Ferrying a C-337 to Thailand

[Pistlpetet]

In the next couple of years I would like to buy a C-337 and bring it over to Thailand where I live.

My question is for some of you experienced Ferry guys. What would be the best route (Safest and least amount of Hassle) to take. I would not really be concerned with how long it would take, as I would be doing it myself, taking my time, and enjoying the various stops.

Quite a bit of my flying experience has been overseas in various locations, but no trips over the pond. I would not be taking on this mission lightly, and would take all the necessary Survival precautions.

Thanks in advance.

 

[OPECJet]

Good Lord! I flew a couple of SkyDisasters for a 135 company. I thought my BHM-DAL-PHX flight was a long one!

 

[Pistlpetet]

Thanks, but not looking for comments on the 337. Is it that hard to ask a professional question, and get a professional answer here?

 

[ultrarunner]

In the next couple of years I would like to buy a C-337 and bring it over to Thailand where I live.

My question is for some of you experienced Ferry guys. What would be the best route (Safest and least amount of Hassle) to take.

I am assuming you would be departing from the US?

Are you planning on tanking the plane? That would likely determine which direction you go. If you buy a G or an H model that have the large tanks, you could fly that trip eastbound likely without having to tank. West bound will require tanks.

It's all in what you're looking for and what your planning.

Flying it west bound with tanks, and you're looking at some really long over water legs....Calif-Hawaii is about 14 hrs. And that's your first leg.

Give some more information, and folks that know much more than me can chime in.

 

[CaptSeth]

Anchorage - Shemya - Petrapovlosk - Japan, etc....one extra tank would do the trick, don't know if they have avgas at Shemya though.

 

[L'il J.Seinfeld]

Cali to hawaii!! Are you crazy?

 

[Spooky 2]

Tribal knowledge

First of all I have never ferried a light plane on the Pacific, but I have several friends who have done just that including ferrying Skymasters to Vietnam back in the 60's. They of course had the support of the DOD so money was not an object.

In their case they picked up the aircraft at the factory and flew them out to an AFB just north of SFO. The place has been long closed, so the name escapes me now. They checked the ferry tanks on this first leg to make sure that they would continue to provide fuel throughout the next leg, which was from the AFB to PHNL. That was the longest leg and pretty much defined the experience. From there on they island hopped the rest of the way.

I'm sure that you can obtain an aux tank for this mission for several source on the west coast. Take a look in Trade A Plane and see what there is available.
DO NOT plan to land at any island airport after sunset as some of them use generator power for runway lighting, and we all know happens to anything that is mechanical just when you need it most. A friend of mine tells a story of taking off from some small island in the So. Pacific in a Twin Otter on a ferry flight to the US. He did this right after sunset and had to turn abck for a mechanical reason. The lights were off at the airport and could not find the place (Pre GPS days). He said it was the scariest thing that he had ever encounterd and this guy had done a lot of world wide ferrying including AG Cats form the West Coast to PHNL. 24 hours, no autopilot and no GPS!

Might try to find someone else who is going your way at the same time. If you had to ditch, the other guys could assist in the recovery by giving updated info for as long as he could loiter. In the case of the AG Cats in the above paragraph it was agreed that if one guy went down, the other would circle until the resuce personnel were on the scene and then he would ditch along side and hoepfully get recovered as well!

Flying back and forth between the mainland and HNL I was always amazed at how much traffic was down at those lower levels going back and forth across that body of water. Coming of PHNL one night we heard a guy in a Bonanza ditching. His last words were that he could see the water in his landing lights. Unfortunetly, he was never found.

If you can get a hold of a guy by the name of John Lear, probably in Las Vegas, NV I'm sure he would share his experiences in ferrying Skymasters to Vietnam. Guys a liitle strange, but knows his sh^t very well. Do a Google search and I bet you find him.

Good luck and keep us posted on your progress.

 

[bocefus]

Yah get a hold of John Lear, quite the lad he is. I flew with him at the Rosie.
Actually this type of info is pretty much considered proprietary by the folks who do this stuff for a living. PM me with an email address and I'll give you some contacts that might be worth your time.

 

[Pistlpetet]

Thanks for the input guys, and sorry for not providing more info on my desires.

I kinda assumed that it would be a longer and "easier" route going over the atlantic. More places to stop, and more places to find fuel and maintenance.

That is a good idea about joining up with someone else for the trip over. I would probably opt for not tanking up the aircraft (Probably Take a Friend Along). Like I said, time would not be a vital consideration, and it would be part of the adventure stopping in different places.

I would definately do my homework for this mission. Thanks again for the input.

 

[Black Hawk]

A ferry flight across the Pacific takes more guts than I've got. What is the cost to ship it vs. flying it?

 

[NorskAir]

The route would depend on what kind of tanks you are fitting to the aircraft. I would suggest doing the trip eastbound, more miles, but cheaper fuel and much less water and hassle involved.
If you have an 8-10 hour range I would suggest going St. Johns- Azores-Palma-Crete-Luxor-Oman-Mumbai-Calcutta-Bangkok. An overflight permit is required for Luxor and onward, figure 2-3 business days for an application for a Saudi overflight permit, and 6-7 working days for India.

If this is your first time on a trip like this, hire an experienced ferry pilot to go with you

Good luck, it is a fun trip.

 

[Daveman]

That is a good idea about joining up with someone else for the trip over. I would probably opt for not tanking up the aircraft (Probably Take a Friend Along).
.

You tell me your experience in Thailand and I'll tell you my experience in
the 337 and international, friend. I need a contact in the region.

 

[OPECJet]

Thanks, but not looking for comments on the 337. Is it that hard to ask a professional question, and get a professional answer here?

Sorry if you feel I'm being derrogatory towards the aircraft. Not the case. After several hundred hours in pressurized, and non pressurized versions, I'm quite fond of them.

I can't help you with ferrying one across the world, but I can relate stories of 10 hour one stop cross country flights with the 337.

 

[Pistlpetet]

You tell me your experience in Thailand and I'll tell you my experience in
the 337 and international, friend. I need a contact in the region.

I have a lot of experiences in Thailand. It all depends what you are looking for PM Me

Everyone else. Thanks for the suggestions. This is still in the future ops planning stage, as I am starting to plan well in advance.

 

[(o) (o)]

Took a PN-68 (Partenavia) from OAK to HNL years ago, it was over 14 hours.

The guy that I went with owns a ferrying business (SWA Captain, some of you may know him). He had in the past took C-182s and stuff all the way to BKK.

Not sure what is the next stop after HNL but I believe they go the same way as Continental Airlines fly their "island hopper" route. One of the stop will involve Guam, then Manilia.

I personally would NOT recommend anyone flying to Asia by way of the NOPAC with landing in Shemya or Petropavlok like someone else suggested. Conditions are just too harsh up there and you don't want to deal with crossing over Russian airspace and fees.

I don't think there is any fees to cross over the mid-pacific, another plus is you're talking to Oakland Oceanic the whole time, until around Manila I guess.

Good luck.

 

[Spooky 2]

Took a PN-68 (Partenavia) from OAK to HNL years ago, it was over 14 hours.

The guy that I went with owns a ferrying business (SWA Captain, some of you may know him). He had in the past took C-182s and stuff all the way to BKK.

Not sure what is the next stop after HNL but I believe they go the same way as Continental Airlines fly their "island hopper" route. One of the stop will involve Guam, then Manilia.

I personally would NOT recommend anyone flying to Asia by way of the NOPAC with landing in Shemya or Petropavlok like someone else suggested. Conditions are just too harsh up there and you don't want to deal with crossing over Russian airspace and fees.

I don't think there is any fees to cross over the mid-pacific, another plus is you're talking to Oakland Oceanic the whole time, until around Manila I guess.

Good luck.

Certainly would agree with regards to the No Pac routes. Not any place for a small aircraft. Scenic yes, smart no. To much weather and other factors to make this an option.

 

[(o) (o)]

Hi Spooky,

I have been flying the NOPAC for about 3 years now on regular basis and I have not seen a thing except clouds down there!!

Is it really scenic?? (serious question)

Thanks

 

[BobbyBiplane]

Pistl:

I have ferried both directions numerous times. I make the following suggestions:

1. Find someone to ferry with you who has experience with the route (or most of it). It may cost you some money but worth it in the end.
2. Use a well establish handling company to assist with the notifications and to assist with any unusual occurrances. If you use ferry tanks you will also (generally) need overflight permits for every country whose airspace you pass (ie: Denmark for Greenland, the Faroe Islands, etc.). I strongly recommend Universal Weather. They have never let me down.
3. Have fun.

The people that you will meet in the arctic and remote islands are some of the friendlist and most helpful people you will meet anywhere. It is a great experience.

Bob

 

[Pistlpetet]

Thanks for the input Bob

 

[Simon Says]

I am surprised not to find NW Pilot posting on this thread. In fact I was looking for it to enjoy some flame baiting.

Anyways, the trip sounds like one heck of an adventure. Keep us posted on when you do it and post the tales that may come from it. Who knows, it may turn out like the "Big Chill" thread.

 

[Spooky 2]

Hi Spooky,

I have been flying the NOPAC for about 3 years now on regular basis and I have not seen a thing except clouds down there!!

Is it really scenic?? (serious question)

Thanks

Agree that it is mostly cloudy, but occasionally you will have one of those Blue Bird days and it is spectacular. Volcanos, deep fiords and bays and green mountains with good size rivers. Again, no place for the pilot who has not been indoctrinated to that part of the world. I always wanted to put down on some of these remote WW11 airfields and scout around but probably will never get the chance now. Good book to read is called The 1000 Mile War. Covers a lot of history from the tip of the Aleutian Islands to Kodiak Island during WW11. BTW if you are a NWA pilot there is also a great story about a NWA crew putting a DC4 into Dutch Harbor during the Korean War. Unbelieveable airmanship.

 

[Golden Falcon]

this time of year the east india, bangladesh, bay of bengal area is ripe with monsoon thunderstorms...fall or winter time the weather is brilliant and some very nice views...

 

[jbDC9]

I am surprised not to find NW Pilot posting on this thread. In fact I was looking for it to enjoy some flame baiting.

Yep, same here... I'm wondering when he'll chime in and say "Looks easy, I'll do it. I'm a ferry pilot. It'll be neat-o!"

 

[Dave Benjamin]

It might be cheaper to pull the wings off and place the aircraft in a shipping container.

 

[ultrarunner]

It might be cheaper to pull the wings off and place the aircraft in a shipping container.

I was thinking the same thing.