Well, looks like I'll have to face the music at MAAM and take the old girl back home!Synopsis:Flew from the UK to Reading USA in the PA-46. Twiddled my thumbs for a while in the museum, but no sign of BT yet... A burst of inspiration and I'm back in the air in the 46 and across the States to California. Offshore I encounter the John C Stennis for a dry run and an impromptu 'Touch & Go' off the deck... I didn't have much choice in the matter - not sure whether the Meridian's cut-out for this sort of thing! (Though I dare say there'll be some genius out there who can do it!) Anyhow, it's back to MAAM and a 3 hr familiarisation flight in BT, which has by now arrived on it's CD and firmly lodged itself on my harddrive. What next ? Well, it's back across the States, and the JC, and no less than FOUR attempts to stop this bird dead on the carrier... No joy... Somewhat deflating, but I suppose I can salvage something from the fact that we didn't get our feet wet in any one of those runs! Reset, new flight- Doolittle Raid - And straight off the Stennis, no probs! Sisco? Nah! A quick word with the Weather God and we pick up a 50kt tailwind for the 8hr slog to Hawaii! Then we're off again, along the chain and island hopping, Midway, Wake Island, Minami Torishima.. And on to Tokyo! Into Korea, China, through Asia and the Middle East, into Europe and home to the UK. That's 84hrs (22hr PA-46 contribution excluded)and the end of my 6th circumnavigation.Methinks I'll put my feet up a spell and then head back across the pond to MAAM... And a slap or three from our dear Mr. Strine I would imagine... Hmmm, I wonder if he'll let me take the R4D for a 'quick' spin...?Lovin' every minute of it! Sir John :-sword

Ah! Home at last! And we set the bird down safely in Reading USA at the MAAM facility after a breezy 101 hr trek around the planet. And a great time was had by all, I say, but now it's time to face the music, as we trundle sheepishly past the entourage of Mr. Strine and co..." Terribly sorry, old chap.. " says I, and brace myself for that much deserved and most inevitable bloody nose..." Not at all! " Beams Russ, and lands me an unexpected and very hearty slap upon the back. " MAAM would like to thank you for your great and generous contribution! "" Great and generous? Contribution? " says I, " The contribution, I fear, is nought but costly wear and tear! An overhaul or two might be the order of the day methinks! "" Absolutely! " Grins Strine, with a smile conveying something more than the jollity for which it was purposely intended... " And the proceeds from our sale of the three quarter million dollar Piper PA-46 you left parked on the tarmac over there will I think go some considerable way to financing it..."Ah! The relief of Flight Sim!:-sword The Flying Knight

:-hahIan P.:-halo