Ed's Daily Blog - Days One through Six

Day One Departure: August 30, 2025

We had a marvelous send off and was joined by around 60 to 80 people at Central Jersey regional Airport. The weather was beautiful and after lots of photos, interviews, and goodbyes we departed at 9:50 am, on our flight to Happy Valley Goose Bay Labrador. Prior to leaving the country we received notice that there was severe weather between us and Goose Bay so we decided to land in Bangor, Maine and let the weather pass.

-- Colonel Ed Galkin, Pilot

Day Two: August 31, 2025. Bangor, Maine to Happy Valley Goose Bay.

After a great night rest in Bangor we took off for a four hour flight to Happy Valley, airport identifier CYYR. The weather was perfect the wind cooperated and we arrived in CYYR and was assisted by the great ground support team at Woodward Flight Support. We spent time today getting the plane readied for our next flight. We had originally scheduled to land in Nuuk, Greenland but after consulting with our meteorologist Steve Pellettirre we made the decision to bypass Greenland and fly directly to Reykjavik, Iceland, a flight that would take us over nine hours to fly across the frigid and dangerous Atlantic ocean.

-- Colonel Ed Galkin, Pilot

Day Three: September 1, 2025. Happy Valley to Reykjavik, Iceland (BIRK)

So far all is going very well. The day was going to be the first leg for me to get into the aviation history journals as being the oldest pilot to ever fly a plane across the Atlantic. The flight, registered as a Guinness World Record attempt, requires good documentation of the flight. We were up extra early today to get into the air around 7 a.m. We didn’t quite make it but 7:20 a.m., was the time we lifted off.

Weather looked great for the flight. We were well prepared mentally, completed a thorough check of the plane, and added 60 gallons of fuel in the fuel bladder located immediately behind our pilot seats. A total of 180 gallons of fuel. The ground crew chuckled when we said it was a non-smoking flight. After more than three hours in the air and almost to Greenland we decided that we had a faulty indicator and

made the difficult decision to turn back Happy Valley, fix the problem, and try again tomorrow.

-- Colonel Ed Galkin, Pilot

Day Four: September 2, 2025 Happy Valley to Reykjavik, Iceland (BIRK).

Take Two

Our concern yesterday was addressed in a matter of minutes on the ground and we were confident that today was the day we were going to make it to Iceland. The weather cooperated, the plane worked great and we made great time. We did get a glimpse of several icebergs in the crossing but for the most part we flew in clear blue skies, though for the majority of the way our view below of the ocean was blocked by a solid blanket of clouds. Peter and I laughed that it helped not seeing the ocean and icebergs and to imagine we were flying across solid land. We arrived in Reykjavik just as a beautiful sunset was happening. After going through customs we discovered that the rental car office was already

closed and the hotel we understood to be across from the airport, was actually 45 minutes away. We were thrilled to be able to find one room left in Reykjavik and decided we would eat, hit the sack and deal with the car and hotel tomorrow. We did take time to celebrate the fact that at 89.5 years old I flew the plane the entire way across the Atlantic which, once we reach Denmark, will officially allow me to reach a goal of becoming the oldest pilot in history to pilot a plane east across the Atlantic.

-- Colonel Ed Galkin, Pilot

Day Five: September 3, 2025. Reykjavik and Keflavik.

After eating breakfast at the hotel Peter picked up the rental car and we unloaded everything out of the plane, and headed off to Keflavik. We drove out to see the lava flow impacted area that we heard so much about on the news a few months ago. We hiked up a hill and saw a giant lava flow that has frozen in time, for now. The power, destruction, and beauty of Mother Nature is simply amazing. The rest of the day we spent organizing for the next few stops and taking a break from being on the run. Tomorrow we are off again, with a BIG priority of going shopping. Not that Peter and I like to shop but it has gotten

on the verge of being an “emergency of sorts”. If you have not heard the news, Peters suitcase was never placed on board of the plane, which means other than the clothes he is wearing he has no other clothes. We tried to his suit case shipped to one of our stops but unfortunately he has no assurance that it can arrive and go through customs and get to where he is before he is off to the next stop. Soooo this is day 5 and he is still wearing the same clothes. Tomorrow will be the first day we have had an opportunity for him to buy some clothes. I think tomorrow night we will have a bonfire and burn what he has been wearing, and fumigate the car and the plane.

-- Colonel Ed Galkin, Pilot

Day Six:  September 4, 2025:  Iceland

Today it has been overcast with rain, heavy rain, at times.  Peter and I drove to Reykjavik early today to find him some clothes and other things we needed from the largest shopping mall in the area.  The only thing he could find that he needed was a speedo swim suit, fortunately for everyone it was boxer style suit.  We then drove the very popular Golden Circle Drive that takes about four hours and winds you through a couple of national parks, where we were able to experience the stunning natural beauty of Iceland and enjoyed a couple of magnificent waterfalls.  Along the way we stopped for a rest break and ate the largest piece of homemade apple pie I have ever seen.  After the drive we discovered a brand new Costco where Peter was finally able to buy a couple pair of pants, underwear, and socks.  You can only imagine my relief after a week of him wearing the same clothes.  Are you wondering why we are hanging out in Iceland and not spreading the message that we need to End Polio Now.  Be assured that almost every one we have met has heard about Rotary’s efforts to end polio and our Circle the Atlantic flight.  The reason we are here is that we had to plan for multiple days to cross the Atlantic in case of foul weather or other issues, (one that I mentioned on Day 3).  Now that we have made our crossing ahead of schedule we are on pause until we arrive in Denmark on Sunday.

-- Colonel Ed Galkin, Pilot