The Porter family spent $500,000 on a small plane, which they named Moose. They then used the Moose to travel around the world. The trip lasted 14 months. They visited 12 countries and are currently exploring Argentina.
Next, the Porters will fly to Chile, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, and Central American countries. Leaving Central America, they will continue east, visiting Europe, North Africa, the Middle East, Pakistan, India, East Asia, and then return to Canada.
The “5 in the Sky” crew plans to fly around the world in a fully equipped 2013 GippsAero GA8 Airvan (C-GIPU)
Like everyone else, the Porters have endured two years of travel restrictions. They are eager to spend another 14 months together on the family plane.
The “5 in the Sky” crew plan to fly around the world in a fully equipped 2013 GippsAero GA8 Airvan (C-GIPU). The single-engine GA8 Airvan is specifically designed for use in “remote areas and from austere runways,” and was chosen for its “ruggedness and ease of use.”
The aircraft boasts a turbocharged Lycoming IO 540 engine, can carry a pilot and up to 7 passengers and fly at 220 km/h (120 knots) for 5 hours, reaching altitudes of up to 20,000 feet.
The Porter family's private plane.
Each member of the family has a specific role for the trip. The main pilot is the father, Ian Porter, also a pilot with 40 years of experience. The two children Samantha (21) and Sydney (18) play the role of supporting their father when flying. Mother Michelle plans the flight and navigates. The youngest son Christopher, only 15 and not yet able to fly the plane himself, is assigned to control the drone to record memorable moments of the whole family and post them on Instagram, where he has more than 17,000 followers. Their trip is also posted on TikTok, with more than 50,000 followers.
Samantha and Sydney started flying training on the same day in 2020, they also flew solo and got their pilot's licenses on the same day. Both girls hope to inspire other young women to become pilots.
Samantha (pictured right) and Sydney (left) started flying training on the same day in 2020; they also flew solo and earned their pilot's licenses on the same day
“In August and September, we will fly across Brazil and northern Argentina before heading south to Patagonia in November. Then, in late December 2022, we will leave Chile and head north through Peru and Ecuador to Colombia. Finally, in January and February 2023, we will travel to Central America and Mexico, and then return to the United States to fly to eastern Canada in early April,” Porter said.
Ian Porter said that the important thing for him was not where to go, but who to share this exciting experience with. "It was a really amazing experience. Not only did I fly around the world, but I also met this person and that person and saw many new things with my family. Our dream came true. I couldn't have asked for anything more," he said.
The Porters had always intended to go on a long trip together. And when they found out they had enough time to do it, they were on their way. “My oldest daughter could take a gap year from college, my second daughter had just finished high school, and my youngest son could do online school. We had 14 months to go everywhere together,” Ian says.
The trip lasted 14 months
For the Porters, it was important that their “adventure” not only created a lasting family memory. Along with their world tour, the Porters also set up a charity to raise money for SOS Children’s Villages, with the goal of raising $1 million for the organization.
