| Previous Leg | Leg 6: Tahiti to Rarotonga | Next Leg |
| Date | From | To |
|---|---|---|
| Mon 07/12 | NTAA - Tahiti, French Polynesia / UTC -10:00 | NCRG - Rarotonga, Cook Islands / UTC -10:00 |
| Departure | Enroute | Arrival | Distance | Avg. Spd. | Max. Spd. | Max. Alt. | Fuel | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (NM) | (KT) | (KT) | (FT) | (USG) | ||||
| Estimated | 09:00 (19:00Z) | 04:07 | 13:07 (23:07Z) | 618 | 66 | |||
| Actual | 11:23 (21:23Z) | 04:57 | 16:20 (+1 02:20Z) | 653 | 132 | 171 | 8,502 |
The weather conditions on this leg are subject to conditions in the east central Pacific. Generally a dry area, this leg of the trip should have few weather related issues. Most rains are from afternoon thundershowers.
| Temperature in Rarotonga, Cook Islands | Low: 60°F, High: 82°F |
| July Precipitation | 4.1 Inches |
| Winds Aloft at 7,000 to 10,000 Feet | From the east at 10 MPH |
In the morning at the airport we had to taxi the airplane across the runway to the general aviation area for fuel but to locate the fueler took a while. UTA Aero Club was the provider at $5.10 per gallon. We were happy to be accommodated. Oh yes, we found out there was no Avgas in Rarotonga. Fortunately Samoa our next destination was close enough so that we could fuel through Raro to Samoa. No problem.
Took off midday landed at Raro five hours later in some pretty good rain showers requiring an instrument approach.
We were met by Agnes, handler from Air New Zealand, whisked through an empty terminal and off to the Edgewater Resort Hotel. Very nice accommodations, amenities and included a buffet breakfast. A double room for a hundred US cannot be beat. Tuesday morning a guided tour with Raro Tours was rewarding. Shopping, dinner nearby and off to bed.
Today, Wednesday we are checking the downtown area and making this report. Tomorrow Samoa, a day early.
Pix to follow.
 Photo Courtesy of Ed Galkin or Dick Sollner
Our fuel source
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 Photo Courtesy of Ed Galkin or Dick Sollner
Air Tahiti taking off, the island of Moorea in the background
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 Photo Courtesy of Ed Galkin or Dick Sollner
Ready to swim, just in case...
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 Photo Courtesy of Ed Galkin or Dick Sollner
Papeete's airport, Faa'a
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 Photo Courtesy of Ed Galkin or Dick Sollner
Facing Papeete, the island of Moorea
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 Photo Courtesy of Ed Galkin or Dick Sollner
On final at Rarotonga
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 Photo Courtesy of Ed Galkin or Dick Sollner
Instrument weather
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 Photo Courtesy of Ed Galkin or Dick Sollner
It all cleared up the next day
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 Photo Courtesy of Ed Galkin or Dick Sollner
You must try Noni Juice when in Rarotonga
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 Photo Courtesy of Ed Galkin or Dick Sollner
This bank features high rates of interest and return! Rarotonga must have low inflation
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Back to the Edgewater after doing the main town Wednesday afternoon for a Thursday morning departure from Rarotonga to Samoa.
 Photo Courtesy of Ed or Dick
Dick went south in more than one way...
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 Photo Courtesy of Ed or Dick
... way south
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