Route 66 Air Rally

[baumgartnerja]

Been tracking this thread since it was started and wanted to just say this is a great adventure and loving the stories!!

[TomPenDragon]

36 minutes ago, baumgartnerja said:

Been tracking this thread since it was started and wanted to just say this is a great adventure and loving the stories!!

Welcome!!  The challenge runs through the end of the month, so if you feel like trying your hand at it, there's plenty of time.

Bring your plane; bring your pen!

[PhrogPhlyer]

1 hour ago, TomPenDragon said:

Welcome!!  The challenge runs through the end of the month, so if you feel like trying your hand at it, there's plenty of time.

Bring your plane; bring your pen!

Couldn't have said it better myself!

[jgf]

KGUP-KFLG, 171miles at average 9200ft. 

 

Take off from 6500ft, this old girl is getting tired of the thin air

 

Especially when she has to climb in it, albeit slowly, limping along at 83kt by the time we reached 9200ft.  Took a while to hit 133kt in level flight.  All at full throttle.

 

maneuvering around, rather than over, mountains

 

Some joker aligned Flagstaff's runway with a mountainside

 

Touchdown at 1:01.19;  shutdown was 1:02.46

[jgf]

On 11/12/2023 at 7:59 PM, PhrogPhlyer said:

I just reread all 20 pages, and as the standings post shows, I'm not seeing everything.

 

KGCM-F36 is on page 19.

[PhrogPhlyer]

Day 13 Standings.

We've got one route completion, with a sharp as a tack V9.

Such great activity and poetic license with everyone.

Keep having FUN!

[jgf]

Ah, as predicted I'm bringing up the rear.  While this old A35 may have a listed cruise of 160mph (139kt), she won't do that above around 6k feet, and her climb is a mere 800fpm at around 115-120kt.  But no one is having more fun than we are.  (What's astounding is specs state a ceiling of 17000ft!  The only way this plane will get that high is to fly over an active volcano.)

[PhrogPhlyer]

9 minutes ago, jgf said:

fly over an active volcano

The next challenge? 

[jgf]

22 minutes ago, PhrogPhlyer said:

The next challenge? 

[TomPenDragon]

1 hour ago, jgf said:

The only way this plane will get that high is to fly over an active volcano.)

...can be arranged.

[taoftedal]

8 hours ago, PhrogPhlyer said:

We've got one route completion, with a sharp as a tack V9.

 

Thanks PP (V7 if my math is correct).  Looks like that little Cherokee is going to be tough to beat.  (Well done TomP)!  Still a handfull of contenders though.  As for the rest of us, it may be time to simply settle back, relax, and ...

 

 

[Melo965]

Leg 3.  Jones Lebanon MO (KLBO) to Claremore Regional OK (KGCM)  158 miles.
Estimated time = 43 minutes.

 

My equipment is finally working correctly again after some intense effort by my chief mechanic.  And more than a few exacting test flights.  Just signed off on the form 700 and ready to contine the Route 66 Air Rally. 

 

Same setup as before, using FSX Acceleration, Active Sky 2016 for weather, and Little NavMap for navigation.  Flying with full fuel capacity this time.  66.5 gal in each wing leading edge fuel tank.  The fuselage tanks are 48 gal for the upper tank and 37 gal for the lower, for a total internal capacity of 85 gal.  Total fuel capacity = 218 gallons.  If I flew carefully with lean fuel settings I could probably do the total Rally distance of 1,643 miles in one go.

 

Parked at Lebanon, starting that beautiful Merlin Mk 70 engine.  With canopy open per standard RAF procedure this time.  Is that a Beechcraft Baron next to me?  Not the same aircraft as one of the other pilots in the Rally are using in any case.

 

 

On the way climbing to cruise altitude of 6,500 ft.

 

 

Spotted a Beechcraft Baron off to my left.  Wonder if he is following me from Lebanon.  Going into a shallow dive so I will pull away from him without drawing undue attention.

 

 

Passing Springfield Branson airport (KSGF) on the left.  Tempted to swing around and do a photo pass.  My cameras are itching to be used on every sortie.  But I have a schedule to keep on this mission.

 

 

Flying over Mt Vernon Municipal (K2MO).

 

 

A bit hazy today but good flying weather.  The only weather warning was for moderate turbulence above Flight Level 180 and we are not going anywhere near that altitude "yet".  I did see some reports that other Rally participants have had to climb higher further along the route.  I wonder how our two helicopter participants will do at that stage.  Hope they have no issues.

 

 

Neosho Robinson airport (KEOS) off to the left.  Plenty of places to set down in an emergency, but the Merlin up front is performing perfectly so far.  More than half way there now.  

 

 

The city of Neosho falling away behind me.  I missed their annual Fall Festival the first weekend of October.  May have to stop by here again next year.

 

 

Approaching Grand Lake O' the Cherokees.  That sure looks like it would be worth another visit sometime too.

 

 

Climbed up to over 8,000 ft.  Flying over beautiful scenery.  Better start my descent for Claremore Regional soon.

 

 

Destination in sight.  Descending for landing.  Just under 2,000 ft at the moment, doing my typical curved approach to see past that big V12 engine up front.

 

 

Down safe with no issues.  My controls are well harmonized.  Will have to buy a pint for my chief mechanic the next time I see him.  At least I did a better job with the centerline this time.

 

 

My Leg 3 Route.  Used 50 gallons of fuel this leg.

 

 

Shut down and parked at Claremore Regional OK (KGCM).  Wonder where they want me to deliver the pictures from this flight?  Usually someone meets me right away to collect the films for processing.

 

Leg 3.  Jones Lebanon MO (KLBO) to Claremore Regional OK (KGCM)  158 miles.
Estimated time = 43 minutes.  Actual time = 41 minutes.  V2

 

Hope my next Leg is not V3, and the one after that V4, etc.
 

[Melo965]

49 minutes ago, TomPenDragon said:

...can be arranged.

 

Yikes!

 

[Bossspecops]

Rats, I started off Leg 2 in fine fashion, adjusted my take-off direction to suit the RW wind, and head off south west at 4500 ft. My radio nav was up to spec. for a change, and I was making good time, with an ETA of 2 minutes ahead of my predicted time, when ZAP! The whole sim shut down for no apparent reason. 

 

I guess I'll have to start again as I don't have any flight saver software installed, but I soon will have.............. 

 

Regards

Kit

[jgf]

45 minutes ago, Bossspecops said:

and I was making good time, with an ETA of 2 minutes ahead of my predicted time, when ZAP! The whole sim shut down for no apparent reason

 

At least it didn't wait til you were on approach (my system is notorious for that).

[jgf]

KFLG-KEED, 190mi.

 

Oh, the pain, the pain.  She's not at all happy about taking off at 7000ft, took most of the runway ...I was thinking of flapping my arms to help.  And then having to climb another 2200ft...

 

About a third of the way along this leg we were out of the mountains and could come down to 6500ft, where she was much happier.  Making good time now, actually thought I'd be within a couple of minutes of ETA ...but now below 5k ft she was too enthusiastic and approach was a bit hot so had to go around - a 270deg turn less than 1kft agl to land on the cross runway.  For a 1:05.17

 

And a long drive to park/shutdown.

 

[Melo965]

1 hour ago, Bossspecops said:

I was making good time, with an ETA of 2 minutes ahead of my predicted time, when ZAP! The whole sim shut down for no apparent reason. 

 

Best of luck with the re-do flight!  Do you want me to lend you my mechanic?  He worked wonders for me.

[Melo965]

2 hours ago, meloscanlon said:

Leg 3.  Jones Lebanon MO (KLBO) to Claremore Regional OK (KGCM)  158 miles.
Estimated time = 43 minutes.  Actual time = 41 minutes.  V2

 

And PP, I forgot to mention this flight was wheels up to wheels down as requested.  My total flight time from startup to engine shutdown was 50 minutes.

 

[PhrogPhlyer]

3 hours ago, taoftedal said:

V7 if my math is correct

Picky, picky, picky!

[TomPenDragon]

Just now, PhrogPhlyer said:

Picky, picky, picky!

Would you lend me nine bucks?

[taoftedal]

1 hour ago, PhrogPhlyer said:

Picky, picky, picky!

 

I did say if ... time to relax, settle back ... and listen to Julie again ... 

[JSMR]

19 hours ago, Bossspecops said:

Rats, I started off Leg 2 in fine fashion, adjusted my take-off direction to suit the RW wind, and head off south west at 4500 ft. My radio nav was up to spec. for a change, and I was making good time, with an ETA of 2 minutes ahead of my predicted time, when ZAP! The whole sim shut down for no apparent reason. 

 

I guess I'll have to start again as I don't have any flight saver software installed, but I soon will have.............. 

 

Regards

Kit

Leg 2 is the Bermuda Triangle as I lost (house) power when approaching the airport doing same leg!
 

I feel your pain. I’m running my leg again. Hang in there!

[JSMR]

Leg 2!

5KI - KLBO

Route : STL - VIH - TBN 

ETE : 1:12

ATE : 1:14 (V2)

 

 

On active 5K1 (this first attempt lost due power failure. I was off ground at 8:00am but forgot this shot in 2nd flight)

[JSMR]

Leg 3

KLBO-KCGM

Route : SGF - EOF

ETE : 1:07

ATE : 1:05 (V2)

 

Sadly to catch up, stories to follow in a later flight. Nuns are asleep. Englishman sharing stories to no one and the Irishman is lost. 

 

[Buck Turgidson]

On 11/14/2023 at 10:00 AM, PhrogPhlyer said:

Wonder what advice was to be offered?

 

 

Best guess would be:

No face piercings

No visible tats

Feminine hair that is not rainbow coloured.

 

Been following this as well and the narratives are great!  Once I get the kinks worked out with the HMD and air charts I will have a go on the next one.  Keep up the great flights!