AIR SAFARI

Flight Journal, Aug 2005 by Fletcher, Chris

ON OCTOBER 1, 2005, THE GREAT CIRCLE AIR SAFARI WILL LINK COAST to country in Australia in support of its Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS). At least 20 vintage aircraft will make the epic flight of more than 6,000 kilometers in 12 days. The Air Safari will fly a circular course through remote areas of New South Wales, Queensland, Northern Territory and South Australia and will stop at major RFDS bases along the way to raise money from corporate Australia and create an awareness of the RFDS. A similar Air Safari was flown in 2003 with four vintage Boeing Stearmans and a de Havilland Dragon Rapide (supported by a Piper Dakota aircraft) roundtripfrom Sydney to Uluru (Ayers Rock).

This year, the Great Circle Air Safari hopes to raise enough funds for the RFDS to purchase replacement aircraft ($8 million each, funded by the Australian community). It also wants to publicize on the "mantle of safety" that the RFDS provides for people who travel in regional and remote Australia.

For more information, visit the website: www.greatcircleairsafari.com.

-Chris Fletcher