On 18 August, Magnus Aircraft embarked on one of the greatest adventures in Hungarian aviation history. The Magnus Fusion aircraft will perform a cross-continental ferry flight. Departing from the company's factory in Pécs-Pogány, Hungary, it will fly across Europe and the Atlantic Ocean to arrive in the Americas.
With a maximum take-off weight of 600 kg, the ultra-light, single-engine aircraft has never before flown such a long distance in its category. The transatlantic flight, which spans 2 continents, 9 countries and around 9,000 kilometres, will frequently be updated with news, exciting facts and behind-the-scenes secrets.
1st leg – August 18, 2022
LHPP: Pécs-Pogány Airport (Magnus Aircraft HQ, Hungary)
EDTY: Adolf Würth Airport Schwäbisch Hall (Germany)
Flight time: 6 h 02 min
Distance: 770 km
The historic mission is underway - the first Hungarian-made aircraft to cross the Atlantic! The first stop of the Magnus Fusion's nearly 9,000-kilometre transatlantic ferry flight was the asphalt strip of Adolf Würth Airport Schwäbisch Hall in Germany, after take-off in Pécs-Pogány and a crossing of Austria. The Magnus Fusion and its pilot Roy Ritter landed and rested here for the rest of the day.
2nd leg – August 19, 2022
EDTY: Adolf Würth Airport Schwäbisch Hall (Germany)
EBKT: Flanders International Airport Kortrijk-Courtrai (Belgium)
EGPC: Wick John O'Groats Airport (Scotland, United Kingdom)
Flight time: 2 h 36 min / 5 h 14 min
Distance: 1464 km
The second leg required an early departure from Germany, as the aircraft and its pilot were scheduled to leave the European Union on that day. After clearing administration and customs, it continued its journey from Flanders Airport along the English coast and successfully arrived at Wick John O'Groats Airport in Scotland. The view from above was once again spectacular, with the pilot of the Magnus Fusion's first transatlantic ferry flight enjoying the green landscapes of the British Isles.
3rd leg – August 22, 2022
EGPC: Wick John O'Groats Airport (Scotland, United Kingdom)
BIRK: Reykjavík Airport (Iceland)
Flight time: 7 h 01 min
Distance: 1251 km
On the third day, the next stop was Reykjavík, the northernmost capital of the world. The flight was smooth and calm to the island with 140 volcanoes over the Norwegian Sea. The view of the coastline was both stunning and calming for Roy after a long open water flight.
A ferry flight demands outstanding performance from both the aircraft and the pilot. The transatlantic flight requires special qualifications and licences, so Magnus Aircraft had launched an international tender. From the applications submitted, we have selected pilot Roy Ritter for the task.
4th leg – August 23, 2022
BIRK: Reykjavík Airport (Iceland)
BGKK: Kulusuk Airport (Greenland, Denmark)
Flight time: 4 h 11 min
Distance: 724 km
The Hungarian ultralight aircraft in Greenland!
Air travel is the dominant form of transport here for much of the year, so it was no surprise to see a small plane flying long distances at Kulusuk Airport. In the world's largest island, people travel by boat in the summer and by dog sled in the winter, due to the lack of roads between the settlements.
5th leg – August 24, 2022
BGKK: Kulusuk Airport (Greenland, Denmark)
BGBW: Narsarsuaq Airport (Greenland, Denmark)
Flight time: 6 h 10 min
Distance: 1029 km
On the fifth day of the mission, the Magnus Fusion flew along the coastline of Greenland, taking off from Kulusuk Airport on the east side of the island and flying along the coast and over the fjords to Narsarsuaq Airport, the only international airport in South Greenland.
Greenland is under the jurisdiction of Denmark and has been an autonomous province of the Kingdom of Denmark since 2008. The island's capital is Nuuk, founded in 1721, which is both the oldest and the largest town, with a population of around 20 000.
Following a successful arrival in the US, the Hungarian aircraft will make an appearance at several iconic sites. Finally, it will be featured at the DeLand AERO Showcase in Florida from 21-22 October 2022, one of the most prestigious aviation events in the United States.
6th leg – August 27, 2022
BGBW: Narsarsuaq Airport (Greenland, Denmark)
CYYR: Goose Bay Airport (Canada)
Flight time: 7 h 40 min
Distance: 1254 km
The Magnus Fusion 212 crossed the Atlantic to Canada today, perhaps the riskiest and most exciting part of a ferry flight. The destination was Happy Valley-Goose Bay, a town in the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. The scenery is truly picturesque as the town and its airport are located on the shores of Lake Melville and the Churchill River. Goose Bay is the largest municipality in the region, with a population of about 10,000.
7th leg – August 28, 2022
CYYR: Goose Bay Airport (Kanada)
KBGR: Bangor International Airport (USA)
Flight time: 7 h 02 min
Distance: 1128 km
The most challenging part of the journey is already behind the aircraft and its pilot, leaving Canada and entering the airspace of the United States. Just outside New York, the Magnus Fusion 212 landed and rested in Maine while its pilot, Roy, cleared customs. Bangor International Airport is a joint civil-military public airport on the west side of the city of Bangor, which is located on the banks of the Penobscot River and is the third largest municipality in the state of Maine.
8th leg - August 29, 2022
KBGR: Bangor International Airport (USA)
KHPN: Westchester County Airport (USA)
Flight time: 4 h 10 min
Distance: 584 km
New York, New York! The Magnus Fusion 212 has successfully crossed the Atlantic Ocean and arrived to New York.
The first and most challenging part of the Magnus Ferry Flight 2022 was completed at the Westchester County Airport on the 29th of August. Our transatlantic ferry flight pilot, Roy Ritter, handed over the keys of the aircraft to the pilot of Magnus Aircraft Inc. to continue the mission in the U.S.
The performance of the HA-XAE light sport plane is exemplary, as no other Hungarian-built small aircraft of this type has ever made such a long journey.
What is a ferry flight?
By definition, a flight to return an aircraft to base, deliver it to the customer, fly it from one base of operation to another, or fly it to or from a maintenance facility for maintenance, repair and operation.
Magnus Ferry Flight 2022 mission consists of two phases. The first, and most challenging part is the LHPP-KHPN (Hungary-USA) distance, which crosses the Atlantic Ocean via Greenland.
The second part begins when the ferry flight pilot hands over the aircraft to our colleagues in New York. The final destination of the Ferry Flight 2022 is the base of the American subsidiary of Magnus Aircraft in DeLand, Florida.
Magnus Fusion 212 | ||
License number: | HA-XAE | |
Year of manufacture: | 2018 | |
Hours flown: | 325 | |
Engine: | UL-POWER 260iSA | |
Propeller: | DUC SWIRL-2 | |
Power: | 107hp | |
Max take-off weight: | 600kg | |
Wingspan: | 8,33m | |
Length: | 6,62m | |
Height: | 2,44m | |
Cabin width: | 1,17m | |
Max operating height: | 4000m | |
Max. speed: | 151KIAS | |
Fuel capacity: | 183L | (90+93) |
Fuel consumption: | 18L/H |