Inside everyone of us is a desire to do something significant. We want to challenge ourselves to see and know if we have what it takes to make it happen. For Shannon and myself, it was entering the Outback Air Race and going on the ultimate adventure across the country. It sounds easy to do, but if it was easy every one would be doing it.

 

We sent out more than 50 applications to various sponsors, aircraft manufacturers, distributors and aircraft owners. We ended up with 8 sponsors. I’d say that’s pretty good strike rate, but it didn’t feel like it at the time when we had more than 30 rejections straight up. I learnt that if you want to do something bad enough, you first commit without a Plan B and work your backside off to make it happen. That’s what we did. We paid the entry fees and the accomodation costs, without a single sponsor because we were determined to make it happen. We new that once we had the aircraft, everything else would fall into place.

 

At Outback Aviators, we believe in inspiring a new generation of people to take up aviation for fun and or as a career. If we have a vibrant aviation sector, then it in turn means we have more connected services in remote and regional Australia. Living away from large population centres, can make it more difficult to access services like health, transportation and basic everyday items others may take for granted.

 

That’s why when we heard about the race and its support for the Royal Flying Doctors we decided to bring forward our plans for next year and make it happen now. It meant scrambling, it meant hustling, living on a wing and a prayer, but we managed to get there in the end. In fact, while other teams have been preparing for two and a half years, we’ve had two and a half months. Those who have been walking this journey with us know that amount of effort that has gone into just being able to turn up to the starting line on August 19.

 

So why are we doing it? For us it’s simple. It raises money for the Royal Flying Doctors, it profiles aviation and hopefully inspires people to take up flying, and it’s a great opportunity to see Australia and find out if we have what it takes to make it happen. If two average guys can pull it together in a couple of months, what can you do?