Think of it as a motorcycle with wings. At least that’s how Gerry Charlebois describes the rig he flies for a day job. In 1990 Charlebois founded Birds of Paradise, a company he describes as “an introduction to flight school.”
Think of it as a motorcycle with wings.
At least that’s how Gerry Charlebois describes the rig he flies for a day job. In 1990 Charlebois founded Birds of Paradise, a company he describes as “an introduction to flight school.”
In April, rather then ship a new bird to Kaua‘i, he opted to fly that baby home. No small matter when you consider the jet stream runs west to east.
“This is the first time it’s ever been done,” said Charlebois. “No one has flown in a light aircraft from the Atlantic to the Pacific.”
Considering Charlebois started his company roaring down a cane road in Anahola with a tandem being pulled into the air behind a jeep, flying from Florida to California isn’t such a stretch.
Crazy though might be the woman to accompany him in the air for seven hours a day over a four week journey. Julie Mann met Charlebois in December and in four short months committed to the cross-country flight — forgoing her original plans to visit Turkey.
“This was the trip of a life time,” she said. “Turkey will still be there.”
Joining Charlebois and Mann were fellow flyers, husband and wife team Andrew Doughty and Leona Boyd. Charlebois said they could never have pulled off such a lengthy flight without support since Doughty’s craft had the larger baggage compartment of the two planes. Tools and fuel cans were all the travelers carried.
“We wore the same clothes daily under our flight suits,” Charlebois said.
Everyday was a surprise since each destination relied entirely on headwinds.
“We’d start not knowing where we’d refuel,” Mann said. “The issue is we use car fuel and airports sell plane gas.”
Some of the airports were “in tiny podunk towns” where there wouldn’t be a soul on site when they’d land.
“We’d use a courtesy car carrying our gas cans in search of a gas station,” Charlebois said.
Long days, 40 mile per hour headwinds and uncertain destinations were tolerable compared to what awaited them in Texas. Imagine stepping into an elevator that suddenly accelerates to 3000 feet per minute.
Meet the infamous Texas “thermal.”
“You’re suddenly climbing vertically at a very high speed,” Charlebois said. “You have to fly through the other side of the elevator to take the plunge — or as we call it, going over the falls.”
“It’s terrifying,” Mann added.
But exhaustion and fear won’t stop her from joining Charlebois on the rest of the journey. The two couples plan to continue the adventure by flying these light sport aircraft between the islands.
“We’re making a film,” Charlebois said. “It’s called ‘Key West to Kaua‘i: The Odd Couple Odyssey.’”
