Earthrounders

[[Image:Egnt-aero.jpg|thumb|right]]Earthrounders is the name of a group that recognizes and supports people in their trips traveling around the world. They offer help to people through all aspects of their flight and have come to be a great resource to the aviation community. [[Circumnavigation]] is a form of flying totally alien to the realm of executive jets and airliners which are specifically built for [http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/transoceanic transoceanic], [http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/intercontinental intercontinental] and long-distance flights.

'''Conception'''

While researching material for a book AbOUT solo pilots around the world (a flight he made himself in an Aerostar in 1996), Claude Meunier visited Hans Gutmann in [[Austria]]. They discussed arranging a gathering of circumnavigation pilots - thenceforth dubbed "Earthrounders".<ref>[http://www.aboutus.org/EarthRounders.com Earthrounders:About Us]</ref> The Earthrounders "community" was conceived to unite these pilots who are imbued with an adventurous spirit. They have sweated it out crossing oceans, mountains and deserts in a full circumnavigation of all the Earth's meridians, battled to secure landing and overflight permissions and pocketed memorable experiences in the process. Why are they so unique? Because in the 100 years since the dawn of aviation, only a handful of souls have made this challenging voyage.

== Organization ==

There is no definitive registration process in Earthrounders for those who has flown around the world, since most pilots undertake the venture of their own accord, for the challenge or for pleasure. Aviation Earthrounders are surprisingly few, averaging just two per year in the 20th century.<ref>[http://www.EarthRounders.com/index Earthrounders Home]</ref> There are however guidelines that need to be met in order to be listed in the Earthrounders database.

Specifically for Earthrounder's, light aircraft must be used. The light aircraft cut-off limit of 15,500 lbs/7,000 kg maximum TOW is the official figure by which planes are classified as causing only light [[wake turbulence]] (as opposed to mid-weight or heavy aircraft).
*Flights can originate in any country, but must terminate at the point of departure.
*All meridians should be crossed in a forward motion to close the circle (unless in a transpolar circumnavigation) but you do not necessarily need to cross the equator.
*Flying round in a circle over the [[North Pole]] does not constitute a flight around the world.
*At least one of the pilots needs to have been on board for the entire circumnavigation.

While they do not set a minimum mileage (as is the requirement for a pilot who wishes his flight to be recognized as a genuine, official circumnavigation by the [[Fédération Aéronautique Internationale|FAI]]<ref>http://www.fai.org/records/checklist</ref> - the worldwide body responsible for recognizing flying records - the Earthrounders aim is to include genuine, personal flights undertaken in a true spirit of hands-on flying in the old-fashioned sense of the word.

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===Difference from FAI===

For the pilots who do wish to have a internationally backed acknowledgment for their flights, Air competitions, and world travel, FAI would be the precise place for such records to be recognized. The FAI was established on October 14, 1905 and from its inception, the FAI defined its principal aims as being to "methodically catalogue the best performances achieved, so that they be known to everybody; to identify their distinguishing features so as to permit comparisons to be made; and to verify evidence and thus ensure that record-holders have undisputed claims to their titles."<ref>http://www.fai.org/documents/otherdocs/aboutFAI</ref> It is a non-governmental and non-profit making international organization with the fundamental aim of furthering aeronautical and astronautical activities worldwide, ratifying world records and coordinating the organization of international competitions. After a century of steady growth, FAI is now an organization of some 100 member countries, forming a strong network linking all those who participate in air sports worldwide.A system that co-ordinates the awarding and supervision of international competitions is one of the main tasks of FAI. Hopefully in few years Earthrounders will collaborate with FAI to help their pilots, air competitions and flight travels make it to the FAI’s Record Books.

== History of Aerial Circumnavigation ==

The first great flights were transcontinental flights, going over land so that emergency landings were possible if anything went wrong. As flight technology progressed people started flying across the [[Atlantic Ocean]]. After the first true global circumnavigation expedition, taking 175 days, was completed by the United States many European countries followed suit in the next few years. The first few flights took a western path, but since then the vast majority have taken eastern routes. The time to complete the journey has dropped from 175 days in 1919 down to only 4 days 8 hours set in 1977. Below is a list of interesting firsts in the field of aerial circumnavigation. <ref>http://www.earthrounders.com/cgi/chrono.php</ref>

'''1919 - The First Transatlantic Flight'''<ref>http://www.aviation-history.com/airmen/alcock.htm</ref>
*John Alcock and Arthur Brown (Great Britain)piloting a [[Vickers Vimy]]. [[Image:Vickers Vimy Alcock and Brown.jpg|thumb|Alcock and Brown's Vickers Vimy in 1919]]

'''1924 - The First World Flight'''
*U.S Army in two teams with Lt.’s Smith and Arnold, and the team of Lt.’s Nelson and Harding both flying a [[Douglas World Cruiser]].

'''1929 - The First world flight in AirShip'''
*Headed by Dr. [[Hugo Eckener]] (Germany) in a [[LZ 127 Graf Zeppelin|Graf Zeppelin]].

'''1933 - The First Solo World Flight(1933)'''
*Wiley Post (USA)piloting a [[Lockheed Vega]].

'''1939 - First and Only known Flight from Asian Country'''[[Image:G3M-37.jpg|thumb| Mitsubishi G3M]]
*Pilots: Nakao / Yoshida /Shimokawa / Saeki /Sato / Yaokawa (Japan)flying a [[Mitsubishi G3M]].

'''1964 - The First Solo Woman Flight'''
*Geraldine Mock (USA)piloting a [[Cessna 180]].

'''1976 - The First Home Built Aircraft'''
*Don Taylor (USA)piloting a [[Thorp T-18]].

[[Image:Bell 206L-4 LongRanger IV C-FTHU (CTV News).jpg|thumb|Bell 206]]'''1983 - The First Solo Helicopter'''
*[...] Smith (Australia) from 1982-1983 in a [[Bell 206|Bell Jet Ranger 206]].

'''1984 - The First Wheelchair Aviator'''<ref>http://www.flyingtigersavg.com/bio's/bio-rodewald.htm</ref>
*Donald Rodewald (USA)piloting a [[Piper PA-24 Comanche|Comanche 260]].

'''1986 - The First Unrefueled Non-Stop Flight'''
*[...] Rutan and Jeana Yeager (USA) piloting a [[Rutan Voyager|Voyager]].

== Equipment ==

[[Image:AKD-NASA HF 4E.jpg|thumb|left|Modern, commonly used HF Radio Receiver]]A permit and plane license are needed for all trips. All permit information is available on [http://www.fcc.gov FCC website]For regristraion of flight the pilot will need forms: 1070Y, 159 and FCC 605. Global Navigational Charts(GNCs) can be used for initial planning and obsolete charts used later to see the details of the airways, reporting points, and minimum altitudes.
<blockquote>
'''Required Equipment includes''': life raft with survival kit, survival suit for North Atlantic, life vest, HF radio (depending on route). [[Distress radiobeacon|EPIRB]] (Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon), handheld [[GPS]], handheld communicator, handheld marine radio, batteries, water & food. Some basic survival equipment will come with the raft. Depending on the age of the plane and engine you might want to do a few extra things before leaving. Like changing the vacuum pump, tachometer cable, alternator belt, points, plugs, battery and tires. Also take extra filters, spark plugs and tools. Oxygen is also recommended. It provides an additional option to climb above icing in clouds if necessary. <ref>http://www.kerrlake.com/mgarratt/prepare.htm</ref>
[[Image:Beechcraft 35 Bonanza D-ELTA.jpg|thumb|The Beechcraft Bonanza]]

===Most Common Types of Aircraft for World Flight===

In the Earthrounders group the most commonly used aircraft is the Hawker Beechcraft. Fifty-seven members have used this aircraft. Thirty-seven members have used the [[Beechcraft Bonanza]]. Forty-eight used the [[Piper Aircraft]]. Forty-eight used various [[Cessna]] aircraft, and seventeen members used the Cessna C210. Sixteen [[Mooney Airplane Company|Mooney]] aircraft have also been used. One hundred thirty-six have been Single engine aircraft, eighty-four have been twin engine, ten helicopters have been used, and seventeen of the aircraft used have been homebuilt.<ref>http://www.earthrounders.com/cgi/db.php</ref>

== Challenges ==

Aerial Circumnavigation is an adventure; it allows people to travel the world using different methods opposed to commercial airlines, or boat. Preparing to journey around the earth takes many hours and meticulous packing and planning because there is a lot of preparation work involved. Earth Rounderʼs should be physically and mentally fit for the task. Earth Rounderʼs will have to fly for many hours going from location to location. There are many accidents while traveling the earth due from lack of sleep, not refueling and maintaining the vehicle. In these instances the passengers have to be prepared for emergencies. First, Forced landing over landmasses. Most planes are equipped with so-called ELT (Emergency Locator Transmitter), a direction-finding transmitter that sends out a distress signal alarming rescue forces after the activation by the pilot. Additionally, the pilot should carry a wristwatch that is capable of sending a locating signal on the same frequency as the ELT. The proper personal items, such as, tent, sleeping bags, a water filter and sterilization tablets allow the passengers to camp in the wilderness for a longer time. Second, when the plane is forced landed into the sea. The passengers should have the right clothing to protect them from the various weather conditions they will encounter. Also, a life raft should be present on the plane, with a desaltination system which filters drinkable water from seawater. This planning is imperative for all Earth Rounders and prepares them for the dangers they face in their journey.

== Future of Flight ==

[[Image:Voyager aircraft.jpg|thumb|left| Super-lite Voyager]]New engine solutions will completely revolutionise both air and land transport. These zero-emission engines will displace their old polluting predecessors. Engines will be developed for aircraft that can operate efficiently and economically at an altitude of 30 to 40 kilometres and at speeds of [[Mach number|Mach]] 4–8. Small aircraft will be fitted with electric engines.Progress will also be made in the development of entirely new engine types. They will generate thrust without any airflow or combustion and will only need electrical energy. The thrust and traction of these zero-emission engines will not depend on their environment; they will work just as effectively in submarines, cars and aircraft. These new engines will be in trial use alongside hydrogen engines after 2030.<ref>http://www.departure2093.com/en/flying_is_popular/?id=19</ref>All industrial sectors are advancing with big strides along the path of sustainable development. [[Fossil fuel]] will be abandoned almost entirely by the second half of this century at the latest. The keys to successful fusion energy production will be found by 2030. The physical presence of [[Photovoltaic module|solar panels]] will diversify, production costs will fall and power generation capacity will grow significantly. Inexpensive electricity will be used to produce hydrogen from water on a massive scale.

== Notes & References ==
[http://www.earthrounders.com Earthrounders Main site]

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[[Category:Aviation organizations]]