Jon Johanson..Long delete if not interested

This was posted to the RV-List and because there was a lot of discussion here I
thought some might find it interesting. One thing I found interesting yesterday
morning while having breakfast with Dick Vangrusven is that the takeoff weight
of Jons RV-4 was around 3,300lbs. This is amazing in that most normal empty
weights of RV-4s is around 1000lbs. He is also using a turbo that well boost
manifold pressure to 38"

Jerry


-----------------------begin Jons Letter------------------------

Dear friends:

Since returning to Adelaide last Tuesday afternoon I haven't had time to think,
let alone work out what day it is. I am only just becoming aware of the
tremendous amount of help that so many offered to the "mission control" team in
Adelaide over the past eleven days - A mission control like no other, as so many
people around the world have discovered.
Thank you does not seem to cover my gratitude adequately, still all I can say is
thank you, thank you, thank you.

What an amazing couple of weeks it has been. On the 17th of December the 100th
anniversary of the first powered flight - achieved by a couple of home builders
in their experimental aircraft, the Wright Flyer. On the 8th of December, almost
100 years later, it was another home built, experimental aircraft that was flown
solo over the South Pole. RV-4TE VH-NOJ, the first aircraft to be flown solo to
the South Pole. It is all a bit hard to believe.

Despite the years of planning and knowing that we could do this safely, it has
happened quickly enough for me to be tempted to feel that it is all a dream.

Over the eleven days we were away, VH-NOJ carried me 8,282 nautical miles
(15,338 km) in 61 hours and 15 minutes at an average speed of 135 knots (250
kph). The years of planning to conquer the South Pole safely have paid off with
even the bureaucrats getting their moment in the sun. In time the bureaucracy
will be forgotten, as it should be, and only the achievement will be remembered.

Something that should never be forgotten though, is the generosity of one
adventurous spirit to another - Polly Vacher and her team's selfless generosity
in allowing me to use some of the fuel to safely complete my polar flight. How
disappointing it must have been for Polly not to be able to reach her goal, but
how typical of a team who have dedicated their time to helping disabled people
gain their ultimate freedom through FLYING SCHOLARSHIPS FOR THE DISABLED


May I again say thank you to everyone and wish you season's greetings and a
happy prosperous new year.

Kind Regards

Jon Johanson
An ordinary Australian doing extraordinary things.

Pilot: Jon Johanson
License: Australian Air Transport License (ATPL) with command multi engine
instrument rating (CIR).
Total flying experience: 5.890 hrs.
Total time on type (RV 4) 3,242 hrs.
Previous Polar experience: Northern Canada flight in company with Eustace Bowhay
who has a life time of arctic experience, Yellowknife to the Northern Canadian
coast, 1998. Trans -Polar flight, CYZF (Yellowknife) - CYEU (Eureka) - ENSB
(Longyear, Spitsbergen) 2000.
Aircraft: RV 4TE VH-NOJ
Engine: AERO SPORT POWER (I0-360 M1B6) 180 HP. Turbo normalized, 5.8 litre four
cylinder horizontally opposed, air cooled with programmable ignition.
Fuel: Avgas/Mogas
Fuel burn: Average 30 litres per hour, (Uses 10 litres per 100km, slightly
better than a V6 Toyota Camry).
Speed: Average 162kts (300 kph)
Range: Still air average - 5,832 nm (10,800km)
Endurance: Average - 36 hours non stop.

Safety Equipment:

EMERGENCY CHEST PACK

Singe place life raft
Life Jacket
406 satellite/GPS emergency locator beacon
121.5/243 emergency locator beacon
Emergency flares
Desalination unit
Emergency rations (7 days)
Water
Sun Block
Signaling mirror
Anti emetic medicine
General first aid equipment
Safety Knife

POLAR SURVIVAL PACK

Polar, down sleeping bag
Space blanket
Thermal protection mattress
Polar bivvy (sleeping bag tent)
Backpackers pillow

Electrically heated jacket, pants, socks and gloves
Freezer over-suit
Thermal underwear
Nomex fire resistant flying suit
Leather extreme weather hiking boots

Sponsors:

Aero Sport Power - Engine building
Air BP/Castrol - Fuel and oil
Andair - Quality fuel selectors etc.
Aviaquip - Aircraft part supplies
Bennet Built - Carbon fiber wheel spats
Custom Aero - Custom aircraft rebuild, engine/turbo fit and tune
Dayton Signs - Sign writing
Fairydown - Discount polar survival equipment
Garmin - GPS technology
Good Year - Aircraft tyres
JPinstruments - Engine monitoring instruments
Lightspeed Engineering - electronic ignition
Micro Aerodynamics Inc. - Vortex generators
MT Propeller - Custom built, three blade constant speed propeller
QBE Aviation - Insurance
Riverina Airmotive- Engine tuning and consultancy