By ANN Reader John Waugh

Feilding (NZ) microlight pilot John Bolton-Riley, record holder and first pilot to fly a microlight aircraft both ways across the Tasman, has arrived in in Aldinga, South Australia, to complete his latest epic -- a 2400-mile microlight flight.

Since a week ago Monday, Mr Bolton-Riley has flown a microlight from Feilding to Kaitaia, in northern New Zealand, to Norfolk Island, Lord Howe Island, Coffs Harbour, NSW, Mudgee, Hay and onto Aldinga in South Australia. Flying time was 26.2 hours, including about 1300 miles of travel across open ocean.

In the process he has set at least three records in speed over recognised distances in the 500-600kg microlight class. [These remain to be ratified by the international aviation body, the Federation Aeronautique Internationale.]

"The flight was magic," he said. "The only problem was about an hour of turbulence when I had to go between two unforecast thunderstorms outside Coffs Harbour.

Mr. Bolton-Riley, who was previously held up by bad weather in Norfolk Island, met the unexpected thunderstorms and accompanying turbulence between Lord Howe and Coffs Harbour.

"The Met Office hadn't forecast the bad weather which covered the last 150 miles to Coffs Harbour," he said on arrival. He landed only a short time after a thunderstorm had passed over the Coffs Harbour Airfield.

Mr. Bolton-Riley said his Italian-designed Tecnam P96 Golf, had not missed a beat either on the flight across the Tasman or the trip halfway across Australia. Mr Bolton-Riley was ferrying  the aircraft across the Tasman Sea for Michael Gray, also of Feilding, who is migrating to South Australia.

Before this trip Mr Bolton-Riley held 6 world speed records in the 400kg-500kg class microlights for his first return crossing transTasman flights done in his own Italian-built Skyarrow in 1997.

The Technam Golf, ZK TMG, which Mr Bolton-Riley was flying for his latest epic trip is powered by a 100hp Rotax 912s. Although it has long-range wing tanks 50 litre auxiliary tanks were fitted in the baggage compartment for the journey which had legs up to 6 hours flying time.

[John Waugh is the Manawatu Microlight Club Inc Club Captain --ed.]

FMI: http://raanz.org.nz/clubs.html#Manawatu_Microlight_Club; www.tecnam.co.nz/p96gPics.htm