Bill, a Scottish experimental aviation enthusiast and Bristell owner, made the solo transatlantic trip from his home in Aberdeen, Scotland, to Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh, USA, for the 2024 EAA AirVenture Oshkosh Air Show.
Bill made the crossing in his Bristell NG5 - the European version of our Bristell Classic 915iS Turbo 142HP. This two seater performance aircraft is powered by the extremely reliable and robust turbo-charged Rotax 915iS aircraft engine, making 142HP.
In total, Bill completed the trip in 8 flights, covering a total of 4 812 miles, with a total flying time of 41 hours 14 minutes. Below is a blow-by-blow account of each leg of this enormous trip.
Flight 1: Aberdeen, Scotland - Reykjavik, Iceland
Distance: 833 miles
Flying time: 7 hours 31 mins.
Conditions: Head Wind most of the way between 26 & 38 knots
Flight 2: Reykjavik, Iceland - Kangerlussuaq, Greenland
Distance: 865 miles
Flying time: 6 hours 58 mins.
Conditions: Excellent flight. Flew at an altitude of 12 500 ft which required the use of oxygen.
Flight 3: Kangerlussuaq, Greenland - Iqaluit, Canada
Distance: 569 miles
Flying time: 4 hours 11 mins
Conditions: Beautiful and clear, over ocean with pure ice everywhere.
Flight 4: Iqaluit, Canada - Chapais Quebec, Canada
Distance: 1002 miles
Flying time: 7 hours 39 mins
Conditions: Conditions were fine. Flew over barren country side the entire way - no signs of civilisation (roads, houses etc.). Fairly boring trip, no radio contact with anybody.
Flight 5: Chapais Quebec, Canada - Stoney Creek, Ontario, Canada
Distance: 556 miles
Flying time: 4 hours 43 mins
Conditions: Good at the start. Flew into bad weather, spent the last few hours avoiding thunder storms. Horrible weather on landing.
Flight 6: Stoney Creek, Ontario, Canada - Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, USA
Distance: 277 miles
Flying time: 1 hour 55 mins
Conditions: Good, short flight. Had to clear American customs upon landing.
Flight 7: Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, USA - Lancaster, Pennsylvania, USA
Distance: 33 miles
Flying time: 17 mins
Conditions: Good. Very short flight to Lancaster Airport to visit John Rathmell from Bristell USA. Spent a few days in his hanger catching up and servicing the plane before the final leg of the journey.
Above: John Rathmell greeting Bill at Lancaster Airport.
Flight 8: Lancaster, Pennsylvania, USA - Wittman Regional Airport, Oshkosh, USA
Distance: 727 miles
Flying time: 6 hours
Conditions: Long, but very good last leg of the journey. Landed safely at Wittman Regional Airport, the culminating destination for the solo transatlantic adventure!
