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DATA FILE |
THE FLIGHT |
MAP OF THE FLIGHT
CLIFF TAIT 1. DATA FILE
THE PILOT Name : Clifford V. Tait Date of Birth : October 29, 1929 Place : Wellington, New Zealand. Age at the time of the flight : 40 years Nationality : New Zealand Licences: IFR Private at the time of the flight, Commercial later Experience at time of start :240 hours THE AEROPLANE Name : Miss Jacy (from his and his wife's initials :JC) Registration : ZK-CXU Made : AESL 114 Type: Airtourer 115 Engine : Lycoming 0-235 of 115 HP Length : 6.53 m Wing span : 7.93 m Heigh : 2.08 m Type of construction : Low wing, tricycle, all metal, pop riveted, two seat side by side. Empty weight : 475 kg Maximum weight for the flight: 904 kg Normal fuel quantity : 132 l Maximum fuel quantity : 340 l Cruising speed : 185 km/h THE FLIGHT Departure point : Hamilton, New Zealand Date : May 12, 1969 Finish point : Hamilton Date : August 1, 1969 Duration : 79 days 5 hours 30 minutes Flying time : 284 hours Length of the flight : 30 500 NM Stops : First part of the flight : Hamilton (New Zealand), Norfolk Island, Noumea (New Caledonia), Espititu Santo (New Hebrides), Rabaul, New Britain), Kavieng, Truck Island, Aguana (Guam Island), Iwo Jima (Japan), Tokyo. Second part of the flight : Vancouver (Canada), Armstrong, Canbrook, Winnipeg, Hamilton (Ontario), Moncton, Goose Bay, Sondre Stromfjord (Greenland), Kulusuk, Reykjavik (Iceland), Prestwick (Scotland), Staverton (England), Marseilles (France) Rome (Italy), Athens (Greece), Cyprus, Damascus (Lebanon), Badanah (Saudi Arabia), Bahrayn, Karachi (Pakistan), New Dehli (India), Calcutta, Rangoon (Burma), Kuala Limpur (Malaysia), Singapore, Bali (Indonesia), Darwin (Australia), Mount Isa, Long Reach, Brisbane, Norfolk Island, Hamilton. Incidents/accidents : As he could not get permission to fly in Russia, he had to dismantle his aircraft and ship from Tokyo to Vancouver. Only a few minor mechanical problems (HF radio). Records : No records . Other records : In 1978, Cliff set a double record between Wigram (a military airport South of Christchurch, NZ) and Sydney and back in a Fletcher aircraft. In 1982, Cliff broke the London to Darwin record and set several records in a Bonanza, 19 records are still holding. Full details on the records can be found on the FAI Site. Firsts : First aviator from New Zealand to fly solo around the world.
BIBLIOGRAPHY AND SOURCES
Books: Tait Clifford, Flight of the Kiwi, Ure Smith, Sydney, 1970. His solo flight on an Airtourer 115. Photos. Tait Clifford Water under my Wings,Hamilton Publishers, Hamilton, NZ. ISBN 0 473 00041 5. Tait's many ferry flights after his 'round the wold flight. Plenty of advice on how to fly above water.. Photos. Magazines: Australian Flying did publish in 1975 in several issues, the text ot The Flight of the Kiwi. Internet : Cliff Tait describes his record breaking flight in a Bonanza in 1982, in a series of Internet articles: http://www.flightsim.com/cgi/kds?$=main/special/records1.htm Other sources : Personnal communications and photos from Cliff Tait in Tauranga, New Zealand. Archives of the FAI . |