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"In May 2014, both Thrush planes were flown from the U.S. across the Atlantic Ocean to Airborne’s hangar." How common is it for single engine single seat aircr

"In May 2014, both Thrush planes were flown from the U.S. across the Atlantic Ocean to Airborne’s hangar." How common is it for single engine single seat aircraft to be flown across large oceans? Does the Thrush 510G have sufficient fuel capacity?

tronje 11y ago
"According to the plan, the aircraft would have 12 hours of endurance to conduct operations." I'm no expert nor have I done the calculations, but 12 hours sounds like enough time to cross the Atlantic. What I don't know is whether the fuel tank was expanded/replaced.
- sokoloff 11y ago
  Thrush 510G is way too slow and draggy to cross the ocean in one hop. It's unpressurized, meaning typically operates at low altitudes, where the air is dense and its turboprop engine is less efficient than an engine designed for higher flight. Typical cruise speed is 160mph and ferry range is only 800 miles, meaning it's taking the northern route across Goose Bay, Greenland, and Iceland.
dingaling 11y ago
> How common is it for single engine single seat aircraft to be flown across large oceans? It is routine. SOCATA deliver their popular single-turboprop TBM aircraft from their factory in southern France via Ireland, Iceland and Canada to US customers. Likewise Pilatus stage PC-12s through Scotland as the first hop. Spotters at Keflavik in Iceland have a great variety! Cessnas flow in the other direction, though less frequently. Even a little piston-engined C172 has made the eastbound delivery journey and he skipped Iceland! Usually the flights are made by contracted ferry pilots, from companies such as Southern Cross http://southernx.com/ http://southernx.com/
- andyjohnson0 11y ago
  Thanks! Your comment reminded me of a discussion about this from a few months ago [1]. [1] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=10372898 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=10372898

tronje 11y ago

"According to the plan, the aircraft would have 12 hours of endurance to conduct operations." I'm no expert nor have I done the calculations, but 12 hours sounds like enough time to cross the Atlantic. What I don't know is whether the fuel tank was expanded/replaced.

sokoloff 11y ago
Thrush 510G is way too slow and draggy to cross the ocean in one hop. It's unpressurized, meaning typically operates at low altitudes, where the air is dense and its turboprop engine is less efficient than an engine designed for higher flight. Typical cruise speed is 160mph and ferry range is only 800 miles, meaning it's taking the northern route across Goose Bay, Greenland, and Iceland.

dingaling 11y ago

> How common is it for single engine single seat aircraft to be flown across large oceans? It is routine. SOCATA deliver their popular single-turboprop TBM aircraft from their factory in southern France via Ireland, Iceland and Canada to US customers. Likewise Pilatus stage PC-12s through Scotland as the first hop. Spotters at Keflavik in Iceland have a great variety! Cessnas flow in the other direction, though less frequently. Even a little piston-engined C172 has made the eastbound delivery journey and he skipped Iceland! Usually the flights are made by contracted ferry pilots, from companies such as Southern Cross http://southernx.com/ http://southernx.com/

andyjohnson0 11y ago
Thanks! Your comment reminded me of a discussion about this from a few months ago [1]. [1] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=10372898 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=10372898