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Ham Radio Aviator On Round The World Flight

Discussion in 'Amateur Radio News' started by KQ6XA, May 31, 2017.

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  1. KQ6XA

    KQ6XA Ham Member QRZ Page

    Ham Radio Aviator Departs for Round The World Flight
    Brian Lloyd WB6RQN Flight Commemorates 80 Years Since Earhart

    Miami, Florida, USA, June 1, 2017 - As pilot Brian Lloyd propels his single-engine plane named "Spirit" into the sky on a solo round-the-world adventure, he commemorates Amelia Earhart's famous flight eight years ago on this date in 1937. He is communicating live via radio with Ham operators while flying. The two month flight will follow Earhart’s historic route to circumnavigate the world at the equator, which starts in Miami, skirts the chain of Caribbean islands, then along the coast of South America, crosses the Atlantic eastward, and then onward around the world.

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    Project Amelia Earhart 80th Anniversary Flight Map June to July 2017 - Brian Lloyd WB6RQN

    Prior to departure from his home airstrip in Texas, Brian Lloyd said, "I am driven by the spirit of historic flights. It is important to remember the aviation pioneers like Amelia Earhart, and their contributions to aviation. Their bold actions made today's air travel possible for all of us."


    While he is in the air, using the call sign WB6RQN, Brian encourages Ham radio operators to contact him on the following frequencies: 14210.0 kHz USB, 14346.0 kHz USB, 18117.5 kHz USB, or 7130.0 kHz LSB. His HF (High Frequency) radio is a Mobat Micom-3 transceiver, with a maximum power of 125 Watts, and an antenna under the fuselage. He also utilizes ALE (Automatic Link Establishment) on the Amateur Radio HFLINK frequencies http://hflink.com

    Brian Lloyd’s radio schedule is posted on the project’s website http://projectameliaearhart.org/ham-radio

    “I’ve been a ham radio operator since 1976 and enjoy radio communications very much. The plane is set up with HF radio for aeronautical purposes with the normal pilot headset controls. The flight route has some very long legs, so I will have plenty of opportunities during June and July to talk with ham operators while flying over the world’s oceans,” Brian said.

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    Commercial airliners fly long distances every day, but non-stop ocean flights are quite difficult for small propeller planes, which have limited range. To make it possible, Brian Lloyd modified his 1979 Mooney airplane to carry 150 gallons more fuel, then equipped it with modern navigation equipment, long range radio, and satellite communications. Still, the flight is not without risk, and special safety gear must be taken along. The public can track his flight on the web, social media, as well as Ham radio.

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    Brian Lloyd prepares for a test flight in the airplane Spirit on 21 MAY 2017 in Texas USA. HF radio is the top right unit in the control panel - Photo Credit: Josh Flowers CC-BY 2.0

    About: Brian Lloyd, 62, is a pilot, flight instructor, engineer, educator, and radio operator. He lives near San Antonio, Texas, USA. The commemorative flights are co-sponsored by The Classic Aircraft Aviation Museum, a non-profit in Texas, and many other individuals who contribute to supporting the flights through donations.

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    Brian Lloyd pauses prior to a test flight of the airplane Spirit on 21 MAY 2017 in Texas USA. HF radio antenna strut can be seen under the fuselage - Photo Credit: Josh Flowers CC-BY 2.0

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    Brian Lloyd prior to test flight of the airplane Spirit on 21 MAY 2017 in Texas USA - Photo Credit: Josh Flowers CC-BY 2.0


    Project Amelia Earhart website: http://projectameliaearhart.org
    Press Kit: http://projectameliaearhart.org/press


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    Last edited by a moderator: Jun 2, 2017
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  2. KQ6XA

    KQ6XA Ham Member QRZ Page

    Today (1 June) , Brian WB6RQN flew from Miami Florida, to St. Thomas Virgin Islands, then to Canefield Dominica.
    He made contacts on 14346.0 and 18117.5 kHz USB.

    Look for him tomorrow on his flight over the Caribbean toward South America.

    [​IMG]
    Brian Lloyd WB6RQN flight track 31 May through 1 June 2017
     
    Last edited: Jun 2, 2017
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  3. KQ6XA

    KQ6XA Ham Member QRZ Page

    Today (2 June) report:
    Brian WB6RQN /Air Mobile made QSOs on 20 meters, 17 meters, and 15 meters while in flight between Dominica and Trinidad.

    Tomorrow, he is scheduled to fly to Suriname.
     
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  4. KQ6XA

    KQ6XA Ham Member QRZ Page

    [​IMG]
    Brian Llloyd WB6RQN prepares for takeoff in his airplane Spirit on the morning of 02JUN2017 at Canefield Airport in Dominica.
    HF antenna clearly visible under the fuselage in this photo.
     
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  5. M1KMC

    M1KMC Ham Member QRZ Page

    Hello Everyone, I just had the pleasure of working Brian just off the coast of YV land Venezuela, Signal 5/9, 20M 14.346,, will keep an eye out along the journey...73 all de Andy M1KMC.
     
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  6. W5BIB

    W5BIB Premium Subscriber QRZ Page

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  7. KQ6XA

    KQ6XA Ham Member QRZ Page

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  8. PY1KZ

    PY1KZ Platinum Subscriber Platinum Subscriber QRZ Page

    In Brazil we are tracking the Brian's flight. The Air Force Rescue Service in Brazil also closely follows this operation of crossing the Atlantic Ocean. We expect Brian landind in Fortaleza International Airport at 23h00 UTC, 20h00 Local Time.

    Miguel - PY1KZ
     
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  9. KQ6XA

    KQ6XA Ham Member QRZ Page

    4 June 2017 - WB6RQN / Aeronautical Mobile is flying over the Atlantic ocean at about 24,000 feet, near the mouth of the Amazon. He is on the air, and has been making contacts on 18117.5 and 14346.0 kHz USB today.
     
    YO4FKO likes this.
  10. KB2UEW

    KB2UEW Ham Member QRZ Page

    good luck Brian blue skies and tailwind at your back and happy return too home 73
     
  11. WQ4O/SK2023

    WQ4O/SK2023 Ham Member QRZ Page

    Good Luck Brian GB YOU! From WQ4O
     
  12. WB4TAA

    WB4TAA Ham Member QRZ Page

    Best of luck Brian on your worldly adventure! How exciting!

    Best 73's......Joe
     
  13. K7LZR

    K7LZR Ham Member QRZ Page

    Ditto what Joe said!
     
  14. KE4GJG

    KE4GJG Ham Member QRZ Page

    Do you have to have ALE to make a qso? I was going to try with remote radio... Thanks KE4GJG
     
  15. W0PV

    W0PV Ham Member QRZ Page

    Oi!

    The tracking map shows Spirit still on the ground in Fortaleza. The schedule indicated Natal then Dakar today. Nothing new on The FaceBook since June 2nd. Any info as to why the delay? (WX or ?)

    Obrigado e 73 de John - WØPV
     

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