chosen UK Charity: Bowel Cancer UK</a></div><div class="ecxmsonormal"><br />
</div><div class="ecxmsonormal"></div><div class="ecxmsonormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #1f497d; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://grassroots2011.livestrong.org/faf/donorReg/donorPledge.asp?ievent=443028&supid=329965902" target="_blank">Consider Donating to Norman's Chosen North American Charity: Livestrong</a><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="ecxmsonormal"><br />
</div><div class="ecxmsonormal"></div><div class="ecxmsonormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #1f497d; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://twitter.com/GyroxGoesGlobal" target="_blank">Follow us on Twitter</a><o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
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</b></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">To contact the autogyro circumnavigation team email gyroxgoesglobal@gmail.com</div>The GYROX Teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15913097194536611948noreply@blogger.com1