An Incredible Octogenarian Aviation Adventure

On September 28, 2024, Bob Bates and Barry “Baz” Payne landed their single-engine monoplane on a runway in Hagen, Papua New Guinea. They were welcomed by water cannons and a joyful crowd at the very same airport they departed from 100 days earlier to start their incredible round-the-world journey. Just as impressive, their landing was 100 years ago to the day that the world's first aerial circumnavigation of the world concluded.  

Bob and Baz are both over 80 years old, earning the duo a membership in the United Flying Octogenarians among nearly 2,000 other pilots. Although the original 100-day flight happened over a decade before they were born, it was always a dream of theirs to recreate the trailblazing journey. Years of planning culminated in a global trek of 22,350 nautical miles, 40 flights, 10 countries, and 153 total flying hours.  

Bob and Goway Founder and President Bruce Hodge are longtime friends, both hailing from Australia and forging paths as tourism pioneers since the 1970s. Bob has resided in Papua New Guinea for over 60 years, where he operates the country’s leading tour company and wilderness lodges, all of which are a key part of Goway’s tours of the region. The island nation has a special significance as the departure and arrival point for Bob and Baz’s journey: Amelia Earhart made her final, fateful takeoff there in 1937. 

The duo is grateful that modern technology ensured a safe journey, including a Garmin satellite tracker that allowed their friends and family to follow their journey. “Even though our aircraft was over 60 years old, the fact that it was all metal was a difference from 100 years ago,” says Bob. “We also didn’t have to do any wing or engine changes like they did.”  

This pair of pilots are incredibly seasoned from decades of flying, facing the challenges of their journey with calm confidence. One harrowing moment occurred during their crossing of the Greenland ice cap. Flying at 6,000 feet, they navigated through clouds and eventually climbed to 13,000 feet to clear massive glaciers and mountains. The sights were spectacular, but the descent into Narsarsuaq Airport was tense, with icebergs drifting dangerously close to the runway. 

Their experiences on the ground were also memorably uplifting, with stops in Guam, Japan, Russia, Sweden, the United Kingdom, the Faroe Islands, Iceland, Greenland, Canada, and the United States. Warm welcomes from locals were plentiful, especially for a last-minute change to their route near the East Coast of Canada.  

The Hodge family owns a summer cottage near Muskoka, Ontario, a small region north of Toronto. Bruce Hodge extended an invitation to land at the Muskoka airport, taking full advantage of the opportunity to welcome them with open arms and crews of television cameras waiting on the runway. 

The most rewarding part of the trip, both men agreed, was sharing the experience. "Traveling together has been the best part," says Bob. "It wasn’t just about the adventure. We could make decisions together, share new experiences, and create memories with new friends we met along the way." 

Now safely at home, Bob is looking forward to getting back to the excitement of operating his business, Trans Niugini Tours. More adventures await him in the wilds of Papua New Guinea, one of the most exciting frontiers in travel today. 

Discover Papua New Guinea with Goway today.