Eireborne: A Dawn to Dusk Winning Adventure Around Ireland
When pilot Derek Pake set out for the 2023 Pooleys Dawn to Dusk Challenge, his goal was simple: attempt something more ambitious than his third-place entry the year before. His theme would take him and fellow pilot Kate Turner on a stunning one-day circumnavigation of Ireland, retracing the story of WWII coastal lookout posts and the iconic whitewashed “EIRE” markers that once warned lost aircraft they were entering neutral Irish airspace.
For anyone unfamiliar with these markers, they are enormous ground signs laid out along the coastline during the Second World War—part navigation aid, part political signal, and today, a fascinating piece of aviation history still visible in parts of the Irish landscape.
A Twelve-Hour Aviation Time Capsule
Flying in their RV-8 Wee Vans, Derek and Kate routed clockwise from Prestwick, tracking the coastline from Wexford to Cork, across the Aran Islands, up the Atlantic cliffs of County Mayo and Donegal, then back across the North Channel into Scotland. The day’s flying totalled more than a thousand miles and included landings at the three airfields of the Aran Islands—an irresistible logbook bonus for any visiting pilot.
Along the way, the pair documented surviving EIRE markers, former WWII airfields in Northern Ireland, dramatic lighthouse headlands, and landscapes familiar to many through TV, folklore, or maritime history. It was exactly the kind of imaginative project the Dawn to Dusk competition celebrates: a blend of research, planning, narrative and airmanship, rather than merely distance or speed.
Winning for Originality and Craft
The judges recognised the entry for its originality, historical depth, photography, flight execution, and coherent storytelling, awarding Derek and Kate the prestigious Duke of Edinburgh Trophy. It’s a reminder that Dawn to Dusk isn’t only for endurance flyers or high-performance types—some of the strongest entries over the years have come from curiosity, creativity and careful preparation.
Dawn to Dusk 2025 Now Open
Entries for the 2025 Dawn to Dusk Challenge are now open and will run until the end of September 2026. Pilots only need to fly a minimum of four hours during their chosen day, and entries are welcomed from:
• all pilots from around the world• club syndicates
• instructors & students
• first-time competitors
• families and mixed crews
• and everyone in between
It’s accessible, rewarding and—if Derek’s experience is anything to go by—unforgettable.
Awards Presentation Dinner, Royal Air Force Club, London — February 2026
We’re delighted to share that Pooleys Flight Equipment will be hosting the official 2024/2025 Dawn to Dusk Awards Presentation Dinner at the Royal Air Force Club, London in February 2026, bringing the community together to celebrate this year’s achievements, stories and standout flights.
And if you’re considering entering this year, Derek’s advice couldn’t be clearer: just have a go — you never know where it might take you.
More information on the Dawn to Dusk Competition can be found here - https://www.pooleys.com/dawn-to-dusk/
Taken from the article written by Derek Pake in Light Aviation April 2025.
