Imagine
coming in for landing at the end of a breathtakingly exciting, all-day flight;
hovering just a hundred feet above a tropical beach at dusk. The runway is
the vast front lawn of
a Maharaja's
Palace on the shoreline, enshrined by tropical palms and pure
white sand, and a sumptuous buffet is waiting for you to enjoy. You smoothly
touch down, taxi your craft next to the very few already lined up by the
forest's
edge. Your are among the winners, so far ...
Your team greets
you with beaming smiles and a glass of chilled champagne, while the locals
look on in amazement. As you work your way to the majestic porch, the media
greets you.
Enveloped by Oriental fragrances,
the star riddled sky above, you share the day's adventures with other pilots.
The perfect conclusion of a dream
and airborne day!
A very possible scenario, and
one of the many adventures on the way to Beijing.
Dave Budde aptly described the Rally as
"an aviation event unrivaled in adventure and excitement. One
would have to go back to the 1930's and the golden age of aviation to
find a parallel to the historical rally that is being planned. I can not
imagine a pilot with a sense of adventure and history that would not wish to be part of the Rally."
Proposed Route as suggested by Brian
MILTON (Brian has flown to Australia
and once around the world)
Competitors
160 pilots from 29 countries have signed up
as per April 2008: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Czech
Republic, Ecuador, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, India, Korea, Luxembourg,
Malaysia, Mexico,
Netherlands, People's Republic of China, Poland, Portugal,
Singapore, South Africa, Sweden, Swaziland, Switzerland, United Kingdom,
United States, and Venezuela. Our Goal: 150 committed aircraft (without their crews).
Event Timing The event is expected to take place
over a six week period during Spring after a min. of 150 flyers have signed
up and sponsors have committed. Pending further confirmation from weather
conditions research, the event will most likely start the first week of
March. Final Commencement: TBD
!
>>>
Sponsorship Program We are seeking
8-12 sponsors with sophisticated global appeal that embody the vitality
and avant-garde spirit of the Marco Polo Rally. As such, we desire to partner
with innovative market leaders who endeavor to set themselves apart from
the competition. In particular, companies whose high quality products and
services can be deployed and showcased during the Marco Polo Rally.
Opportunities
There are still opportunities to actively participate in the organization
of the Marco Polo Rally. The functions are scalable. The rewards are enormous.
Internet, ACARS, HF and VHF Flight
Tracking and Monitoring. Feel as if you were in an Air Traffic Control Center
managing the aircrafts that daily cruise the skies of the globe. AirNav is
not simulation. It is Real World Navigation for the aviation enthusiast.
"I think the Marco Polo Rally will
really stand out as a celebration of what ordinary people can achieve today
thanks to the trials & tribulations that tested greater men & woman in our
recent history for daring to pursue their dreams and sense of adventure."
Ian Williams, South Africa