No plain delivery for this plane

The trip of a lifetime is taking off for two avid pilots.

Fairview property owner Ben Cart is travelling from Santa Barbara in California to Timaru in a 1977 single-engine Beechcraft Bonanza.

Mr Cart, 55, is making the journey with a friend, Tom Ackley, 62. Both men are licensed pilots and have been planning the flight for more than a year.

"This is a trip of a lifetime for two avid pilots. The challenge of crossing the Pacific Ocean in a small single-engine aircraft is exciting, but we equally look forward to spending time in New Zealand and seeing a few places in between," Mr Cart said.

They live in Costa Rica, but last year Mr Cart bought a property near Timaru.

Yesterday they were awaiting Federal Aviation Administration approval for their flight plan before they hoped to set off at 1am (NZ time).

The aircraft has been modified slightly for the journey: it was originally designed to carry 335 litres of fuel.

"We will be carrying 264 gallons [1200 litres] mostly housed in a huge rubber ferry tank that occupies the space where the four back seats used to be.

"Other special preparations include the required emergency equipment such as a good liferaft, life jackets, flare gun, a high frequency radio, and survival supplies," Mr Cart said.

"Our first landing will be Hilo, Hawaii, after 14 hours in the air over nothing but water. After a few days of rest and sightseeing, we will then fly south to Christmas Island where we will refuel and hopefully catch some bonefish. From there, it's on to Pago Pago.

"From Pago Pago we will fly directly to Christchurch where we will present the aircraft for re-registry in New Zealand. After that is done, the final leg will be between Christchurch and Timaru where N917SD will be hangared."

Mr Cart estimated the trip from Santa Barbara to Christchurch would take about a week to 10 days – about 40 hours total flying – depending on weather and fuel availability.

The men would be joined by their families in Timaru after the flight, Mr Cart said.

Progress on the flight can be tracked on flightaware.com.

- © Fairfax NZ News