RTW Race Pirep Thread

**mickj300** · 02-21-2009, 07:06 PM

Kick-off event from YMLT to YMHB to collect the Tasmanian Devil - I just had to fly this one as I have the T-shirt! Uneventful flight, dawn just rising over the port wing as I climbed out of Launceston's runway 14L.

**oblio** · 02-21-2009, 09:33 PM

For my first leg as baton carrier in this year's race, I flew the Piper Cub about 60 nm from YKRY (Kingaroy, Queensland, Australia) to YGAY (Gayndah, Queensland, Australia). As I learned the hard way some years ago, the key to a successful flight in the Cub is to take off and land directly into the wind, regardless of where the runway is.

**Hicks** · 02-21-2009, 10:46 PM

Group flight to start things off picking up endangered animals and taking them for urgent Veteranarian care. Flying the Cessna Caravan 208B from YMLT (Launceston, Australia) to YMHB (Hobart, Australia) to pick up a Tasmanian Devil, then back to Launceston. Smooth easy flight with no mishaps.

**Hicks** · 02-21-2009, 10:51 PM

Team Flight from YMEN (Melbourne) to YSCB (Canberra) in the Mooney Bravo. We diverted due to some technical difficulties but the flight went very well for most of the pilots.

**Hicks** · 02-21-2009, 10:58 PM

Another Team Flight from YBOK (Oakey, Australia) to YKRY (Kingaroy, Australia) in a Vickers Vimy. Climb rate 1000ft/HOUR, lol. A real speed demon in its day, well maybe, with a top cruise speed of 65knots/75mph. Another fairly uneventful flight, which is good for us but boring to read!

James (Hicks)

**RedGreen** · 02-22-2009, 12:28 AM

Ah, the Classics. These are the planes that seperate the men from the boys. And what a treat it was for my first baton run to be behind the wheel of the Vickers Vimy from YBOK to YKRY. The wind whipping past your head, the patchwork quilt of the Earth just below you. Vintage flying at some of its best!

**Maple One** · 02-22-2009, 06:31 AM

I gotta tell ya, this was great!! Saving endangered animals - makes me all warm and fuzzy. (Now, if only I could get the smell of those wombats out of my Caravan...). Anyway, we had some excellent planning for this. Had it all figured out to the minute! The turnout for this was amazing - at least 20 pilots online! When it started, it was like watching a firework exploding on FSNav - all of us off the ground and on our way in well under a minute.

My flight to get the wombats was straightforward (I had to get the wombats - I fly in PROPS Racing with a guy named "Wombat" and that was just too funny) and uneventful, just one of those 'Git er done' kinda flights. Unfortunately, I forgot to start my screenshot program - no pics. I was too busy anyway to jump outside the aircraft to take any in any event.

We got all of the animals to Melbourne on time, and got the full bonus.

**Maple One** · 02-22-2009, 06:47 AM

The guys were on their way on the first leg on a team flight in GA aircraft, intending to go to Canberra to nail a team flight bonus and take care of the Mooney requirement, and I was set up in Canberra in my trusty Mustang for my first baton leg. I'd made a couple of chimichungas and was just settling down to eat them while I waited to depart when, partway into their flight, the baton holder (Doug) had what looked like big problems and there was a scramble to divert to YCRG instead

. So, I scrambled myself, set up at YCRG and plotted a new leg to YBOK. I barely had time to do this before takeoff time - my food was getting cold

. Got the baton, lifted off and I was on my way. Cold chimis (not bad, actually...). Flight went well, landed okay, and I was off to bed.

**Maple One** · 02-22-2009, 08:37 AM

There was some speculation in the forums about a week ago that the opening team flight would be in helicopters. Having very little experience in rotors (I liked my propellers in front, not on top...), I figured that I'd better get some proficiency pronto. So I got with some guys who are good at, got a nice friendly chopper and got to work. I got in over 20 hours of instruction in three days, and in the end I could land the Sea King on the default carrier near San Francisco in 15-20 knot winds! Okay, I can do this (I hope

)!

In any event, I did it!! Flew 26nm from RJTK to RJTR with the baton and landed it

!!! At night!!! Wouldn't even have tried if the visibility and winds weren't good

. I took these screenshots during a practice flight just before the real thing.

**oblio** · 02-22-2009, 08:50 AM

My first ever RTW helicopter leg went well. It was a short 11.3 nm hop from RJTR (Kastner AAF) to RJTC (Tachikawa) to complete the Tokyo Fuji-san Tour for a 3-hour bonus. I had been practicing in less-stable helicopters, so the Chinook was relatively easy to fly.