Norman Surplus and James Ketchal. Gyros around the world by two Brits.

loftus

Super Member
Joined
Mar 17, 2013
Messages
1,339
Location
Ponce Inlet, Florida
Aircraft
Aircam; Previously owned Autogyro MTO
Total Flight Time
800 hours
Hopefully many here are following the awesome trips of two round the world trips with gyrocopters, flying together. The first is James Ketchal in a new Magni M16 who just started his trip in the UK, and the other is Norman Surplus, in GYROX the Autogyro MTO (the one with the terrible dangerous rotor blades , wink, wink) who is actually completing his trip started in 2015, after they have finally obtained clearance to fly across Russia. You can follow them on their websites and tracking sites.
James tracker is at...
https://share.garmin.com/CaptainKetch
Norman's tracker is at...
https://eur-share.inreach.garmin.com/GYROX
James website is at...
http://jamesketchell.net/
James Facebook page is at...
https://www.facebook.com/jamesketchellpushinglimits/
Check out Norman's FB page at
https://www.facebook.com/GyroxGoesGlobal-143540602375581/
and don't forget to subscribe to James's YouTube channel for regular videos from the flights at...
https://www.youtube.com/user/JKpushinglimits

They will also be at Oshkosh hopefully this July.
Also of note is that they have really opened up the trans-Russia route for future general aviators through their connections.
 
A daily delight for the rest of us vicarious adventurers & dreamers! GO James & G-KTCH Norm & ROXY .....serious RESPECT to you BOTH!!!
 
Now how cool is that!
 
The latest brief upload from Siberia ....just 2 flights from Nome Alaska ...where they will have several rest days & get some massive V-log uploading done where they have broadband internet! YAY!!!!
These guys are doing an EPIC gyro XC ...why so little chatter!?????

I have been following on their garmin trackers ....who else????

today's short video ...great brief clips of scenery near Evensk & sea of Osksh(sp?)

 
They're now sitting in Anadyr, 2 legs from Alaska, waiting for suitable weather - low ceiling makes it impossible to jump to Providenia, the last stop in Russia before crossing Bering strait.
 
Thank for the update
 
When these guys get back hope to setup a webinar of their adventures.
 
I contacted their flight manager Eddie and offered up chapter 18’s hangar to keep their gyros in when they get to Chicago. Eddie informed me that if the weather cooperates the two pilots plan on being at Osh Gosh and the PRA convention in Mentone. But anything can happen between now and then.
 
I contacted their flight manager Eddie and offered up chapter 18’s hangar to keep their gyros in when they get to Chicago. Eddie informed me that if the weather cooperates the two pilots plan on being at Osh Gosh and the PRA convention in Mentone. But anything can happen between now and then.
Please contact them for our community and explain to Eddie that PRA would set up a webinar at the convention or anything they like.
Have them contact [email protected], PLEASE!!!! We would all owe you!
 
I contacted their flight manager Eddie and offered up chapter 18’s hangar to keep their gyros in when they get to Chicago. Eddie informed me that if the weather cooperates the two pilots plan on being at Osh Gosh and the PRA convention in Mentone. But anything can happen between now and then.
WOW brilliant ... that is truly exciting news ...sure hope it all works for them to come to Mentone!
 
Been following them daily - they will be at Oshkosh supposedly. Just great stories and pics. Their support team seems to have done an amazing job. Also encourage folks to donate to their charities.
 
Pretty awesome they have made it to Providenya Bay - next stop Alaska!!
 
Just clicked on the Garmin tracker ...before turning in ..... they are 1/2 way across the Bering strait almost to the big & little Diomede Is! Windy shows some low ceilings between them & Nome ...so I wonder if they will wait @ Wales for better vis!????
 
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What route are the taking back to UK? Maine, Greenland, Iceland then UK?
 
What route are the taking back to UK? Maine, Greenland, Iceland then UK?
From the original map I saw on James's website ...yes .they will do the same as Norm did a few years ago ....shortest possible water crossings & legs within the gyros fuel ranges!
 
They are in the US!!!!! Is this the first gyro crossing of the Bering Straits? I think so. Over 6 hr trip time! Phenomenal.

More than that, these are first foreign gyros flown over Russia. As I know it was not that easy to arrange such voyage since Russia still has very strict restrictions for foreigners which make almost impossible VFR flying here for foreign aircraft.
Thus their successful X-country here is something very special. Hope that their journey will become very promising precedent for others!
BTW, right now Polish Antonov An-2 is flying through Russia from Poland to Japan - to commemorate 100 years of the unique flight of Polish pilot who successfully flew in 1926 from Warsaw to Tokio and back in a Breguet 2-seat biplane.
 
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I have no doubt that some extra-ordinary strings were pulled to allow this epic historic flight across Russia! The fueling logistics in such remote areas ...alone was brilliantly done! Big Kudos to GASE ... the ground-support folks!
I was watching the tracker, Windy - for the cloud conditions & examining the Foreflight VFR map, & Google earth for the terrain they were flying over ...in real time! ( Yes ...had a late night!) :ROFLMAO: This morning's absolutely stunning photos posted by James of the scenery & clouds below flying VFR on top reminded me of my VFR on top flight for about 50 NM enroute to 16X from KEWK

 
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