Route 66 Air Rally

[jgf]

Finale!  KEED-KSMO, 243 miles of a yo-yo flight - 5500ft for decent cruise but occasionally popping up to 9k+ ft to clear mountains.

Take of from 1000ft, she's much happier than starting a mile and a half in the air.

 

A long smooth cruise

 

And there's KSMO, seems I was here recently

 

Touchdown at 1:23.45

 

And shutdown.  The most she's flown in years;  overshadowed by acquisition of a late production V35b.

 

The A35 was a prize in her day, modern, sleek, and fast, compared to the competition;  a few are still flying, though probably quite high time airframes by now.  Mine is a '48 model, first with tubular wing spar and steerable nose wheel.

 

 

 

[TomPenDragon]

2 hours ago, Sirrus said:

And with that, she lifts the bike up and puts it in the back of the van.

A nun who could lift a Ducati...  I think she was my first grade teacher.

[PhrogPhlyer]

9 hours ago, Buck Turgidson said:

Once I get the kinks worked out with the HMD and air charts I will have a go on the next one.

It's a hoot for sure. Look forward to your participation.

[taoftedal]

15 minutes ago, Sirrus said:

I did keep my eyes closed for some of the way and, at one time, joined the sisters in prayer! ... V=0 ...  Astounding, at long last I get to finish on time! Now for lunch.

 

Well done Sirrus ... and a V=0 on the last leg!  The power of prayer my friend!  JMSR ... can you have the Sister's light a few candles for me back in the cabin?  I'm still looking for my first V=0 ...

[JSMR]

1 hour ago, taoftedal said:

 

 JMSR ... can you have the Sister's light a few candles for me back in the cabin?  I'm still looking for my first V=0 ...

 

Only thing back in the cabin is some bottles of bourbon (evidently a gift), an un-eaten ham and cheese bun, and a whole lot of giggles and smirks when I turn around and look back in the cabin. 

 

Not a candle to be seen! 

Wait, did you say you wanted four candles or handles for forks?  

 

[Bossspecops]

For my 2nd attempt at Leg 2 my flight time should be 1 hr 6 min as the wind directions are different and it's a slightly shorter route.

 

Here we go again.....

[jgf]

2 hours ago, JSMR said:

Only thing back in the cabin is some bottles of bourbon

 

Wish I'd thought to check my cabin, didn't notice til the last leg I'd been hauling a couple of stowaways with luggage.

[Sirrus]

 

20 minutes ago, jgf said:

 

Wish I'd thought to check my cabin, didn't notice til the last leg I'd been hauling a couple of stowaways with luggage.

Not more nuns?

[JSMR]

Next leg about to begin. 1:20 for GCM-F36 leg.

 

We are all set!!!  Nuns saying extra coffee loaded (always said with a giggle )
The Englishman is loaded. Literally. 

The Irishman is....what the??? Waving to goodbye to everybody from the OUTSDIE of the aircraft??? Get in get in!!! 

 

Aye curreumba. 

 

Another adventure coming up!

 

 

[Bossspecops]

While I was hanging around at 5K1 prior to flying Leg 2, this old geezer came by on a rickety motor-bike and stopped alongside the Lysander with a look of astonishment on his face. He came right up to me and said 'Hey, is that a Loisaaaander?' in an accent that had NOTHING to do with Illinois! I assured him that it was, and told him what we were doing. He said he used to fly them for the Australian Air Force in WWII and that he '.....had a couple of bits and pieces you might find useful stashed away in my barn......' The spares situation with Lysanders being as they are I assured him that I'd find ANYthing that fitted my aircraft would be very useful, and he promised to '.....bring them by in my ute.....'

 

(A 'Ute' is what Ozzies call a pickup truck by the way....) 

 

Later on he did just that, bringing a ladder  and a MASSIVE fuel tank in the back of his ute! Apparently they'd been standard fits for the RAAF Lysanders used in Borneo and Malaya back in the 40s and he just happened to have them to hand................

 

We reached a suitable financial agreement and now I have more fuel than I know what to do with, an extra 150 gallons no less, plus a retractable ladder so passengers can board easily, as you can see below.

 

 

I didn't want to try the new tank on Leg 2 as I'd already sorted out the flight plan with the current fuel loading, but I made a small adjustment for the added weight of the tank. Accordingly I was off the ground at 1237 with an estimated arrival time of 1343, and was soon on course via STL and VIH etc. This time I got my radio nav pretty well on line, only deviating a small amount from the correct path when I neared a beacon.

 

As I headed west a hefty river came into view, stretching waaaaay out in both directions, all very impressive.

 

 

The view to the North....

 

 

 

.....and the view to the south.

 

Only after looking at a proper map of the US did I realise it was the Mississippi! 

 

Looking into the southerly distance I could see a socking great bridge, and checking the map again told me it was in St Louis, a pretty hefty city in these parts. Further west it got distinctly more forested, so much so that at one stage ALL I could see were trees, to the horizon!

 

 

 

It was around this point that my sim expired y'day, but it carried on OK today, the FSTramp plan shows my position at that point.

 

 

 

Right in the middle of all that forestation there was that very American icon, the freeway, carving across the tree-scape from east to west.

 

 

 

A little further west I noticed an AI airliner coming toward me on a collision course, but as he was umpteen thousand feet above I wasn't too worried, but he did go clean overhead, the first AI aircraft I'd actually seen on the Rally. I was looking pretty good on my timing so far, running a minute or two early, so I reckoned to back off the throttle somewhat on the last sector.

 

At this point I'd passed the last VOR, TBN and had started my descent, and I could see Jones Lebanon in the distance, or so I thought.....

 

I disengaged the auto-pilot and turned onto the approach, but the airfield didn't look right, it only had one runway, and KLBO has two. A quick check with FSTramp proved I'd turned far too early and was landing at 30MO Matzie, about 9-10 miles east of KLBO! I turned tail and got the hell out of there fast, leaving Matzie astern of me!

 

 

Picking back up on my plan, I firewalled the throttle as I knew I'd be late now, and was soon headed north of KLBO to land on the 18 runway, and made a reasonable approach, as you can see.

 

 

My touch-down wasn't on the centre line very well, unlike some Spitfire pilots I could mention, but I did put her right on the numbers!  

 

 

Not surprisingly I was 3 mins late on my ETA, touching down at 1346, totally due to looking out the window and seeing airfields I wasn't supposed to be looking at, but that's life.

 

So here I am in Missouri with a SOCKING great fuel tank (and a folding ladder....) and I'll try a few test flights with the tank full, just as soon as I can raise a World Bank loan to fil it up! I used 47 galls on this leg, not too bad I thought, but I could have LOTS more to play with now!

 

 

 

 

[JSMR]

Leg 4!! (< edit : 4 comes after 3. Lol)

KGCM - F36 

Route : TUL - IRW

ETE - 1:20

ATE : 1:19 (V1)

 

On the runway....ooops...use real weather and its the other end to depart. 

 

Climbing out. Keeping an eye on my real engine gauges so I don't bust any limit and bust an engine. 
I lot of busts. 

 

Over Tulsa. 

 

Is this where the yellow brick road starts?? 

 

Hey, what's going on back there?? Where's my pork bun? 
"How dare you.  Are you calling us porky nuns'?

Well.....yea....no...eer..yeah. 

 

Deee sent time. 

 

 

Surprising that I found it amongst all the buildings. 

 

Landed! 

 

[PhrogPhlyer]

Day 15, half way through the month.

THREE contestant's completed the route.

Check my math please, came down with a cold and not focusing very well.

And need to get healthy to fly the rest of the route.

jgf, I think on the next challenge you might consider a couple nuns to help with divine guidance along the way! 

I'd consider a nun or two, but I'd be well over gross weight.

[TomPenDragon]

2 minutes ago, PhrogPhlyer said:

came down with a cold and not focusing very well.

Feel better, man!  And once again, thanks for keeping the score!

[PhrogPhlyer]

Just now, TomPenDragon said:

Feel better, man!  And once again, thanks for keeping the score!

Thank you, and believe it or not, I'm enjoying the chaos.

[jgf]

34 minutes ago, PhrogPhlyer said:

you might consider a couple nuns to help with divine guidance

 

Just need to check for stowaways, carrying an extra 250 or so pounds doesn't help.

[jgf]

30 minutes ago, PhrogPhlyer said:

I'm enjoying the chaos.

 

A physician, an engineer and a lawyer were arguing about whose profession was the oldest.

The surgeon announced, "Remember how God removed a rib from Adam to create Eve? Obviously, medicine is the oldest profession."

The engineer replied, "But before that, God created the heavens and the earth from chaos, in less than a week. You have to admit that was a remarkable feat of engineering, and that makes engineering an older profession than medicine."

The lawyer smirked, and said, "Who do you think created the chaos?"

[PhrogPhlyer]

26 minutes ago, jgf said:

"Who do you think created the chaos?"

And then became to fallen angels...

"Confusion will be my epitaph."

Let's see who knows that lyric, without an internet search.

 

[Melo965]

5 hours ago, Bossspecops said:

My touch-down wasn't on the centre line very well, unlike some Spitfire pilots I could mention, but I did put her right on the numbers!  

 

My centerline record is not as consistant or good as I would like during this Rally.  Keeping one eye on the clock is distracting.

 

I always do much better at western Washington airports near home, or when I am visiting you over there in the UK.

 

Of course you landed on the numbers - like normal!

 

[Melo965]

12 hours ago, taoftedal said:

V=0 ...  Astounding, at long last I get to finish on time!

 

Awesome, great work!

 

[Melo965]

JSMR I love your instrument panel, very classy!

 

[JSMR]

2 hours ago, meloscanlon said:

JSMR I love your instrument panel, very classy!

 

Thanks! But all credit to the developers of that particular bird. Fun aircraft to fly! 

[TomPenDragon]

9 hours ago, PhrogPhlyer said:

Confusion will be my epitaph

Oh, so you're actually ProgPhlyer - I've been spelling it wrong.

I prefer the version on, "Welcome Back My Friends to the Show That Never Ends".

[PhrogPhlyer]

1 hour ago, TomPenDragon said:

Prog

Well done Tom!

[TomPenDragon]

Kind of easy when I've got the live album sitting next to me on the desk (one of my favorite flying/driving disks).

The only problem is, now the whole 27:24 (okay, that I had to look up) of "Tarkus" is going to be playing in a loop in my head for the rest of the day.

[ScottishMike]

Fresh mountain air, scented with pine resin. We walked the short distance from the motel to the airport, bags in hand.

“Another good day for flying.” Suzanne remarked.

“We should make Needles before lunch.” I replied.

The aerodrome holding an aviators' perfume; gasoline, oil and exhaust. Not overwhelming but defining in a comforting way.

“Your turn to prepare the flight plan. I'll check the Airdale.”

“OK” I agreed.

Weather was good: at 8,432' 190 degrees @ 12 knots, visibility 25 Km. Here in Flagstaff.

Needles at 8,380' 174 degrees @ 28 Kts. Visibility 58 Km.

I averaged it at 180 degrees @ 20 Kts for the E6B calculation

So 1hr 33min from the above plus 5 min. for takeoff and climb to 8500' Total time 1hr. 38min.

 

Suzanne had fuelled up to 70%, our usual prudent amount. Not much penalty in carrying the extra fuel but a great sense of security knowing distant diversions were possible.

I was PIC, take off smooth as usual, with one notch of flaps and slight up trim, she lifted off at this altitude around 70 kts. without any pilot input (time 10:02 Mountain time (17:02 GMT)):

Climb sedate at this altitude (300 ft./ min.) but only some 2000' to climb to cruise at 8500'.

We followed route 66 west:

“What are your plans after Santa Monica?” The realization that the next leg would be the last came to me watching traffic heading west on the tiny strip of tarmac below the left wing; all going somewhere, all having reasons to travel.

“Back to Aberdeen I guess. Bristows' have been generous with leave but they expect me back at some point.” Distance in her voice.

We both had commitments hiding somewhere beyond this rally.

“It has been a fun interlude.”

“Yes” she looked at me with an odd expression, was it ambiguous emotion?

The Lycoming droned on in noisy silence for what seamed ages.

Suzanne seamed lost in the map. Then suddenly piping up: “Hualapai Mountains ahead. Over the top then down into Needles.”.

“How about we visit the Grand Canyon? We have the rest of the day. We could land, record the time, then off again to North Las Vegas. I have a friend who used to pilot for the Scenic flights that leave there.” I asked enthusiastically.

“OK, let's do that. Time out, no flying responsibilities.” A fun note back in her voice.

Needles over the lake.

 

Right turn for Rwy 290

 

Rwy 290 ahead

 

Leg 9 KFLG--->KEED

Touch down Needles: 10:39 Pacific Time (18:39 GMT) Elapsed time 1hr. 37min.

Variation 1 min.

 

An hour and a half later we landed and parked up in North Las Vegas.

“Stop taking pictures!” I said smiling, actually enjoying her attention; we were about to board the Scenic De Havilland Canada for our flight over the Canyon to Grand Canyon West and a couple of hours to wander round before the flight back.

It felt good to be just tourists, no flight plans or weather worries. We had both forgotten how much responsibility flying entailed, even when you enjoyed it.

 

“Wow look at that! The colours, the drop. The majesty of it all.” We sounded like kids on a school outing.

“Shame we couldn't take the Airdale over it.” She dreamed out loud.

“Strictly forbidden airspace. The Scenic flights have special permissions.”

We landed and left the plane, following signposts for the canyon, surprisingly not visible on foot till you are almost on top of it.

She got a stranger to take a picture of us on the edge:

 

“It's a strangely belittling experience. The scale of it, and the vastness of time taken to create it. Humanity will be dust and it will still be here.”

“I thought you looked serious” she showed me the picture she had taken:

 

 

“Anyway time to get back. If we are all going to hell in a hand cart we might as well enjoy the journey.” She added smiling.

“Your flying isn't quite as bad as going to hell.” I joked.

I got a poke in the ribs for my humour.