Day: March 4, 2025

I gave 24ZN, my X-Air, a final check-over yesterday and topped up its tanks ready for the flight north tomorrow. I also filled a 10 litre jerrican to the brim with additional fuel ready to be transferred to the tanks when I land en-route at Gajoubert. So today was all about just getting everything packed away and stowed ready for the flight.

The first job was to neatly fold all of its covers and stow them in the space between the wings held in place by bungee cords. I did the same when I flew 24ZN over to France from Kent and also in my old French X-Air when my pal Wim and I did our flight up the west coast of France in 2015, so I know it works and is safe. Then it was just about getting stuff packed securely on the passenger seat and installing the mounts for the two GoPros that I want to record the flight with.

Here’s a shot of the passenger seat from outside when I’d finished.

And here’s an interior shot.

I’m going to use my huge Chinese power bank to power the two GoPros and also my GPS tablet. The latter shouldn’t really need it as its battery should run for 6-8 hours anyway but the power bank has plenty of capacity to run all three units, hopefully without bursting into flames, so why not do it.

Here are the two GoPro mounts, first the interior one and then the one mounted under the left wing.

And here’s the cabin. Nothing can move and be a nuisance or interfere with the controls and my own space isn’t restricted at all, which I’m pleased about. The GPS will be mounted high up on the right and although it may get in the way of the interior GoPro a bit there’s not a lot I can do about it.

So that’s it. All I’ll have to do in the morning is finalise my flight planning with the latest weather for tomorrow, attach and plug in the GoPros and get airborne, which I want to do if I can by about 8.00 am.

I’ll miss the old girl. We’ve had a relationship going back to 2007/8 but the time has come for her to move on to a new and better life. She was made to fly and there’s no way that I have the time to put the amount of air under her wings that she needs. I think that her new owner will be able to do that and also show her the love that she deserves.