I think I'll throw my hat into the ring for footprint stretching. I have to go back to AO-40 for my bragging rights. On 20 Oct. 2003 I worked VK9CD in NH87 and that figures to about 10073 miles to DN81.
This may be off subject a bit but I've been a DXer for 47+ years and that was by far one of my most memorable QSOs satellite, HF or otherwise. I was never tempted to post the above story until Bob's good fortune on AO-7. See what great fun we could have with an AO-10 type bird up in an HEO!! That's it. I'm climbing down off my soapbox.
No, Frank, my friend stay up there!! You've made many contributions... I'm sure the qso's between us on various birds, throughout the years, is in the dozens!!
My antipode is a few hundred miles southeast of Madagascar in the middle of the Indian Ocean....I've worked a station in Durbin several times on AO40, and just calculated the distance on my 14" globe to 10136 miles, will throw my hat in the ring for that, but claim no record with my rough calculations.
I'm fortunate antenna-wise... I'm located on a 200' ridge, 2.5 mi. from the ocean, and "look" at most the horizon...That's on of the reasons why we located here 35 years ago!!
And I do look forward to P3E so we can resume our communications....
73, Dave, WB6LLO dguimon1@san.rr.com
Disagree: I learn....
Pulling for P3E...