By Andrea Venturini
A nonstop Atlantic crossing, from Scotland to Canada, a trip that typically can only be done via airliner, was achieved on June 14, 2024, in a two-seat, Rotax-powered Risen SuperVeloce. It all started last December, with a phone call I received from Alberto Porto, designer of the Risen, who ultimately asked me to bring the airplane to Oshkosh for AirVenture.
Alberto had previously delivered another SuperVeloce to the United States via the classic North Atlantic route — Scotland, Iceland, Greenland, Canada. This time, however, the plans were way more ambitious: The idea was to fly nonstop, leaving from Stornoway, Scotland. Basically doing something that only the SuperVeloce can do — fly at a speed of more than 160 knots, with 20 knots of headwind consuming only 4.5 gph.
The first comment I heard was: “It is not possible.” Instead I thought, “Well … let’s see if it’s really impossible; the airplane is here, the two ‘crazy’ pilots are here. For me the mission is already done!”
We still have to analyze the flight data in detail, but the approximate summary is this: We left from Voghera, Italy, with only one straight route and landed at the Outer Hebridean islands, Scotland, the only fuel stop before the big leg.
The ocean route, directly from the Hebrides to Canada, was 1,850 nautical miles flown in 11.5 hours using only 43 gallons of fuel. The average speed was estimated to be between 165 and 200 knots, covering a total of 4,050 nautical miles using a little more than 100 gallons.
The ocean crossing, against the wind toward the west, in an aircraft with a gross weight of about 1,300 pounds, and without stops either in Greenland or Iceland for refueling, is now a reality. An incredible flight has just been completed with a recreational aircraft, all thanks to the extremely efficient design. The secret of the Risen relies precisely on this: efficient and clean aerodynamics that allow you to make the best use of the engine. All of this is available to pilots, whether you want to break a speed record or just cruise along at 2.1 gph.
When we arrived at Goose Bay, in spite of the strong headwind, we still had about three hours of fuel. The Risen is not only a clean and efficient aircraft, with its V-tail and load-bearing fuselage, but it’s also spacious and comfortable with the largest canopy surface in the category. After sitting for almost 12 hours straight, I can assure you there aren’t any other seats side by side with the same comforts.
The Risen rested at Oshkosh until it was put on display for EAA AirVenture Oshkosh. Alberto flew back to Milan the next day while I visited my daughter in Boston, where I delivered a speech about the epic flight at the club in Simsbury, Connecticut, where I first got my FAA private certificate. I also visited EAA Chapter 324, which gave me a warm welcome. Then, Alberto and I returned to Oshkosh and spent the week answering questions about our epic flight.