Jon Johanson

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. Due to a lack of fuel he became stranded temporarily at the McMurdo-Scott base. [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. http://www.vansaircraft.com/public/jj-persn.htm. Retrieved 2 January 2010. 
  2. ^ "Stranded adventurer offered three flights home". The Sydney Morning Herald. 11 December 2003. http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/12/11/1071086202326.html?from=storyrhs. Retrieved 2 January 2010. 
  3. ^ Caldwell, Alison (13 December 2003). "Fellow aviator rescues Johanson's adventure". AM (Radio) (Australian Broadcasting Corporation). http://www.abc.net.au/am/content/2003/s1009424.htm. Retrieved 2 January 2010. 
  4. ^ "FAI Awards received by Jon JOHANSON (Australia)". Fédération Aéronautique Internationale. http://www.fai.org/awards/recipient.asp?id=29891. Retrieved 2 March 2010.