Liz and Bruce Jones, both pilots from Post Falls, Idaho, have been planning an around the world flight (RTW) in a single engine aircraft for several years now and we finally intend to commence the flight in late 2019 or early 2020. We were initially set on a Van’s RV-10 powered by a DeltaHawk or Continental diesel to take advantage of the ubiquitous availability of Jet-A.  Because of the slow development of a suitable diesel or Jet-A burning power plant, we are now seriously looking at alternatives. At the moment, our best option is looking like a Sling 4 TSi, powered by the new Rotax 915iS which will burn both 100LL and auto-fuel.

Our initial route was to cover 60,000 miles over a year, equivalent to more than two circumnavigations. We have since scaled back to a less ambitious 90 day circumnavigation. The trip has been inspired and encouraged by the Earthrounders (a group of people who have flown small planes around the world).

Most recently (March 2019) we are contemplating a project where we fly our airplane to every country in the world with a few additional important territories added, for a total of 210 places. To our knowledge, this has never been done before.

While planning the RTW we purchased a new Van’s RV-12 to build time and define technique and cockpit management skills.