On 8 July 2010 at 2:33pm, ‘Bravo Yankee India’ landed in Bendigo, Victoria creating a world-first historical event. For the first time in world history, an Australian designed and manufactured aircraft had flown around the world. For many years, this record was said to be held by Cliff Tait, but the legendary Miss Jacy, Cliff’s Victa Airtourer which he circumnavigated the globe in, while designed in Australia was built in New Zealand. Cliff Tait personally confirmed this when Ken Evers and Tim Pryse were preparing to circumnavigate the globe in Australia’s GA8 Airvan.

Take off for the flight occurred on 8 May 2010 at Bendigo Aerodrome in Bendigo, Victoria Australia. An official take-off ceremony was attended by Steve Gibbons MP, Minister Jacinta Allan, Cr Keith Reynard along with Arvind Mehra representing Mahindra Aerospace – the major sponsor of Millions Against Malaria. In addition, a large number of people came to cheer Ken and Tim on as they took off from Bendigo at 12:35pm.

Flying the GA8-TC Airvan, the two men circumnavigated the globe after flying 27,675 nautical miles in over 263 flight hours and burning over 16,000 litres of Avgas! 62 days after take-off, at 2:33pm, Ken Evers and Tim Pryse landed at Bendigo, Aerodrome and wrote a new page in Australian aviation history books.

Ken & Tim’s flight was long and difficult, and yet the purpose of this flight was not to simply create history – it’s purpose was to raise awareness about the devastating effects of malaria. The successful completion of the flight did not conclude the efforts of Tim and Ken in their malaria awareness campaign…the completion of the flight was simply the beginning of a long-term plan to raise awareness and funds to fight this disease that is killing up to a million people a year.

View Millions Against Malaria Flight Album

The flight plan for this historical, world-first flight is listed below:

Total Distance: 27,675 nautical miles

*Between Wewak & Port Moresby, Ken & Tim visited Telefomin, Malaumanda, Mt Hagen and Goroka.