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Today Matevz will start later, around 9:30 a.m. local time (12:30 UTC) in San Fernando, Argentina. The flight is about 4 hours long and distance to Mendoza (LA PUNTILLA) is 970 km. Mendoza is located in central-western Argentina, at the foot of the Andes Mountains on the border with Chile. Mendoza is an attractive city built on the wealth of the bodegas that surround it. Beyond the city you have the choice of spectacular scenery with the highest mountain outside of the Himalayas on its doorstep. Matevz's global project included fly over the world's highest mountains, ...In case of good weather in the evening, he will fly around Aconcagua, which was planned for tomorrow.
GLWF team wishes you all the best with flight around Aconcagua!
STAGE 17: FROM RIO DE JANEIRO TO BUENOS AIRES
03.02.2012
Hi everybody,
Finally Buenos Aires and famous Rio De la Plata. After exceptionally well organized reception with number of journalists, TV teams, friends, officials, aviators, Slovenians living in Argentina, I am quite down and tired. This is a hard work, flying is not. A big thanks go to Slovenian embassy in Buenos Aires, with Tomaž Mencin, ambassador, and number of supporters from all over Argentina. Flight from Rio started in hot sunny morning in formation with Alan Sinus accompanied by Augusto Barrozo. We flew along the famous beaches then climbed up to the statue, did few bypasses but I did not feel good as there were other helicopters around and very bad and broken communication with Alan, so I soon decided to turn my nose south along the cost all the way down to Sao Paulo. Maximal altitude in that part was 3000 ft. It was a hot humid day, so there was not much efficiency from my turbo. Low stratus clouds were hanging around and soon I lost sight when I got in. A lot of IFR traffic around just prevented me to go higher. When I finally got Sao Paulo controllers on frequency, I was soon cleared to climb above the clouds and remained there for next hours. Band of alto-cumulus clouds was quite high, cumulonimbus were rising on the right but in my direction remained low enough that I was able to overfly them on FL125. In interior there was no communication, so Domen again provided me important weather info for destination Foz De Iguasu. Just before landing I was granted to fly over as much I wanted and just went down for landing at 35 Celsius. The morning was clear again, expected delay due paperwork did not realize as I found extremely helpful guys everywhere from ARO, METEO to police, custom and immigration. I was out on the apron just an hour after. The weather forecast was not really what I wished to and hoped for but this is reality of world flight. Sometimes you have to have hard times, too. The first part was smooth like flying over the oil, after that turned grey and dark grey, around Concordia I flew into heavy rain and there was no visibility at FL055. I did not expect TCB clouds that early so I remained in the clouds. Also I trusted Domen that he will send me for sure the warning if he got something red on his satellite pictures. But it has cleared a bit and I went down below the last layer of clouds, got some nice shots over Uruguay river and just before landing, where weather improved, I could also photograph the big La Plata river. San Fernando airport looks like GA heaven, with many small aircrafts and friendly people all around. A big thanks goes also to Andy Hediger, Swiss aviator living in Argentina and now also Pipistrel representative there. There was a lot of help and coordination from our embassy, authorities and beside that they also covered all my expenses. So many help and positive thoughts all around is almost too much for me to accept at the moment!
Tomorrow Mendoza. Weather looks good.
See you there!
Matevž
IN BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA
02.02.2012
Today Matevž started his flight in Iguacu, Brazil, and after 1100 km he landed in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The flight was about 4 h and 30 minutes long. Now Matevž is enjoying the huge reception and \"welcome-party\" that is organised by The embassy of Slovenia in Buenos Aires. Thank you so much! About 70 - 80 people is expected to come. The interest is really huge and a lot of journalist from newspapers, television, radio is expected to attend. RTV Slovenia and Reuters will be making a short movie about Matevž and his WGLF project. There are mentioned a few media for which we know that are coming: La Nación (the main daily paper), Pagina 12 (also important daily paper), Muy Interesante (photo reportage is arranged with this magazine), TELAM (Argentinian press agency) and others: Canal 7, TN, Canal 26, 360TV, ATLAS magazine, ANAC (Argentinian Air Control) and also several independent journalists. From Slovenian-Argentinian media there are going to be two radio stations, that are listened also by the Argentinians. Again, our deepest thank goes to Mr. Tomaž Mencin, ambassador of Slovenia in Buenos Aires, and to Mrs. Petra Kežman, who is the III. secretary in the embassy of Slovenia in Buenos Aires. Many many thanks for this warm welcome! Enjoy, Matevž!
yours, WGLF team
Enjoy a few photos from huge reception in Buenos Aires.
STAGE 16: PHOTOS FROM BRAZIL
02.02.2012
Flying at low altitude in a small airplane may be uncomfortable, but you see a lot of beautiful things. Beginning of the flight was in Rio de Janeiro. On the images you can see the famous beaches, Christ the Redeemer statue (Corcovado). Matevz has sent us the photos of the spectacular Iguazu Falls on the border with Argentina, which are located in Iguazu National Park. These spectacular falls are comprised of 275 individual cascades and are more than 1.90 miles wide and 260 ft. high.
REUTERS about Matevz Lenarcic
01.02.2012
A Slovenian biologist is preparing a record attempt for the lightest aircraft and the least amount of fuel used to fly around the world. During his flight, Matevz Lenarcic will also be measuring levels of black carbon in places not easily accessible to environmentalists is effort to raise awareness of global air pollution.
Spending the time in Rio was like paradise. The day before was extremely frustrating. Due to the customs procedures, I had to sacrifice three valuable hours for paperwork – despite the fact, that the flight was only two hours long. At first, the weather was lovely, but soon turned into clouds and overcast so I flew low over the sea to the meeting point. I managed to get Augusto and Alan on the same frequency, but the minutes before I finally saw them, were long and dark. In the end the Sinus and Virus SW got in sight and we flew together in formation straight to the small green spot almost in the centre of Rio de Janeiro. Landing was perfect – just like landing on the golf course; soft grass and smoothness. The huge crowd of journalists, pilots, cameras and microphones at the airport was a big surprise to me. I could see smiling Augusto, Alan, president of the Club and its many members. Soon the Slovenian ambassador Milena Smit joined us and I was very glad to see my friend and a much respected aviator, two times ‘earth- rounder’ and researcher Gerard Moss. After several interviews for the biggest national TV stations we were finally free to sit down and share some experiences with the great Brazilian aviators. It was raining heavy outside and the occasional thunder distracted our chat. But rainy weather is normal for this time of the year. In the meantime my Virus got looked at by a professional, the oil was changed and it looks like it’s in a very good shape. Because I was expecting another battle with the Brazilian bureaucracy and customs, I decided to change the planned flight. This way the procedures would be less painful and I would be able to take some photos of Rio and the Iguazu falls. A bit thanks goes to Augusto for organising everything and covering all the expense, ms. Milena Smit for the diplomatic and friendly support and also to Gerard Moss, for a great evening, full of lines and thoughts about our world. And I shouldn’t forget all the legendary aviators at the club. Meeting you all was a real pleasure. More photos are comming soon.
Below please find the link to the video, which is showing Matevz arrival and departure from Rio de Janeiro.
( Source Mr. Morrison. Thank you! )
http://vimeo.com/36057197
STAGE 14: IN RIO DE JANEIRO
01.02.2012
Matevž landed in Rio de Janeiro. He was kindly greeted by Mr. Augusto Barrozo, many journalists and friends of the Flight around the world. The service was done, filters were changed, oil as well and everythig is OK. Unfortunately there was no person who could repair the WX500 stormscope - the instruments that predicts the storms.
Today he will take-off towards Iguacu, Brazil. The day after he will fly to San Fernando in Argentina. In Iguacu "challenges" are expected at the custom again and this is also the reason why he can not fly straight to San Fernando, Argentina.
Planned take-off for today is at 10.00 UTC and the flight is about 4h and 30 minutes long. The distance to Iguacu SBFI (Catarats International Airport) is 1170 km.
Tomorrow Matevž will start later, around 7 pm local time in San Fernando, Argentina. This flight has become more and more expensive. The administration and paper work at the custom is very expensive also the gasoline, not to mention the hotels and internet. We hope we could still manage financially by the end of the trip. However, keep dreaming, keep flying!
GLWF team
Misunderstanding about flight permission
31.01.2012
Unfortunately, Matevz didn`t have the correct over flight authorization and for that reason his flight stopped in Viracopos (SBKP). He will stay over the night in São Paulo. He decided to continue with flight today to Rio de Janeiro "Clube Ceu" (SDIN).
STAGE 13: POSADAS, ARGENTINA
30.01.2012
Yesterday it was a long day of flying with many changes. However, Matevž has succesfully managed all of them, with lot's of courage, wisdom and experience. Bravo! The 13th stage has finished successfully in Posadas, Argentina. Matevz started in Arico, Chile at 14.00 UTC and was flying towards Resistenca. We couldn't get a permit to fly through Bolivia and he decided to go across Andes in Argentina, to avoid Bolivia. However, the runway was closed in Resistenca, where was planned destination in the beginning. Matevz has taken a decision to change a flight plan and landed at Posadas airport (SARP), Argentina.
Enjoy a few photos from the 13th stage.
Soon we are ready to fly again. Today Matevž will take off and continue to the airport SDIN / Aeroclub CEU, where he will be greeted by Augusto Barrozo and several other people who are eager to meet with Matevž and salute him. If possible, also Slovenian ambassador Mrs. Milena Šmit will join the welcome reception in honour to our pilot, too.
Before reaching the airport SDIN / Aeroclub CEU Matevž will need to do the custom control on one of the international airports in Brazil. Expecting you in Brazi!
Take care and fly safe!
ARICA, Chile
29.01.2012
After 9 flying days without a real break, I had to unexpectedly stop in Arica due to lack of permission to overfly Bolivia. Although not all flights were real ones (above 7 hours), even those short ones require the same procedure. A day without sitting in the tight cockpit helps to keep flying spirit. Guayaquil was wet, I was wet, and Virus was also very wet on the morning before departure. Low dark clouds, rain and group of FBO guys who speeded up my "going through papers" (police, custom, immigration, CAA, meteo...). It takes only an hour and 500 dollars - the most expensive handling service ever. Julio Vizuete did so much for our project, he was the only bright spot on the airport. I was in a bad mood through first layer of stratus clouds, bad mood later disappeared when some bright sky appeared on the horizont. Peru airspace brought dry sky, which was interrupted with some minor showers, although, I flew over the desert. Last part was dry, mostly cloudy and quite hazy. Visibility improved after Lima and was excellent over Nazca sand drawings. Andres Gonzales, LAN pilot and Pipistrel distributor in Chile arranged hotel and some help on the airport. Miguel Zamora helped me with refuelling. Avgas 100-130 is not the recommended fuel for Rotax, so I went to the Arica city, some 16 km away for car fuel, which we mixed with Avgas. Tomorrow’s flight over Bolivia and then to Brazil is still uncertain. Let us wait and see. Slovenian ambassador Mrs. Milena Šmit has done everything to help us with permission, also Andres Gonzales is also doing his best to helps us to continue in the morning.
