Flight to End Polio encounters mechanical issues

If you’ve been following the flight pattern for the around-the-world Flight to End Polio, you saw that Peter Teahen of Robins and John Ockenfels of Shueyville landed safely in Portsmouth, N.H., on May 5, after a 6 1/2-hour flight from Cedar Rapids.

And there the plane stayed, until flying to Brookhaven, N.Y., on Thursday, then making a crazy quilt pattern flying around Brookhaven on Friday. By Friday night, the plane landed safely in Bangor, Maine.

On Saturday, the pilots will fly to Happy Valley-Goose Bay, Newfoundland, skip Greenland, and continue on to Iceland, then on Sunday, fly to Scotland.

After that, they will spend the next two weeks making various stops in Europe for fundraising events, hosted meals and a bit of sightseeing.

According to Facebook posts, the pilots and their aircraft were grounded in New Hampshire by mechanical issues.

Tuesday’s post said: “Over the last few days, we have been working hard to get back in the air. Early Monday, we started working with a mechanic here in New Hampshire who is sympathetic to our mission and can help us quickly! The main issue is the airplane's alternator, causing issues with the electrical systems. A new alternator and backup alternator will be delivered and installed Wednesday.

“We are still planning to stick with the same flight schedule and dates for landings as we had originally planned. We will make up the time by doing a little less of the sightseeing as we had originally planned at the first few stops. ...

"We are in good spirits and ready to get back in the plane ASAP!“

In a phone call with The Gazette on Friday evening, Teahen said a new alternator and backup alternator were installed in New Hampshire, but a couple of other issues came up that because of a lack of mechanics and supply ordering, would have delayed the flight even longer.

Given a list of other mechanics to contact, the pilots found a one on Long Island who specialized in their type of aircraft. After they flew there Thursday, the mechanic immediately realized a loose fuel hose was hindering the plane’s ability to climb to higher altitudes, so he tightened that and checked the landing gear lights, which were fine. After some test flights Friday, Teahen and Ockenfels were able to head north and continue their journey.

As reported earlier in The Gazette, the two experienced pilots, relatives by marriage, are making a 90-day global flight to raise money and awareness to end polio in the remaining hot spots of Pakistan and Afghanistan, and keep it at bay elsewhere.

Initially hoping to raise $1 million through donations and a 2:1 match from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, they surpassed that mark during a bon voyage party May 3 at the Iowa City Municipal Airport.

The pilots, members of the Fellowship of Flying Rotarians, are footing the bill for the trip, supplemented with grants, so 100 percent of the money raised will go to the Rotary Foundation’s Polio Plus Program.

They also are aiming to join the ranks of pilots who have circled the globe in a single-engine airplane, and are planning to make 39 landings in 21 countries.

Originally slated for 2020, the flight was delayed three times by the COVID-19 pandemic. All along, Teahen said their ultimate goal is “to come back alive.”

Follow along on the flight via FlightAware, by entering the plane’s ID number, N732WP, on the link at flighttoendpolio.com/

Comments: (319) 368-8508; diana.nollen@thegazette.com