INDIANAPOLIS ( October 1, 2015 )—DJ Doran, publisher and seasoned aviator, announced today the launch of PrideFlight2018 ( prideflight2018.com ). In the spring of 2018, Doran will attempt to become the first openly gay pilot to circumnavigate the globe on a goodwill mission supporting LGBTQ communities, groups and organizations worldwide.
Doran and his crew will be flying a WWII-era DC-3, fully restored to modern standards.
"I chose the DC-3 for its superior airframe and reliability," says Doran. "The DC-3 revolutionized air transport in the 1930s and 1940s with its range of 1,500 miles. The airplane has long had a reputation of being rugged and reliable, which makes it the perfect plane for such a mission."
The plane will be transported from Mexico to California, where it will undergo the first phase of restoration and remain for the winter before making its way to Indianapolis in the spring of 2016.
The mission will depart Indianapolis in the spring of 2018 with the first legs stopping in New Orleans, Key West, New York and Goose Bay Newfoundland before braving the dangerous flight across the North Atlantic to Glasgow via Greenland and Iceland. The total journey will be more than 15,000 miles.
PrideFlight2018 will require two years of planning to arrange financing, coordinate international aviation requirements, secure landing rights and specialized flight training and ensure other mission needs are met.
"This is a goodwill flight supporting LGBTQ communities, organizations and groups worldwide and not a race," says Doran. "We want to have the flexibility to be able to help where and when we can during this journey, especially since we have such a great resource to use in the DC-3, and that is what will make this circumnavigation so different."
The DC-3 has a top speed of 200 knots ( 230 mph ) and a comfortable cruising speed of 100 knots ( 207 mph ) with a service ceiling of 23,000 feet. In addition to the crew, the plane can be configured to carry up to 12 passengers and 6,000 pounds of cargo if needed.
In addition to modern avionics, the crew will transmit live images from five cameras on board, located on the wings, fuselage and in the cockpit, and will post updates on the PrideFlight2018 blog, prideflight2018.com .
About PrideFlight2018
PrideFlight2018 is a goodwill mission supporting LGBTQ communities, organizations and groups worldwide. The flight is scheduled to depart Indy in the spring of 2018 and make stops in over 30 countries. PrideFlight will also be an attempt by pilot DJ Doran to set a record by becoming the first openly gay pilot to circumnavigate the globe. Doran and his crew will fly a restored WWII-era DC3 known for its ruggedness and reliability and painted with rainbow stripes on the wings to clearly identify it as the PrideFlight plane wherever we land.
The project will be driven entirely through volunteer enthusiasm with the critical assistance of a Fundable campaign ( www.fundable.com/prideflight2018 ), media partners, individual supporters and an online store selling logo items.
About DJ Doran:
DJ Doran is the publisher of The Word ( thegayword.com ) based in Indianapolis, Gaycation Magazine ( gaycationmagazine.com ) and Rainbow Tourism ( rainbowtourism.com ). DJ is an experienced aviator, which includes a tour in the USAF. In addition to being a pilot, he has lived and sailed aboard a 61-foot ketch rigged sailboat and has explored the U.S. via a vintage motor home.
About The Word:
The Word is the largest LGBTQ monthly newspaper in the Midwest. Published for the first time in 1991, The Word has been in continuous print for almost 25 years. The newspaper enjoys a circulation of over 30,000 copies and covers multiple Midwest states. The newspaper is available on newsstands on the first of every month or can be read via the website by registering for free at thegayword.com .
About Gaycation Magazine:
Gaycation Magazine is the premier LGBTQ travel magazine for the sophisticated traveler. The magazine was launched in 2014 to appeal directly to the older, more affluent LGBTQ traveler. The magazine prints 10 times per year with the June/July ( Pride ) and November/December ( Holiday ) issues being slightly larger. The magazine has a circulation of around 25,000 copies that span the U.S., Canada and Mexico with a growing presence in Europe. It is sent directly to subscribers and is also available on newsstands for $5.99 a copy. Annual subscriptions for all 10 issues sell for $9.99 and can be purchased on the magazine's website, gaycationmagazine.com .
