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From Kansas to Kiwi Skies One Pilots Transpacific Adventure

This customer feature was originally written by Cameron Officer with 66Magazine in New Zealand, and shared with Textron Aviation.

When New Zealand pilot Paul Hood took delivery of his brand-new Cessna® Turbo Stationair® HD piston in Wichita, Kansas, he wasn't about to let someone else fly it home. No shipping crates. No hired hands. Just Paul, his plane and a sky full of possibilities.

"I think my mouth got me in trouble," Hood snickered, recalling how he'd told so many people he planned to fly the aircraft home himself that backing out wasn't an option. But truthfully, he never intended to. This was the kind of journey pilots dream about. Being familiar with Textron Aviation and its products, Hood knew the Cessna® Turbo Stationair® HD piston was a beast built for adventure.

"These planes are absolute workhorses," he says. "They're designed to carry their weight, climb high and launch from short strips. I had zero apprehension."

Prepping for the Sky

Before takeoff, Paul spent ten meticulous days in Las Vegas outfitting the aircraft for the long haul. With help from Flight Contract Services, he stripped out all but the pilot's seat and installed two aluminum tanks, one beside the pilot's seat and the other behind. This strategic placement would add 235 gallons of fuel to the 87 already in the wings. That brought his total fuel capacity to 322 gallons, allowing him to fly further.

The cabin became a cockpit built for strategy and execution. A life raft, oil, food, water and a hand pump were all within arm’s reach. Even the spare front seat was wrapped in plastic and tucked behind the tanks. The aircraft was 800 pounds over its standard weight, but thanks to a special FAA ferry permit, Hood and his new aircraft were cleared for takeoff.

Into the Blue

The first leg to challenge him saw Hood fly from Santa Maria, California to Kona, Hawaii, 15 hours over the open ocean. Aware of the task ahead and equipped with intense preparation, Hood ultimately found himself ushered back into the familiar experience of being in the sky.

"My plan was to get airborne just after daybreak. Timing was important at Santa Maria because sea fog can often roll in," he recalls. "A thousand miles offshore, I thought, 'Hey, this isn't bad at all.'"

After a few nights in Kona, he launched into the next leg of the journey, a 16-hour trek to Pago Pago, American Samoa. Crossing the equator would bring unpredictable thermal conditions and a new level of fuel management. Knowing that he could not remain idle for the duration of the trip, Hood kept his body active with in-flight stretches and stayed sharp by logging fuel burn, calculating points of no return and sending position reports. Pago Pago International Airport's brand-new avgas truck had the honor of refueling N63PH first, an addition to an already memorable experience for Hood. Twelve hours later, Paul touched down in Kerikeri, New Zealand, mission accomplished.

Home, Sweet Hangar

Back on home turf, Hood and his family use the Cessna® Turbo Stationair® HD aircraft to go between Hanmer and their vacation home on the Coromandel Peninsula, among other missions. Whether for business or leisure, the aircraft has become a trusted companion.

"It was a very smooth trip overall," Paul says. "I was fortunate to have favorable winds the whole way, but I never doubted the Turbo Stationair HD. Textron Aviation manufactures incredibly robust aircraft which is why upgrading was a no-brainer having owned two previous models."

Overall, Hood notes that the flight home was an impressive feat, an adventure complete with challenge and opportunity to experience his aircraft in a way that was not originally intended. He credits his success to the work before take-off and the aircraft itself.

"At the end of the day, it was up to me to ensure there was no pilot error in the picture. Taking my time with pre-flight planning, the ferry fit out and the journey itself all helped with that. The rest was up to N63PH, and it performed brilliantly."