Jane Howell, Europe's first Mustang pilot, has flown the Atlantic three times but says that, each time, it became easier. "The first time it was scary but a worthwhile experience that you remember all your life," she recalls. "The second time it was challenging but at least I did not have to make a decision over Greenland whether it was safer to continue or to go back."

But: "In the Mustang it was a very easy flight. I wouldn't say it was an anticlimax but it felt routine. The Mustang was easy to land, cross winds were not an issue and it was easy to get above the weather. The aircraft was nice and stable. And there was an opportunity to do a missed approach procedure at Salzburg which I took."

She reports: "The Mustang exceeded my expectations. If I had any complaints I would certainly air them but I am very happy and looking forward to using the Mustang for leisure and business. It is an efficient aircraft so it will probably be used for somewhat less hours in the air than its predecessors were."

Howell's first U.S. to Europe trip was with a Beechcraft Baron 58 - unpressurised. "The worst section was between Greenland and Iceland leaving about 10 p.m. at night with 50kt winds on ground, struggling to put a survival suit on while flat on my back and crawling to the 'plane." In the second trip with the Piper Cheyenne Howell suffered from reduced cabin pressure over the Greenland icecap.

"I did a great deal of research to establish the best successor for my Piper Cheyenne," says Howell. She looked long and hard at all the VLJs on the market some years ago. "However, I didn't find what I wanted so I postponed a decision on acquisition. It was important that I felt comfortable with the avionics. The avionics had to come from a secure source and pedigree with an impeccable background.

"I wanted an avionics package that I could trust in the same way that I would trust a seasoned professional second pilot in the cabin alongside me. When I saw the Mustang mock-up and examined the specifications available two- and-a-half years ago I felt that it fulfilled the safety and operational criteria that I was seeking as a single pilot.

"When I picked up the Mustang in the United States to fly it back to the United Kingdom, the specifications had not changed - they were still spot on."

Howell has previously flown an AA-5A fixed propeller Grumman Cheetah, a Socata TB20 Trinidad single piston, a Beechcraft D17A Traveler and a Beechcraft Baron piston twin.

She says: "The Mustang is a very safe aircraft to fly on a single pilot basis. I won't say that I'll never trade up but it is an aircraft that should suit me for a long time. It will be used mainly for flights to destinations in Europe. "I am looking forward to flying from London to Rome or Madrid in a single trip which was not possible for me before with my previous aircraft."

Howell, an entrepreneur, anticipates flying around 150 hours to 250 hours a year.

"However, I might enjoy the flying so much that I do more. The Mustang suits me as an owner-pilot but acquiring an aircraft is an individual choice. "If you have a large family or a lot of executives to transport it won't be what's wanted. "However, for a person like me, who wants to be able as a single pilot to fly a few people safely and efficiently around Europe, it has proved a very good choice." It might have taken Jane Howell years to find her ideal aircraft but she obviously feels the wait has been worthwhile.