How the plane’s fitted

Outwardly, the Cessna looks practical and somewhat traditional, but its aeronautical and electronic equipment can compete with modern business jets.

The electronic glass cockpit "Garmin 1000":
This system integrates all navigation and monitoring functions and shows all information on two large screens.

"Garmin 1000" makes instrument flight possible; so the crew can fly at night and in clouds without visibility. The integrated autopilot navigates the aeroplane around all three axles: height, direction and flight altitude. Destination flying altitudes can be programmed for descent and ascent. Also descents up to an altitude of 30 meters can be flown using the autopilot. Then the pilot takes over the complete control of the aeroplane up to touching down. The air data computers in the cockpit system contain data from all airways and the approach maps of all airfields in the world. They record all obstacles that might be a danger to an aeroplane, such as mountains, high-rise buildings, factory chimneys, or masts. Similarly to a car’s GPS system, a woman's voice warns of the obstacle if the aeroplane approaches the obstacle by more than 500 feet.

Of course the crew can read all operating engine data, such as temperature and the number of revolutions as well as speed above ground, wind and driftage on the monitors.

Storm scope:
This equipment warns the pilots of thunderstorms; it indicates lightning up to a distance of 250 km on the screen.

Range-ring:
It gives the crew an idea of the remaining range. The cockpit system puts circles over the navigation map on the monitor. All airfields within the circle can be reached with the remaining fuel quantity. The smaller the fuel supply, the smaller the circle diameter.

Snow and ice removal system:
At high altitudes and in clouds, ice forms on the wings which can have a very negative effect on the aerodynamics, so that the Cessna starts to descend. Apart from that, the propeller can freeze, which decreases the power. When the pilot presses a button, tiny nozzles on the aluminium body produce a de-icing fluid film. The propeller blades and the cockpit window are sprayed with de-icing fluid by nozzles, too.

Oxygen supply:
The Cessna is, as a standard, equipped with an oxygen supply. A healthy pilot can fly up to 3,000 m in poor oxygen. Smokers can fly only a maximum of 2,500 m without oxygen. For the flight round the world, a computer providing oxygen dosages was additionally positioned in the inlet to the oxygen masks. As a result the consumption of oxygen can be significantly reduced and the flight duration with oxygen extended to over 10 hours. That ensures that the crew is able to fly in extreme cases for a long time at high altitudes. For altitudes of up to 18,000 feet, the pilots use nose-tubes, on top of breathing masks with integrated microphones, so that communication between the pilots and to the ground station is always possible.

Oxymeter:
Using an oxymeter, the pilots make sure that they are fine at high altitudes. A sensor resembling a thimble measures the oxygen content of their blood and heart frequency.

Portable satellite telephone:
Aeronautical radio contact to the towers and control stations is made using the plane’s avionics. Apart from this, there is a direct connection particularly to the ground stations and to family and friends. Uwe Thomas and his co-pilot have a portable satellite telephone. In contrast to the mobile phone, the iridium satellite telephone is independent of radio masts on the ground. Entirely independent of any network, it transmits and receives its signals from each point of the earth directly via the satellites. No matter where the pilots are, they can select any number in the world at any time.