{"id":228,"date":"2019-01-08T21:49:10","date_gmt":"2019-01-08T21:49:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/?page_id=228"},"modified":"2025-07-16T10:42:54","modified_gmt":"2025-07-16T10:42:54","slug":"adventure-flying","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/","title":{"rendered":"Adventure flying"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The flying career of a wandering private pilot<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

After obtaining a Private Pilot’s Licence in 2005, I decided that it must be possible to use this new skill for more than occasional local flights for a cup of tea. With very little experience, and a similar amount of guidance, I set off to see what adventures could be had. It soon became clear that a number of other private pilots had the same ideas, although making up a tiny fraction of the overall pilot population. What was missing was shared information on their experiences, the tips and tricks that ease this kind of endeavor. Hence, this website: to chronicle my adventures, and hopefully provide helpful information and advice to those wishing to do the same thing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n

The site is intended to offer ideas, tips and tricks for other pilots who are keen to make similar trips. I also keep it as a way to chronicle these experiences for my own enjoyment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can click here<\/strong><\/a> to visit the index of all flying adventures so far.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

Return to Australia<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The flight around the world<\/strong><\/a> finally came to a close on June 30th, 2023. What was meant to be a one year trip turned into four years thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, with an extra three years added on, stuck in New Zealand and Australia waiting for the last of the Pacific Islands to open their borders. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The universe has a sense of irony however and, less than a year after returning to the US (much of which was spent on a full refurbishment of Planey including a snappy new paint scheme) I was offered a new job in, you guessed it, Australia. There was no way I was going to spend a few more years down under without Planey, so another long adventure was on the cards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

View the live satellite tracker here<\/a><\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The flight in figures:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n