Winter Woes in the Middle of Summer

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.

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 Inuit named, Kuujjuaq, a small but busy community near the northernmost coastline of mainland Canada.

Norman, about to depart Schefferville

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!

A hundred thousand lakes but not a single fisherman.

The trees are thinning out...a sure sign of nearing the frozen north

Norman arrived at Kuujjuaq and was greeted by a team from Air Inuit 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.

Arriving at Kuujjuaq. The water on the right is the Koksoak River.

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.
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...

Great weather for ducks but not for Gyro's

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.
The weather remained bad in Kuujjuaq and actually got worse in Iqaluit with fast, freezing winds blowing straight into the path Roxy would take.

A wind map designed to halt any slow aircraft heading east.

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.

Norman selfie in Kuujjuaq main street...Note the sign in English and Inuit

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.

I'll have a Cola light, a bag of apples and a paddle please :-)

More strange sights greeted Norman as he made his way around the community...

Not many trees this far north so maybe it's an Inuit Totem made out of local stone?

Not much snow yet but sledges and Skiddoos are everywhere...

Local churches are designed to cope with the weather and not to look pretty.

Large pieces of machinery abounded...with no obvious idea of what they are used for.

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.

Kuujjuaq's fuel terminal

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.
We will of course keep you all updated as we get the latest news...

The Gyrox team

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Norman heads into the Canadian Wilderness

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. 

Kuujjuaq in the far north of Quebec Province

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 point 3 miles north of Schefferville lie at 54' 51" N Latitude...

Kuujjuaq terminal...civilisation in the tundra!

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.

'Roxy' all tucked for the night in Schefferville

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... wink emotic

Norman's hotel in Schefferville

Rust-dust is the prevailing colour as seen from Norman's hotel room

Follow Norman's route via the onboard tracker - Spot

We apologise for the lack of blog posts recently, this has been due to workloads and logistics of getting information back.

A series of catch up blog posts is being prepared to bring the flight up to date.

The Gyrox Team

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For more info go to our website

Follow and 'Like' us on Facebook

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Consider donating to Norman's chosen UK charity: Bowel Cancer UK

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Get more updates from Norman’s Flight Support Team

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And We're Off!

Yes, we can announce that the Gyrox Goes Global adventure is truly back on track and Norman and Roxy are heading home.

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.

Norman sent us his clarification as to what happened yesterday and this is in his own words…

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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.

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 (these are needed to claim various aviation records). I then took off around 4:00 pm to Scappoose where Sportcopter are based. 

Scappoose Airport

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…

Norman did notice when passing this newsstand that he has made the front pages!

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.

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.

The Beautiful Colombia Gorge

The Colombia River

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We will be checking Norman’s tracker and will announce the departure on his Facebook pages.

You can follow Norman’s progress live whilst he is in the air by clicking this link.

http://share.findmespot.com/shared/faces/viewspots.jsp?glId=0ft5ixJKpvl36j7EUyzbvXy7mnyRRfSND

For latest updates check out and ‘like’ the Gyrox Goes Global Facebook page.

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The Gyrox Team

The Long Wait is Nearly Over!

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.

Roxy shares floor space with the celebrities of the aviation world.

Which must beg the question; how did we ever manage to blag our way in?!

(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 EvergreenAviation and Space Museum for proving to be such perfect hosts. 

Roxy with The Spirit of St Louis (exact replica) and Howard Hughes' Spruce Goose

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...

 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.

Norman and Roxy...Star Attractions 

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..."

Norman arriving back at the Evergreen Museum hangars, McMinnville airport.

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...
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.

Portland Oregon to Portland Maine

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.

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.

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...

Coast to Coast - Route is subject to change

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.

 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...  

The final legs...then Home at last!

Cheers

Norman