Jon Johanson

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Jon Johanson's RV-4 on display at the Port Adelaide aviation museum in 2009

Jon Johanson (born 1956 in Warburton, Victoria) is a world-record setting Australian aviator. He is well known for his pioneering flights in a home-built Van's Aircraft RV-4. Johanson is a qualified nurse, midwife, carpenter and air-transport pilot.[1]

Flights

In 2003 he made the first solo flight in a single-engine home-built aircraft over the South Pole. After landing at the McMurdo-Scott base he became stranded when the base, not wishing to encourage future private flights, refused to sell him fuel.[2] After a fuel donation by fellow adventurer Polly Vacher, he was able to fly on to Australia, via New Zealand.[3]

Awards and Records

In 2004 Johanson was awarded the FAI Gold Air Medal by the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI); it is one of the organisations highest awards. At the time he held 47 FAI world records.[4]

In 2004, Johanson was also named the Adventurer of the Year by the Australian Geographic Society.

References

  1. ^ "World of RVs - Jon Johanson: The Person". Van's Aircraft. Retrieved 2 January 2010.
  2. ^ "Stranded adventurer offered three flights home". The Sydney Morning Herald. 11 December 2003. Retrieved 2 January 2010.
  3. ^ Caldwell, Alison (13 December 2003). "Fellow aviator rescues Johanson's adventure". AM (Radio). Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 2 January 2010.
  4. ^ "FAI Awards received by Jon JOHANSON (Australia)". Fédération Aéronautique Internationale. Retrieved 2 March 2010.