I recently saw on the Twitter account of LAN Colombia that referred to a flight around the world made by LAN Chile in 1985. Theme caught my attention, so I researched in order to make an entrance. And research showed bad and good news. The bad, they just found a complete and sporadic mentions in others. gva The good, the only source that contained absolutely all relevant and available information on such flights. So before I start doing that more clarification that a thorough investigation, this post is almost a summary of the information available on the website of the Association of retired pilots LAN, highly recommended.
To celebrate gva its 60 years of existence, 29 of them flying internationally, and publicize the brand LAN Chile globally, reaching airports that had never been, in 1985, then a 'national airline' launched an ambitious project called 'Air Cruise'. This project consisted of 13 flights around the world made in Boeing B707 between 1985 and 1989.
The first two of these flights were made in 1985, specifically on April 26 and September 27, and his itinerary, we'll see below, are called 'Project Three Oceans', a brand that was actually legally registered. gva
The first of these flights took off from Santiago on April 26, 1985. This was a B707-conditioned especially for making this trip with 80 chairs first class, leading for 31 days at 80 Latin Americans tourists, each of whom had paid USD 10,000. This first edition has stops in Buenos Aires, Cape Town, Johannesburg, Nairobi, Mahe Island in the Seychelles, Chennai, Singapore, gva Denpasar, Sydney, Melbourne, Christchurch, Auckland, Papeete and Easter Island, flying this way the Atlantic , Indian and Pacific. Hence the initial name of the project. The source and outlined realizes the crew of this 31-day journey: Commanders Francisco Naves, Renato and William Holzer Rioseco; technical supervisor Ricardo gva Parga; flight engineer Angel Campos; shower heads and Rubén Guillermo Figueroa Cornejo; cabin crew Karen Niedman, Moira Sthepens Mary Aninat, Magaly Aranda, Patricia Lazo, Maria Dolores gva and Soledad Buzeta Beperet.
The second flight of the 'Project three oceans' took off from Santiago on September 27, returning on October gva 28, carrying 80 passengers and being commanded by Captain Leonardo Siña. The itinerary was similar to the previous flight, but omit stops in Argentina and India.
Thanks to the success of LAN Chile flights in the first two events in 1985, the airline program for 1986 four new journeys. On May 10 begins the third fly to the world, commanded by Captain Sergio Camila another B707 with 77 passengers. The itinerary is similar to the first version, omitting the stop in Nairobi and Madras, replacing Colombo in Sri Lanka.
June 24 begins the fourth edition of the 'Air Cruise', this so-called 'Return to China', following, again in B707, the following itinerary: Santiago, Easter Island, Papeete, Sydney, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Beijing, Manila, Auckland and Punta Arenas. This run had 62 passengers, lasted 30 days and the crew was commanded by captains and Mario Naves Gajardo Francisco.
For 1987 are more 'Air gva Cruise'. The first is called "Project West - East ', made by the B707 CC-CEK Velasco led by Emilio Arredondo and Diogenes; Oyarzun first official Renan; July Casanueva flight engineer; maintenance inspector Luis Hermosilla; Guillermo Somervile surcharge; Vanina auxiliary Anabalón, Paulina Arias, Marisol Buzeta, Ascension Henriquez, Luis María Acuña, and Helena María Rodríguez gva Biseo.
The flight departed on 13 April Santiago to Easter Island, which is only an hour and a half, I guess to re-supply. From there head to Papeete where three days are, according gva to Sydney where they are for two days and a half. From there go to Hong Kong four days where they are, where Beijing is 3 days and Shanghai where three days are. In Manila are two days in Auckland four Easter Island two before returning to Santiago.
Some fun facts that our source-based includes a comprehensive report submitted by Captain Velasco is the total fuel consumption is estimated at 102,900 gallons, at a total price of USD 75,782. The commander wore USD 17,700 cash for this concept to the case that had to be diverted gva to any alternate airport. The total cost of aeronautical charges was USD 19,473, and ground services of USD 18,281. Likewise the commanding
