The Southern Cross Odyssey
This world tour pays tribute to Charles Kingsford Smith and his Fokker F.VIIb/3m Southern Cross. Where the Learjet makes the planet smaller, the old trimotor makes it huge, slow and almost literary.
The route reuses the YQUET-Aviation circumnavigation idea, but in a 1920s spirit: low speed, sensitive fuel load, more threatening weather and long legs requiring real patience.
An around-the-world odyssey inspired by the Southern Cross.
Cross the world at 80 knots, with method and endurance.
Kingsford Smith's trimotor, heavy when loaded.
Oceans, continents, weather and old stops.
Understanding the flight
This page is not a race. It shows what a world tour becomes when speed disappears: every sea, mountain range and country gains weight again.
The Southern Cross requires a different discipline from the jet: heavy takeoffs, fuel management, weather anticipation and acceptance of long flights without modern comfort.
Before departure
- Do not always depart with full tanks: weight strongly changes the Fokker's behavior.
- Prepare long crossings with clear weather, reserves and realistic diversions.
- Split the journey into short chapters, otherwise the scale of the tour overwhelms the pleasure.
- Keep a cruise speed consistent with the aircraft to preserve the odyssey spirit.
Suggested route
Europe and North Atlantic
Muret, Ireland, England, Iceland, Greenland and Canada open the campaign with cold weather and long branches.
LFBR → EIDW → EGTE → BIKF → BGSF → CYYR → KBOS
North America and Caribbean
The United States, Florida, Bahamas, Antilles and Guyana set up the passage toward South America.
KBOS → KORD → KBUF → KLAN → KCVG → KCAE → KMIA → MYNN → TFFR → MDPC → SOCA
South America and cordillera
Brazil, Rio, Buenos Aires, Montevideo, Patagonia, Chile, Ecuador and Guatemala form a long climb through terrain and climates.
SOCA → TBPB → SBEG → SBBR → SBRJ → SAEZ → SUMU → SAWH → SCTE → SCCC → SCFA → SEGU → MGGT
American West, Alaska and North Pacific
Mexico, California, Arizona, Nevada, Seattle, British Columbia, Alaska, Russia and Japan completely change the light of the journey.
MGGT → MMTP → MMAA → MMHO → KLAX → KPHX → KLAS → KGCN → KBFI → PAJN → CYVR → PAFA → PANC → UHPP → UHSS → RJBB
Asia and Oceania
Japan, China, Hong Kong, Philippines, Pacific islands, New Zealand, Sydney and Darwin provide the great Southern Cross color.
RJBB → RKSK → RJNO → ZSSS → VHHH → RPLL → PTKK → ANAU → AGGH → NWWM → YSNF → NZWN → YMHB → YSSY → YPDN
Return through Asia, Africa and Europe
Indonesia, Singapore, India, Middle East, Egypt, East Africa, southern Africa, West Africa and the Mediterranean close the odyssey.
YPDN → WADD → WATT → WSSS → VTBD → VNKT → VEAT → OPKC → OMDB → OIZJ → OIBB → ORMM → HESH → HEGN → HESN → HDAM → HKKI → HTDA → FVHA → FACT → FZAA → DGAA → GOOY → GMAD → GMMC → GMTT → LECO → LPFR → LFBR
Experience tips
With the Southern Cross, fatigue is part of the story. Plan fewer legs per session and let long flights breathe.
The charm comes from constraint: weight, slowness, weather and simple navigation make the world feel much larger.
Copyright Michel Lagneau 2012