Several hundred liters of fuel were transported by taxis in canisters to the airplanes—a laborious and expensive endeavor. Yet, what choice did they have? Up here, at the edge of the world, the airports only stock Jet A-1 fuel.. #skymonkeyyys #northcape #tarragonaircraft
Takeoff from Kirkenes International was as complicated as the landing: Special VFR, the formation disbanded by the controller, each pilot navigating the control zone solo to regroup over the sea to the north. This maneuver wasted 20 precious minutes of fuel, which might be needed later on—one can never be sure up here over the icy waters.
The plan was to round the North Cape from the east, then fly onward to Hammerfest for refueling. This was their only option in this remote area, 550 kilometers north of the Arctic Circle over the ice sea. Nothing, absolutely nothing, could go wrong now!
And so it was. Fate smiled on the Monkeys, and they reached the Cape, shrouded in a low-hanging cloud. It didn’t matter; glimpses of the North Capes' Globe structure could be seen through the mist. This globe, a steel sculpture representing the Earth with its meridians and parallels, was erected in 1978 and is the iconic symbol of the North Cape.
The planes buzzed around the cliff like a swarm of wild bees, filming each other to ensure everyone was captured on video—an epic moment, as many pilots have failed in their attempt to reach the northernmost point of the world!
Shortly after circling the Cape and setting a course slightly southward, the skies cleared. Upon landing in Hammerfest, the never-setting summer sun blazed into the cockpits—the Monkeys had made it, at least to this point, with a few liters of fuel remaining in the tanks! @madundderleutnant