Plane fittings

Even if the Cessna looks relatively down to earth and nostalgic on the outside, its nautical and electronic equipment can compete with modern business jets.

The electronic Garmin 1000 glass cockpit: this system monitors all the navigation and monitoring functions and provides all information on two large screens.

Garmin 1000 makes instrument flights possible so that the crew can fly with it at night and in clouds when there is no visibility. The autopilot controls the plane on all three axes: altitude, direction and attitude. Target altitudes can be programmed for the ascent and descent. The autopilot can also be used to fly approaches up to an altitude of 30 metres. That’s when the pilot takes over full control of the plane when touching down. The cockpit system’s air data computer has the data on all airways and the approach charts of all the airfields the world over. Any obstacles that could be dangerous to a plane are also stored and include mountains, high rises, factory chimneys or masts. Similarly to a sat nav in a car, a woman’s voice warns the pilots about the obstacle as soon as the plane approaches it at more than 500 feet.

Of course the crew can also read all the engine’s operating data such as the temperature and speed, but also the ground speed, wind and drift on the monitors.

Stormscope: this device warns the pilots about thunderstorms; it shows flashes of lightning at up to a distance of 250 km on the screen.

Range rings: to give the crew a clear impression of the remaining range, the cockpit system places rings over the navigation map on the monitor. All airfields located within the ring can be reached safely with the fuel left. The lower the fuel reserve the smaller the diameter of the ring.

De-icing system: ice forms on the wings at high altitudes and in cloud and it can have such a negative impact on the aerodynamics that the Cessna starts a descent. The propeller can also freeze over, which leads to a loss of power. The pilots then press a button and tiny jets on the aluminium skin create a film of de-icing fluid. Jets also spray the propeller blades and the cockpit windshield with de-icing fluid.

Supply of oxygen: as a standard, the Cessna also comes with a supply of oxygen. Because for healthy pilots at altitudes above 3,000 m and for smokers from 2,500 m the air doesn’t contain enough oxygen to breathe from. A dispensing computer was also placed in the lead to the oxygen masks for the round-the-world flight. As a result, oxygen consumption can be cut drastically and the duration of the flight can be extended to over 10 hours with oxygen. This means that the crew can be secure in the knowledge that they can fly for long periods of time at high altitude in exceptional situations. At altitudes of up to 18,000 feet the pilots use nose breathing tubes and breathing masks with integrated microphones on top so that the pilots can communicate with ground control at all times.

The oxymeter: pilots use an oxymeter to ensure that they are still feeling alright at high altitudes. A thimble-like sensor measures the oxygen levels in the blood and the heart rate.

Portable satellite phone: the plane’s avionics provide the aeronautical radio communications with the towers and control stations. Quite apart from that there’s also a direct line, above all to aviation ground stations, but also to family and friends. Uwe Thomas and his co-pilot use a portable satellite phone for this purpose.

In contrast to a mobile phone, an iridium satellite phone doesn’t depend on radio masts on the ground. Independently of any network it sends and receives signals directly via satellite from anywhere on earth. The pilots can dial any number in the world regardless of where they are.