Summary
- A Learjet 36A is being used by the Century Mission to circumnavigate the globe, aiming to arrive on April 6, which is also the 100th anniversary of the first around-the-world flight.
- The team consists of Global Jet Care pilots and will make 11 stops around the world, with a total expected flight time of 54 hours and 30 minutes.
- The aircraft includes a bed for sleeping and spare parts, with an FAA representative onboard, and is flying westbound into headwinds, challenging the typical eastbound route.
A team of pilots is attempting to circumnavigate the globe using a Learjet 36A. The team consists of pilots from Global Jet Care, an air ambulance operator that is based in Brooksville, Florida, to help raise funds for the Classic Lear Jet Foundation. The Classic Lear Jet Foundation, which is based in Wichita, Kansas, is raising funds to help with the restoration of Learjet 23-003, which was the original production Learjet to be delivered to a customer and occurred in 1964.
A Brief Guide To The Different Variants Of The Learjet Family
Production of the popular private jet series began six decades ago.
The circumnavigation attempt
The Learjet team is called the Century Mission. The mission is to circumnavigate the globe in as little time as possible. The last flight is scheduled to arrive at its destination on April 6, which is the 100th anniversary of the first ever around-the-world flight. This flight, which occurred on April 6, 1924, was called the World Flight.
Photo: Global Jetcare
The team is utilizing a Learjet 36A owned by Global Jet Care and is registered as N41GJ. The light business jet was manufactured in 1984 and has a serial number of 055. Per AIN Online, the pilots flying this mission are the Global Jet Care President, Bart Gray, and other Global Jet Care pilots, Joshua Podlich, John Bone, and Kirby Ezelle. These pilots are expected to fly for approximately five hours before another pilot steps in. Per Aviation Week, the aircraft has also been fitted with a bed for sleeping and also has stored spare parts. These basic spare parts include starters, generators, and voltage regulators if needed. Additionally, Joel Weber, a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Designated Airworthiness Representative, will be onboard the flight as the flight’s observer.
Photo: Global Jetcare
The mission’s flight path
The Century Mission took off from Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport (ICT) in Wichita, Kansas, on Thursday, April 4th at approximately 00:01 local time. Currently, the mission is scheduled for a total of eleven stops. These eleven stops include:
- Salinas Municipal Airport (SNS) in Monterey, California
- Kona International Airport (KOA) in Kalaoa, Hawaii
- Marshall Islands International Airport (MAJ) in the Marshall Islands
- Roman Tmetuchl International Airport (ROR) in Airai, Palau
- Seletar Airport (XSP) in Singapore
- Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (HYD) in Hyderabad, India
- Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC) in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAB)
- Borg El Arab International Airport (HBE) in Borg Al Arab Al Gadida City, Egypt
- Olbia Costa Smeralda Airport (OLB) in Olbia, Italy
- João Paulo II Airport (PDL) in Ponta Delgada, Portugal
- Halifax Stanfield International Airport (YHZ) in Goffs, Nova Scotia, Canada
- Ending again in Wichita, Kansas (ICT)
The Century Mission is scheduled to last until Saturday, April 6th. The total flight time on the Learjet 36A is expected to reach 54 hours and 30 minutes. This is a vast difference from the World Flight, which took 175 days and 74 total stops to circumnavigate the world. The flight is going westbound, which means the aircraft will be flying into a headwind. Most record-setting flights have flown eastbound around the world, which means they received a tailwind for assistance. There is currently no record on this route.
