The Home Run

At Denver Centennial it was 5:30 in the morning…nothing stirred except an insomniac bird and those moving a P-51D on to the ramp. Suddenly the piece was shattered as two Pratt & Whitney 1830-92s coughed and roared into life. The Lelystad Six were on the move again. First to Grand Canyon airstrip for fuel then taking time to explore the Grand Canyon itself. After all, if caught they were going to spend a long time in State Pen! The initial run over the Rockies was breath-taking with the invasion strips providing perfect cover when set against the snow and dark shadows. Sensational sights! Setting course for Orange County Airport in LA, Fifi-Kate’s new home, the desperados were now resigned to their fate but resolved to turn over a new leaf and renounce their criminal ways. Fancy the life of Riley in California? No chance.

The gang had finally run out of options. They had no answer to the overwhelming odds facing them. Forced to land at John Wayne International (Orange County) reluctantly they put up their hands and said “Ok gov, it’s a fair cop”. Still, the Gods who had supported them throughout continued to smile. The Dutch trio were deported to Schiphol with the English element placed on an aeroplane for Heathrow.

Now that the Lelystad Six have been “banged to rights” it is time to return to the real world. It’s been the most incredible journey for which most aviation enthusiasts would give their right arm.

A few statistics for the record:
• Nautical miles flown: 5600 (6440 statute miles)
• Time airborne: 37hr 29mn
• Fuel consumed: 3873 US gallons
• Mars Bars eaten: 78.5

Any mammoth undertaking such as this relies on the generous and willing help of the backroom team who have done a magnificent job. We have tried to list them below. If we have inadvertently omitted your name, we must apologise but you know who you are.

Ken Beckman – Commercial Pilot, Winnipeg, St Andrew’s
Clive Edwards – EB Aviation
Richard Hayward – EB Aviation
David & Sue Archer – EB Aviation
Mark Edwards – Edwards Aviation Worldwide
Ria Sol – Flight Planning
Willem Oskam – Flight Planning (RNLAF 334 Sqn)
Theo Hendriks – Engineer (and moving the Captain’s furniture)
Andrew Bruce – Far North Aviation
Arno van der Holst – The Aviodrome, Lelystad
Raymond & Mark Oostergo – The Aviodrome, Lelystad
Alan Solway – Anglo Ltd.AJ Driessen – Insurance Broker
Lloyds of London
Phil Lowe – Certification Ltd.
Clive Pegden – Willing Supporter
Paul Chandler – Willing Supporter
Mike Gelpi – Willing Supporter
Graham Spiller - Willing Supporter
Mark Wheeler - Willing Supporter
Ron Jones - Willing Supporter
Steve Dugan – Technical Support
Pete Elson - Technical Support
Dick Smith – Southern Airframe Specialists
Max & Peter – Hotel Lelystad Airport
Miriam Mohammadi – Hotel Lelystad Airport

And our wives…
Felicity Holden – Oustanding support and encouragement
Sarah Pell – Indulging her husbands flights of fancy

And the Lelystad Six…
Tony Holden – ‘Captain Darling’ – Arch Fixer without whom none of this would of happened
Captain Peter Kuypers – ‘the Flying Dutchman’ – In Command and Ace Pilot
Robert Verdonk – One of the ‘Dastardly Dutch Duo’ – Co-Pilot
Martijn Zwijnenburg – Flight Engineer and the second member of the ‘Dastardly Dutch Duo’
Charlie Holden – ‘Cheeky Chappie’ – Chief Purser
Commander Geoff Pell – Crew Chief and ‘Admiral of the Rear’

And finally… FIFI KATE

Thank you to one and all for following our fortunes; good luck and farewell. Safe Flying…

PS More pictures to follow in a week or twos time – when our feet are back on the ground.