Editor's Note: This article is reprinted with permission from Minnesota Christian Chronicle, which is owned by Minnesota pilot and state legislator Mike Beard. Thanks also goes to the writer, Barbara Marshak, who agreed to share this story.

Metro Pilots really fly "around the patch"

By Barbara Marshak

Recently four Twin Cities businessmen spent six days flying around the United States—literally. What began as an insurance requisite to accumulate 50 additional flight-time hours, evolved into a most remarkable journey.

Randy Pentel, owner of RP Air in St. Paul, and RP Air pilot, Mark Anderson, devised a six-day plan to fly the perimeter of the 48 states in order to meet the required hours before installing floats on Pentel's Cessna Caravan, a large single-engine turboprop aircraft.

About a week prior to the September 21st departure, Anderson discovered the official record for the USA border flight had been set in 1992 in eight days.

"We decided even though it was too late to break the record officially, we could still do it for fun," said Anderson. They invited two friends to join them, Steve Reichert and John Majchrzak, both Twin Cities businessmen. The most alluring aspect of the trip was to view the country at altitudes of 500 to 1,500 feet above ground level.

The four crew members departed St. Paul Airport on September 21, 2003 heading north to over-fly Duluth's Sky Harbor Airport where the actual commencement of the USA Perimeter Flight began. Pentel piloted along the North Shore, turning west upon reaching the Canadian border. They followed the 49th parallel over the awe inspiring Rocky Mountains to Point Roberts, Washington, stopping near Seattle for their first night. "Prior to departure we spent time in prayer, asking for favorable winds and weather conditions. When we landed in Seattle under clear, blue skies, we knew the Lord was blessing our journey," Pentel declared.

The second day they flew the entire west coast. "It's amazing to view the coastline cruising at 1,500 feet while some of the mountains along the shore are higher than us," Pentel shared. Following an overnight in San Diego, the crew departed California and flew the longest leg of the journey, the southern US/Mexican border to Houston.

Flying `low and slow' brought a whole new perspective, especially along the Rio Grande River.

"Most of these areas I've seen on various jet flights," Anderson said, "but to see the topography at such a low altitude was very special."

With a seating capacity up to nine people, the Cessna Caravan offered ample room for the men and their gear. Rigged with color weather radar, autopilot, GPS, lightning detection and a satellite phone, the well-equipped craft cruised comfortably at 200 mph with the pilots constantly monitoring restrictions in airspace.

Day Four continued along the Gulf of Mexico to the Florida Keys with a layover in West Palm Beach. "The division of labor worked out great," Pentel explained. "Anderson was the navigator and flight planner, Majchrzak supplied the onboard food for the nine-hour flight days, and Reichert arranged transportation to and from the hotels. Everyone chipped in."

The fifth day continued up the scenic coastline with a stop at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina for a commemorative landing.

From there Pentel flew up the eastern seaboard. Approaching New York, Anderson radioed the control tower to see if they could have permission to circle the Statue of Liberty. Anderson explained the record-breaking flight to the air-traffic controller, admitting it could not be verified with the National Aeronautic Association since it wasn't officially sanctioned.

A view

of the Verrazano Bridge

While the tower checked for further authority, Pentel prayed for the favor. Time passed without a response. Then, just before the plane reached the mouth of the Hudson River, the controller announced, "You are cleared, direct to statue."

Pentel carefully guided the Cessna over the Verrazano Bridge, which is similar in style to the Golden Gate Bridge, instructed to fly at 1,000 feet over the center droop, while the two bridge towers stood at 1,000 feet on either side.

Anderson then took over the flight controls and cruised up Hudson River toward Liberty Island, circling Lady Liberty twice under gorgeous, blue skies. Upon leaving the area, they were instructed to drop to 500 feet in order to fly under Kennedy Airport air space.

A great view of the Statue of Liberty

"We thanked them profusely before we left," Pentel said. "To do something like that with only five minutes notice, I knew we were in God's favor. Just 24 hours earlier President Bush had been in the area and the entire New York airspace was prohibited to aircraft."

That night in Boston the whole crew agreed that seeing the Statue of Liberty from that perspective provided the most vivid highlight, evoking powerful feelings. "It's especially emotional knowing men and women are overseas today, protecting the very freedom she represents," Majchrzak shared.

Day Five took them to the northern cap of Maine before turning west along the US/Canadian border, eventually flying directly over Niagara Falls. Anderson circled the impressive falls, before continuing to Detroit. "It's rewarding to know that we accomplished something that not too many people in aviation can do," said Anderson.

No trip around the U.S. would be complete without a
view of Niagara Falls from up above.

The final day brought them through the rest of the Great Lakes, returning over Sky Harbor in Duluth, their point of origin. The pilots successfully completed the six-day, 10,000-statute mile journey with a total flight time under 56 hours. Knowing their incredible odyssey was nearing completion, a wave a disappointment spread over the crew.

"Let's go again!" someone said, and with that, a new idea was formed.

"We thought, why not go again and this time make it official," Pentel said.

Anderson promptly filed a sanction to officially set a new USA National Record on December 16-17th, 2003, for the identical flight plan. This trip, flown at normal 40,000 foot altitudes, will take a mere two days in a Cessna Citation Ultra jet, also owned by RP Air. The pilots plan to stop at Kitty Hawk on the 100th anniversary of the Wright Brothers first flight, but acknowledge first and foremost the blessing from God to simply fly such a journey, more than being involved in the celebration itself.

"The ironic part is shortly before the first flight, I found out the insurance underwriter no longer required the 50 additional hours," Pentel laughed. "To think what we would have missed!"