I was looking at www.flyingbulls.com web site and they have decided to ship the P-38 not fly it 'over the pond'. This is a copy off their web site:
P-38 Ferry Flight ex USA/Texas
Information for all P-38 Lightning friends...
The flight to transfer the aircraft from Texas across the North Atlantic to Salzburg, which was scheduled for this week, is not going to take place.
We welcome this personal decision, which ultimately was made by Sigi Angerer himself, and regard this as sign of due respect for this not quite risk-free “adventure”. Although the restoration works have now been completed with highly satisfactory results, the risk of choosing a flight across the North Atlantic over the safer sea route was not taken.
The ultimate reason for the decision was that despite the fact that all systems are functioning smoothly and successful flight tests have been performed, the residual risk is nevertheless quite high, because the aircraft in fact was not built to fly such long distances at all. 3.5 hours between Canada and Greenland, in weather conditions which are ultimately never totally predictable and with only one hour’s worth of fuel reserves may even turn the smallest technical problem into a catastrophe.
After three and a half years of restoration time, the P-38 has turned into a world-wide unique showpiece and has now also become too valuable to undertake such a flight.
We have the greatest respect for Sigi’s decision, which doubtlessly was not easy for him. At the same time, we are all the more pleased to be able to present the aircraft in all its splendor at around the end of October on our home base in Salzburg.
We are convinced that you welcome this new situation as much as we do and will keep you informed of the latest developments through our website.
P-38 Ferry Flight ex USA/Texas
Information for all P-38 Lightning friends...
The flight to transfer the aircraft from Texas across the North Atlantic to Salzburg, which was scheduled for this week, is not going to take place.
We welcome this personal decision, which ultimately was made by Sigi Angerer himself, and regard this as sign of due respect for this not quite risk-free “adventure”. Although the restoration works have now been completed with highly satisfactory results, the risk of choosing a flight across the North Atlantic over the safer sea route was not taken.
The ultimate reason for the decision was that despite the fact that all systems are functioning smoothly and successful flight tests have been performed, the residual risk is nevertheless quite high, because the aircraft in fact was not built to fly such long distances at all. 3.5 hours between Canada and Greenland, in weather conditions which are ultimately never totally predictable and with only one hour’s worth of fuel reserves may even turn the smallest technical problem into a catastrophe.
After three and a half years of restoration time, the P-38 has turned into a world-wide unique showpiece and has now also become too valuable to undertake such a flight.
We have the greatest respect for Sigi’s decision, which doubtlessly was not easy for him. At the same time, we are all the more pleased to be able to present the aircraft in all its splendor at around the end of October on our home base in Salzburg.
We are convinced that you welcome this new situation as much as we do and will keep you informed of the latest developments through our website.
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