28 August 2018
A total of 51 teams are competing in the 2018 Classic Safari Company Outback Air Race across northern Australia, an event that takes place every three years to raise money for the Royal Flying Doctor Service.
The race started near Brisbane on Sunday 19 August and will finish this Friday, 31 August at the Western Australian coastal city of Broome. The route takes in some of the most iconic and remote locations in Queensland, Northern territories and Western Australia.
Since 1996 competitors and spectators have raised over $2.1 million, with funds from each race going towards outfitting RFDS aircraft with essential medical equipment, vital for treating sick and injured patients.
One of the teams competing is Outback Aviators who are flying a Sling kitplane equipped with an internet router by Satcom Direct, a provider of airborne internet services for business and general aviation.
Pilots Stephen Limkin and Shannon Samarasekera, above, can use voice and text messaging, browse the internet, review latest weather and route info, as well as VOIP and push-to-talk services.
