It's now just hours away from the start of the MacRobertson Air Race 2005. At 05:00 GMT on 2nd July competitors in the race take off in this years race against time and sleep from London to Melbourne.I/We will keep you up to date with race progress in this posting and I am sure the guys would welcome your comments etc but be nice cos we will be almost without sleep for up to three days !!!!It's not too late to enter the race but with only 12 hours to go you will have to be quick! Just go to http://www.gordiusfs.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/ for more information. There is a prize but we like to think it's more about being able to stay awake than winning the race.If you want to help us to stay alert please visit us at the AVSIM chat server and say hello. We do have a Teamspeak server as well should you want to hear our snores and/or screams as we run out of fuel trying to find Darwin along the way.Race progress and maybe a few screenshots will also be at the above website.To any nutters out there you can still enter the race but hurry there because at this time there are just 12 hours until the start. Alternatively if you want to join us for one leg then as before check the website.Andrew BrownForum Moderator - any chance of pinning this for a few days only?

Good luck and safe flying to all those who are participating...I really wanted to join in, but seeing as our long weekend here in Canada is Fri-Sun, not Sat-Mon, I would have been a wreck at work.Once again..good luck...Take care.Robert

Work? A distant dream right now but there you go - I'm on holiday and today is my Birthday hehehe what a way to celebrate. BTW I see you are in Canada. I fly for BFU and its a bit tuff getting to work over at PANT from the UK. Any chance I can come and live with you? I don't eat much and I can always get you a luxury holiday every year at the logging camp ;-) (I assume you can bring your own blanket).Andrewhttp://www.gordiusfs.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/

I would have participated if I didn't have so much real-life stuff to do this weekend.... Probably too late for me to start now anyway.... (by about 45 minutes :()

We are all in the air and somewhere in Europe (not saying where I don't want the others to know ;-) )So far 2 racers forgot to start the Duenna (if u dont know what that is dont worry but hats off everyone to John Muller who wrote it) which includes me :-) Luckily I have FS Flight Keeper running so thats better than nothing.If anyone sees a Black Comet can you use semaphore to tell me where I am and hdg to ORBS please?Andrew Brownhttp://www.gordiusfs.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/

Hello Andrew.... well at least I can get logged into the forum....(smile) Okay.... so you must be up ahead of me a ways..... by the way.... how much did you pay the AI guy to ram me????? Out of all the years of flying (FS3 on) that is the first time EVER I got ran into by an AI aircraft.... didn't even know they could do that. (smile) Seems rather strange it had Brit markings..... I think it was a plot against this lost Yank. See ya in Bagdad!Steve

Watch it yank. I could be wrong but I think u are way in the lead.Andrew

Hmmmmm...... I don't know about me being in the lead..... I figured I'm about 30 min. or so behind you according to your post about reaching the Black Sea.... in fact I even had to stop and refuel... well at least I thought I had better... didn't know if I had enough to get across the pond. Anyway, this AC seems to be burning more fuel than I had counted on but the weather has been pretty nice so far. Hope I can stay awake long enough to find Bagdad. (smile)Best wishes,Steve

I have had thunderstorms most of the way. severe turbulence - heavy icing (enough to kill the ASI anyway). Picking up on speed now though, I think!If you had my screenshot you will see what I have had for maybe 70% of the trip. The joys of Activesky V maybe?Andrew

Icing????.... maybe it could be the Activesky. There was some pretty severe turbulence which frightens the heck out of me in this aircraft.... really gets hard to handle in turbulence. I stayed pretty low across most of Europe (5 - 6K) but the winds kept dancing around... never could tell really where I was at. Right now the winds have been holding pretty true and seems like I'm somewhat on course.... hard to tell though.... not much to look at out here. Sure wish I had brought a book along. (smile)Steve

After reading these posts, now I'm regretting not taking Monday off!!! When is the next race? I'll do what I can to participate in it.Robert

Hi Robert.... Andrew will have to answer when the next race is...... I just hope he will do a long one instead of these little short hops. (smile)Best wishes,Steve

>Hi Robert.... Andrew will have to answer when the next race>is...... I just hope he will do a long one instead of these>little short hops. (smile)>>Best wishes,>SteveNext one is 2006. I doubt anyone will want to do this again this year, lol. This is though a kick start for a new project called roaring 30s (RT). That's 30s AI (already largely done) etc. Part of the RT will involve a few races each year so I will keep this message in mind. I bet you wish you didn't as now :-)AndrewThen again if demand is there maybe we could do it in December/January again? What do you think?

Blue skies at last. My arm aches after several hours of bouncing my way around Europe. Watch out Steven im gonna kick your six o'clock sooner than you think Mr Gasguzzler!!!Andrew

I know, I know I keep replying to myself truth is I am the only one I know worth talking to ;-)Just thought I would mention that it is my birthday today and I am 39 for the 4th time. If anyone should just happen to want to get me a present I have a list for sim addons!Andrew