M did not 'phone me last night. Well, he did, he claims, but the line was engaged each time - probably by my regular round of calls re. where is he now? what has he done this time? It is wonderful that so many people are interested and showing such support for M's true aviator spirit.
I'm not too clear on how he arrived at Delhi - presumably Delta-Charlie-Tango from Jaipur. He reports having experienced a wonderful view of Jaipur, the "Pink City of Rajastan" as he flew out at sunrise. The city is built from pink stone and seemed unearthly in the sunrise surrounded by morning mists. He then flew over spectacular country to Delhi.
I stand corrected regarding G-KIRK's endurance - having just been informed that it is 14 hours. All that worry about their having inadequate fuel for contingencies over the sea was nonsense - no more worrying for me (I think not!). Other technical info is that G-KIRK's top speed is 75mph but 60mph when carrying full tanks of fuel.
I don't know if Lucknow featured in his route to Calcutta. The flight took 9 hours and suffice to say he was in Calcutta when he rang and things might be going his way at last. There has been a problem in getting Avgas to the airport - it hadn't arrived this evening. This means that race aircraft will not be able to leave on time tomorrow morning. M is an old hand at managing such situations - a dubiously acquired skill having landed on so-o-o many fields, beaches and mountains (has he told you the one about Snowdon and his Physics teacher?) His risk assessment and management (ie of not being able to leave in the morning), I am told, involved jerry cans and a service station and, I would guess, a length of hose pipe. If this remains the case M could even lead the race for a minute or two in the morning (or be the first to Sydney if he pedals hard enough!!!). The other snippet of news is that race aircraft must leave Rangoon on time or be held up for 2 days owing to the staging of an air festival or some such.
The oil leak (sorry if I am becoming boring, but I can't help enquiring each day - it's become an obsession) remains. M continues to pour in oil at each stop and has diagnosed that a "push rod seal has gone" but they are coping fine. Still no photos have arrived here. We will post some of the intrepid pair at home - please ignore the lush, green grass and imagine desert.
This evening M announced that he would like to fly G-KIRK home but can't face the bureaucracy involved. Hurrah for bureaucracy I say! M's absence and my current work commitments mean that the kids think that they are orphans. Genevieve, the other G-KIRK, is missing M dreadfully.
KK (M's wife)