Pacific Circuit Four...

[petermcleland]

I was hoping for better weather this morning but it is still throwing it down and the wind is just as strong. I couldn’t get Pete Dowson’s Taxy Wind to engage last night, but I’ve tested it today and it goes in and out OK.

The destination (I understand it is called YELIZOVA) weather is fine, with a light Northerly wind. However, we can expect adverse winds on route.

The flight plan is filed on 30the Sept.2002 for PADK to UHPP 919 nms and we expect to use 474 gallons…Here we go then:-

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Cold, Dead and Wet :-roll

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Wet take-off, assisted this time by FSUIPC’s “Taxy Wind”

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Turning onto course through the murk

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Lovely…Out on top

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A magic moment…one second your Longitude is West…

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…and the next second it is East :-eek

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Each busy with thoughts and plans.

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Hey! The date has changed already…We are not yet at the International Date Line because they bent it round the Aleutian Islands to make sure that the whole chain is on the same day. Anyway, we started on 30 Sept. 2002 and here it is tomorrow already. The time has rolled back a couple of hours too.


Extract from log:-

“0850 Baro. Pressure falling rapidly. ATC advised me that I was 300 feet low…I’ve been hitting “B” every few minutes since.”

“0906 Wind has increased to 240/45kts, reducing the Ground Speed to 112kts and the Remaining Range to 906nms.”

“0920 Decided to cancel IFR plan and descend to low level in an attempt to improve the Ground Speed…Descending at 200 feet/min G/S 121kts.
Expecting a cloud base of 1400feet with rain.
7000ft. wind still 240/45
3000ft. wind direction is veering…now 347/33kts G/S 133kts
2500ft wind now 050/33kts G/S 160kts
2000ft. wind still 050/33kts G/S 169kts
Continuing descent to 1000ft. hoping to break out soon.

Here is the base at 1400ft…visibility not brilliant.
Will fly at 1000ft. Wind 050/33kts G/S 165 kts.

Rather turbulent flight conditions…but the ground speed makes it worthwhile…must keep away from land at this altitude.”

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Here we are on our new tactic…Low Level. The available range is back up to 1258nms.

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Side View but can’t see SHEMYA…we are just passing abeam it.

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Chart showing SHEMYA (has an airfield with an ILS!).

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Glimpse of ATTU as we pass abeam.

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Stomping Along! …note the Radio Altimeter is showing 1000ft (the instrument on the bottom row, marked VME…vertical measuring equipment). It will be useful to monitor in case of Baro. pressure changes.


Extract from log:-

“1152 Blue sky but wind backing 360/36kts, Baro. pressure rising.”

“1200 After much tuning (caused by Baro. pressure) G/S settled at 133kts and wind at 360/36kts.”

“1202 Descending to 500ft. Very smooth and sunny at 500ft. G/S 132kts.
“1109…time has jumped back another hour. Estimate headland at 1227.”

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This is fun at 500feet

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Land Ho! The headland.

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Steering round it.

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Main Landfall

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On Final Approach for R/W 34R

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Down :-)

The fuel remaining was 252galls so we burnt 552galls as opposed to the planned burn of 474galls.

For the Logbook:-

Pac Cir. PADK-UHPP Day 7.6 Night 0.0 Inst. 0.4


Regards,

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[Splash_One]

Awesome set of shots and story you got there peter!



Regards,

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[Keyno]

Great shots Peter.


Keyno

[lonewulph]

Pete,
Your flying skills are remarkable to say the least. Good decision making and judgement.
Do you know what I would enjoy?
A video of such a flight with your narration. I could have some popcorn and a beer, and just have a ball watching that.
Thanks for this exciting post!
Best,
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[jetBlue_A320]

Great Pics! :D

- Matthew Whittaker :-wave

Long Live the A320!

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[petermcleland]

>Do you know what I would
>enjoy?
>A video of such a flight
>with your narration. I could
>have some popcorn and a
>beer, and just have a
>ball watching that.
>Thanks for this exciting post!

Bob,

I'm glad you are enjoying my Circuit...FIVE is now flown and I will make the post tomorrow. Got a good set of pictures but this final one as I overshot at Chitose after a 7 hour flight did not please me at all :-(

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Regards,

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[doering1]

Peter,
You've got the greatest narration and a flare for a variety of interesting screen shots and captures!
Well done mate!
Laurie
P.S. You are finally pulling away from that crappy weather.

[circleeagle]

4 Stars **** 5, if I didn't have to swing the screen back & forth to get it all. There's something about that very first shot here that would be so easy to live with forever.

We're rooting for you, Peter.

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Dave

[steve7fm]

Yes i agree with everyone else here, great Peter. Shot no. 3 is my fav there. Bob's idea is a cracker, if only it could be done.. :-)

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[petermcleland]

>if I didn't have to swing the screen back & forth to get it all.<

Dave,

That does concern me...just do me a favour and switch your Windows desktop to 1024x768. In case you are not familiar...RIGHT click somewhere on your screen away from any icons and choose "Properties", click the settings tab and pull the Screen area slider to 1024x768. Click OK.

Please give it a trial for a while...you will find it way superior to the 800x600 that you are probably using, and you won't have to swing from side to side when viewing my screenshots :-)


Regards,

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