Talk About Clyde: Tarris to fly around world
Flying around the world was not even on the radar of Clyde native Tim Tarris, now of Tucson, Arizona when he was approached in October by the father of a young pilot who planned to fly around the world in 2024.
Buchanan Bleeker, of Phoenix, Arizona, wanted to honor aviation pioneers of the 20th Century and to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the first flight around the world in 1924 by the U.S. Army Air Service.
Today's world circumstances will dictate a different route. Both Bleeker, in his 20s and Tarris, 74, are accomplished pilots who became interested in flying at a young age. Bleeker has earned various ratings to increase his flying experience. Tarris is a retired U.S. Air Force and UPS pilot. Bleeker's father, a family friend, asked Tarris if he was interested in co-captaining his son's proposed flight.
Tarris immediately said yes and began planning and fundraising. In 2019 he had been part of a crew that flew a World War I paratrooper airplane to Europe to commemorate the 75th Anniversary of the Allied Invasion of Normandy.
The aircraft, a 1974 Cessna 210L Turbo Centurion is owned by Bleeker. It is equipped with long range fuel tanks, modern radios and navigation equipment. It has an emergency locator beacon and a SATCOM radio which will be used. Four planes were used on the original flight 100 years ago, which carried no radios, survival gear or parachutes. Tarris and Bleeker are both trained in water survival and will have survival equipment on board.
Plans are to leave Jan. 1, 2024, and return Feb. 5, visiting seven continents, and 16 countries, flying 34,341 miles in 35 days.
The flight leaves from the Goodyear Airport in Phoenix, Arizona on New Year's Day, heading south, following the west coast of Central and South America to Chile, then Antarctica, northward along the east coast of South America to Brazil, across the Atlantic to Africa, to Spain, easterly through the Mediterranean to Egypt, then on to Malaysia, Australia, Guadalcanal and Hawaii, returning on Feb. 5. Radio contact will be made with ships below and aircraft above when flying over the oceans, Tarris said.
The route was professionally planned by Skyplan Services. Estimated costs for training, supplies, insurance and equipment is $30,000; fuel estimate $20,000 and $10,000 for incidentals.
This will not be a sightseeing tourist flight. The pilots plan to fly from airport to airport, sleeping over there and continuing the flight, which will help keep exposure to local diseases low, Tarris said. Both pilots have been checked by flight surgeons and cautioned to wear compression stockings during the long-extended flight confined to their pilot seats. Each country has its own rules and regulations to follow, such as inoculation requirements. COVID-19 and Yellow Fever inoculations are mandatory in most.
Pilots have to alter their diets before trip
Tarris has begun modifying his diet now so his body will be adjusted for the flight. He is eating chocolate-free Granola bars low in sodium.
The pilots are also taking water purification tablets and medication for possible ailments encountered during the flight.
Tarris is a 1967 graduate of Clyde High School and already has speaking engagements about their flight scheduled in 2024.
Those interested in following their flight can do so on Facebook @Thecentennialflight and Instagram @Centennialflight.
Jeanette Liebold Ricker writes about Clyde and Green Springs. Contact her at 419-547-8177 or by email at jeanette.ricker@gmail.com.
This article originally appeared on Fremont News-Messenger: Talk About Clyde: Clyde native prepares for world trip
