After Lt Col Donald P Taylor retired from the US Air Force in 1962, he began his
quest to fly round-the-world. With the help of John Thorp, Lycoming, Sensenich and
his wife, Lois, Don built his Thorp T-18 homebuilt aircraft. His first
round-the-world flight attempt ended in 1973 when bad weather between Japan and the
Aleutians helped him make the decision to abort his flight 4,000 miles short of his goal.
Don needed to raise money to finance a second RTW attempt and to retrofit his
aircraft with a new wet-wing in lieu of his existing baggage compartment fuel tank.
Amongst other aircraft improvements, he also had to up-grade his radio navigation
equipment, instrumentation and cowling air intake. Necessity forced Don's creativity.
He obtained the sponsorship of MK Products and its founder, Mike Kensrue who supplied
him with the necessary financing and a worldwide link of MK dealers who whould support
his round-the-world flight.
MK Products (Irvine CA) manufactures an advanced line of computerized welding
machines which automated the settings for orbital tube welding. Their line of Cobramatic
wire feeders have world-wide recognition. For their sponsorship of Don's RTW flight, MK
Products got world-wide notoriety.
Don's second RTW flight began on August 1, 1976 from Wittman Field in Oshkosh WI.
He flew his homebuilt round-the-world returning to Oshkosh on October 1, 1976 setting
a new aviation milestone for a light-class homebuilt aircraft. Don Taylor's tenacity and
courage carried him through his flight. His dream, "I will build an airplane, and I
will fly it round-the-world," had come true.
Itinerary:
Departed Oshkosh, WI 08/01/76
Burlington VT
Moncton, Canada
Goose Bay, Labrador
Narssarssuaq, Greenland
Keflavik, Iceland
Leeds-Bradford, England
Venice, Italy
Athens, Greece
Elazig, Turkey
Tehran, Iran
Zahedan, Iran
Karachi, Palistan
Ahmadabad, India
Nugpur, India
Calcutta, India
Bangkok, Thailand
Kula Lumpur, Malaysia
Kuching, Malaysia
Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia
Zamboanga, Philippines
Davaq, Philippines
Yap Island
Guam
Truk Island
Ponape Island
Wake Island
Midway Island
Adak, AK
Cold Bay, AK
Anchorage, AK
Fairbanks, AK
White Horse, Canada
Fort Saint John, Canada
Edmonton, Canada
Minot, ND
Arrived Oshkosh, WI 10/01/76