5-20-97
REPUBLIC FIELD, LONG ISLAND, NEW YORK - Departure day for Friendship Flight '97 dawned with foggy skies and low visibility. Pilot Bill Signs was up at 4:30am and at Republic Field by 5:30am. Even before Signs arrived, the news media satellite trucks were all ready in position.
The first item on the agenda was to fuel N90MB with 350 gallons of aviation fuel. Crawling all over the inside of the Friendship Flight Cessna 210, Signs individually filled each of the four internal fuel tanks before filling the two wing tanks and two wing tip tanks.
By this time reporters and photographers encircled Signs and he talked with each of them about Charles Lindbergh's flight 70 years ago as well as his commemorative flight. He talked with them about Floyd, Bennett, and Bobo bears, his traveling companions, and the five ham sandwiches he stowed on board, just like Lindbergh.
As departure time approached, Signs began his preparations for the 21 hour non-stop flight to Paris. He first pulled on a survival suit over his blue Friendship Flight flight suit and then added an inflatable life vest. Signs then took one last check of his aircraft and climbed aboard for the final leg of Friendship Flight '97.
All visitors and media were cleared from the area before Signs turned the key to bring to life his Continental engine. He then taxied to the end of Runway 14 and at precisely 7:52am Signs lifted off from Republic Airport. Climbing slowly, due to the weight of the fuel aboard N90MB, Signs headed East before turning North. He will follow the East coast of the US North until he reached St. Johns, Nova Scotia, where he will make his turn to head across the Atlantic Ocean.
Forcasted weather along his route called for clear conditions with a mild tailwind. Signs expects to reach Nova Scotia around 3pm (local), after about seven hours of flight. As the sun sets he will fly on in total darkness for about four and one-half hours before enjoying the sun rise in front of him. Signs should reach Le Borget Airport, just North of Paris, France, at approximately 10:30am - 11:00am (local).
