On June 14, a Porto Aviation’s Risen completed the transatlantic leg of its journey from Milan, Italy, to Oshkosh, Wisconsin. The company posted on social media: “We made it!!! I have been reluctant to post anything here before accomplishing this epic flight , being Italian I guess makes me more superstitious.A page in aviation history has been written by Alberto Porto and Andrea Florence (Venturini). 1900 nautical miles, average speed [of] 165 kts, with just over 43 gallons of fuel!!! We left this morning early in rainy Scotland and landed in the afternoon at Goose Bay the same day without refueling.”
The company announced its cross-the-pond plans this May to bring the newly re-engined Risen to the U.S. While many versions of the retractable-gear Risen use the Rotax 912, the company had been fitting the turbocharged 915 iS. But this example has the newer, more powerful Rotax 916 iS. The turbo Risen normally carries around 32 gallons of gas (120 liters) but this example has longer-range integrated tanks with 50 gallons’ capacity; Porto and Florence did not carry special auxiliary fuel tanks.
The total distance is more than 5100 nm from Milan to AirVenture, but the Risen seen here has only 1200 nm to go, all of it with land beneath the slender, efficient wings.
