Glacier Park International to Ennis, MT

[PackHorse01]

My flight was to take my passenger(s) to Ennis, MT, for a private charter, reason unknown. The Load will be 3400 lbs.The flight is to leave at 16:30

The Passengers for this flight:

Ian Black
Jan Ford
Charles Nichols
Karla Nichols
Donna Conway
Grace Darden
Lloyd Darden

Weather Conditions:

Kalispell:

Wind Calm
Visibility 2 1/2 mile(s)
Sky conditions overcast
Weather Light snow
Mist
Precipitation last hour A trace
Temperature 19 F (-7 C)
Dew Point 19 F (-7 C)
Relative Humidity 100%
Pressure (altimeter) 29.69 in. Hg (1005 hPa)

Dillon:

Wind from the W (280 degrees) at 6 MPH (5 KT)
Visibility 10 mile(s)
Sky conditions mostly cloudy
Temperature 27.0 F (-2.8 C)
Windchill 19 F (-7 C)
Dew Point 17.1 F (-8.3 C)
Relative Humidity 65%
Pressure (altimeter) 29.62 in. Hg (1003 hPa)

Departed FCA at 1625 local
Payload= 3400 lbs
Fuel on board= 500 lbs

Arrive Ennis at 1743 local
Fuel on board= I had an inflight glitch and messed up the fuel in the settings...my fuel burn is unknown, but I was burning about 340 lbs per hour, so that would have put me at about 150 lbs of fuel left on board at Ennis

Total Time= 1 hour 17 min

WX by Microsoft; Navigation by Sectional


New Years Eve......the night of nights for party goers. That is what was going through my mind as I got the flight for the day. I was taking 7 passengers to Ennis for a "charter unknown" flight, which turned out to be a very exclusive New Years Celebration put on by.....let's just say "Friends of Ted Turner". At any rate, along with the passengers, I was hauling enough ski equiptment to furnish the Turkish Army, and several cartons of miscellanous parts for various brands of snow mobiles. The cargo pods were full ;)

The weather at FCA was misting, light snow, and typical temperature inversion stuff that is common this time of year in the North Flathead Valley, however, weather every where else was good, with partly cloudy being reported at most stations.

Amy would fly second seat with me, as she usually does, and was anxious to get some time in the Caravan. I filed IFR and we were cleared to 12000. Here are a few shots of my taxi, run-up, and climb-out:

http://www.flightsim.com/montair/shots/1231a.jpg

http://www.flightsim.com/montair/shots/1231b.jpg

http://www.flightsim.com/montair/shots/1231c.jpg

Once we broke out of the low level stuff, we were all treated to a FANTASTIC sunset....one of the best I have seen in many years.......here are a few shots of the sunset as we flew between FCA and Drummond:

http://www.flightsim.com/montair/shots/1231d.jpg

http://www.flightsim.com/montair/shots/1231e.jpg

http://www.flightsim.com/montair/shots/1231f.jpg

We passed over Drummond, and then on to Coppertown (Butte, MT), and I was told to expect vectors to 34. I didn't like the sound of that, due to the terrain, and the darkness. An approach to 34 would mean having to come in over the top of Baldy Mountain (9620 ft) and several others that were near that. I asked ATC for an approach to 16 which would allow me a much more shallow approach down the valley over Ennis Lake. I was approved, and we were vectored in. Here are two shots (it was dark, so the shots maybe hard to see...); one on final, and the other turning off the active:

http://www.flightsim.com/montair/shots/1231g.jpg

http://www.flightsim.com/montair/shots/1231h.jpg

Amy and I didn't really have to work too hard at unloading the aircraft, as it seemed the Turkish Army WAS there ;)

We got a hot cup of coffee, and I let Amy file and take us back to Kalispell, where we set down in time to still make our individual plans for celebrating the arrival of 2004.......

Until next flight....




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[Chessie_Flyer]

Nice story to go along with those snowy shots Fred. Haven't seen you around in a long time - welcome back.

Rob

http://www.flightsim.com/dcforum/Use...dc3f5d9514.jpg

[PackHorse01]

Thanks........yeah, I have been out of the scene for awhile, due to RW stuff, but am bringing Montana Air back online. FS2004 is a fun sim....

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[Chessie_Flyer]

but am bringing Montana Air back online.

:-jumpy That's great. I'll be looking forward to your contibutions to the sim. Now if we can just get someone to create a new Turbo Otter I'll be REALLY happy.

Rob

http://www.flightsim.com/dcforum/Use...dc3f5d9514.jpg