Route 66 Air Rally

[PhrogPhlyer]

2 hours ago, taoftedal said:

Tell me that's not a cannon in the nose.

Cockpit heater ventilation and heater compartment ventilation.

[TomPenDragon]

Wow!  Ya step away for a couple of days...

 

I saw the question about extending the deadline, but not the responses, before I left on Saturday.  I was, frankly, a little conflicted about it.

The net is: FOR ME, while I'm not all that happy about it, I feel that it would be intellectually dishonest for me to oppose extending the deadline. so I would recommend extending it. 

[Bossspecops]

Made it to Tradewind on Leg 5 today, a distance of some 174 nms, shortest leg so far I think, and almost due west the entire flight path.

 

 

So here I am on the ramp at Cordell Muni, still with no AI traffic  but ready for the off.

 

Estimated flight time was 54 mins, and it's getting on for 1030 now, so plenty of daylight time for it.

 

 

As luck would have it the wind is almost directly down the 22 runway, which is a grass strip 2000 ft long, plenty for a Lysander so I'm not going all the way back to the threshold, I'll start off where the taxiway crosses 22. 

 

 

 

I'm off in no time, at 1026 so my ETA should be 1120 with luck.

 

 

Tarra F36, it was short and sweet.

 

 

The tower guys at F36 got this shot of the Lysander as I was climbing out, it really is one strange shape!

 

\|

 

There's that looooong straight freeway again, good 'ole Route 66 I guess?

 

 

Heading almost due west toward Texas (TEXAS? What am I doing there, of all places???) it looks even more desolate than Oklahoma did!

 

#

 

Once past the SYO VOR it seems FSTramp reckons there's a hefty river down there to my left, but I'm darned if I can see it!

 

 

Any sign of a river? No, just and miles and MILES of nothing!

 

 

Eventually, as I close on the PNH VOR, some signs of civilisation loom in the distance, and I figure it'd be Amarillo. Is this rally all about songs, what with 'Get your kicks on Route 66', '24 Hours to Tulsa' and 'Is this the way to Amarillo?' It certainly is MY way to Amarillo, but it seems Neil Sadaka didn't have a VOR to home on.  

 

 

Turning left over the VOR at such a low level at Amarillo Int. is a bit fraught as ATC there really DIDN'T want me trundling so slowly over their thresholds, but I was at full throttle again, trying to keep to the schedule and was doing 176 kts, about as fast as the Lysander will go with that socking great tank hung underneath.

 

Heading in toward Tradewind (that's a weird name for an airfield that's THIS far from the sea, isn't it?) it's darn difficult to catch sight of the field across all the houses and industries, but eventually it showed up.

 

 

Why is there ALWAYS a tree bang on the runway centre line of every airfield in FSX? I've yet to find one that isn't like that, I'll maybe try Timbuctoo and see if there's one there too.

 

Managed a passable landing almost on the centre line, but maybe 1/3 of the way down from the threshold, and screeched to a halt at 1121, a minute late.  So V=1 again.

 

 

This is the first place I've been to on the Rally with an actual building on it, I'm duly impressed so I parked right next to it.

 

Fuel burn this Leg was 44 galls, pretty much on par for these stage lengths. I've not finished using the fuel in the belly tank yet, but I expect it'll run dry during the nest Leg, so I better read up the Pilot's Notes on how to change tanks before then.

 

V1 for this Leg. 

 

 

[Melo965]

4 minutes ago, Bossspecops said:

 

Tarra F36, it was short and sweet.

 

Great shot of your departure. 

 

[Melo965]

6 minutes ago, Bossspecops said:

 

Why is there ALWAYS a tree bang on the runway centre line of every airfield in FSX?

 

Another cool picture of the Lysander camo blending in.

 

[taoftedal]

3 hours ago, Bossspecops said:

 

 

The tower guys at F36 got this shot of the Lysander as I was climbing out, it really is one strange shape!

 

 

I don't know about that Bosss ... and against that clear blue sky?  I'm rather getting to like that bird.  

[Melo965]

Leg 6.  Tradewind TX (KTDW) to Moriarity NM (0E0)  206 miles.
Estimated time = 55 minutes.

 

Same setup as before, using FSX Acceleration, Active Sky 2016 for weather, and Little NavMap for navigation.  Flying with fuselage and wing tanks full as this is the longest leg of the Rally.

 

After seeing the weather for this leg, my initial plan was to fly at 10,500 feet.  Allowing for the increasing terrain elevation as I fly west with a big margin for safety.  It did not work out that way as you will see.

 

Holding short for ATC clearance to cross Runway 23-5.  They had me sit here a while even though I could not see any arriving or departing traffic on the runway.  Maybe the tower just wanted to have a good look at this beautiful aircraft that is not usually seen in these parts.

 

Holding short at Runway 35 waiting for ATC clearance to take the runway.  This time they were prompt to give permission to proceed.

 

Ready to add power and take off on the longest leg of the journey.

 

At cruising altitude of 10,500 ft.  More clouds ahead close to my altitude.

 

Leaving the city behind. Amarillo International is on the left in this picture and Tradewind is on the right.

 

Dropping down below 10,000 ft to stay clear of the clouds.  Getting fed up with this pesky weather.

 

Initiated a full power climb through the murk just to see how high the clouds go so I know what I am dealing with on this flight.  Finally broke through on top at 19,000 ft.  Glad I topped off my Oxygen supply before this flight.  At this point I am about 1/4th of the way to the destination.

 

Back down underneath again, settling in to 8,500 ft cruise altitude.  On the way down I brought the throttle to idle to not overstress the engine during the descent.  The trustworthy Merlin up front stuttered once, which is very rare.  Applied more power and the Mk70 settled down to normal operation again, thankfully.  Not sure how the Air Rally Official would score an emergency landing situation.

 

Saw that I was a bit ahead of schedule so veered right a bit to pass overhead Tucumcari Municipal NM.  That would also have been a reachable emergency landing spot.

 

Still close to 8,500 ft altitude.  The terrain is getting higher ahead though.

 

Approaching Santa Rosa lake.  About 2/3 of the way there.  Still just under 8,500 ft altitude.

 

Forced to drop down near 7,500 ft to stay below the clouds.

 

Weather map shows a region of reduced visibility ahead, just what I need right now.

 

I've had enough of this sh- er, I mean stuff.  Climbing through 8,500 ft so I don't have an unexpected close encounter with a mountain.  

 

Out in the clear at around 7,500 ft. but it did not last.  Got swallowed up by another cloud bank right after this.

 

Here is the weather picture.  Right in the middle of a low visibility area.

 

Climbed to 10,500 ft.  Just hoping to break clear of the clouds before Moriarity or else I will be late for sure.  Getting close so started a gradual descent toward pattern altitude of 7,200 ft just in case I break out of the clouds in time.

 

I wonder if this airfield is named after Prof. James Moriarty, the criminal mastermind who was a formidable enemy for Sherlock Holmes.  The clouds here sure are diabolical!

 

Here is where I was when I finally broke out of the soup.  Almost on top of the airport.

 

What a relief to see this in front of me and just in time.

 

Turning crosswind for landing in the left traffic pattern.

 

On downwind.  At one point during downwind I got swallowed up by a small cloud, but just held steady and came out the other side Ok, sheesh!

 

Base leg.

 

Finally on Final.

 

Down safe at last.  And miraculously spot on the target time.

 

Here is my flight path in the traffic pattern.

 

My leg 6 route.  Used 64.4 gallons of fuel.

 

Parked and engine shut down.  Total flight time from engine start to engine shutdown was 1 hr and 33 minutes. I tend to taxi the Spitfire pretty slowly on the ground.  Keeping that powerful engine under control.  Would not want to run into a Lysander or a Cherokee.

 

Another view of the Spitfire parked.  Time to get some grub and have a well earned good night sleep.

 

Leg 6.  Tradewind TX (KTDW) to Moriarity NM (0E0)  206 miles.
Estimated time = 55 minutes.  Actual time = 55 minutes.  V0
(Wheels up to Wheels down.)
 

[taoftedal]

3 hours ago, meloscanlon said:

I wonder if this airfield is named after Prof. James Moriarty, the criminal mastermind who was a formidable enemy for Sherlock Holmes.  The clouds here sure are diabolical!

 

Flying into Moriarty and a V=0?... Elementary my dear Watson ... 

 

 

 

[JSMR]

Leg whatever coming up!

KTDW-0E0

ETE : 1:29

TCC-ACH-OTO

 

Lets go ladies!!!

Toot Toot!! < huh? 

[Buck Turgidson]

8 hours ago, taoftedal said:

 

Yes ... nice looking screen shots Buck.  From the bow she looks something of a brute at that angle!  Tell me that's not a cannon in the nose.  Yikes!

 

 

Nah, Phrog already covered it.  Back in the day, aircraft were design optimized for a task.  This one was designed very well around a "cargo box" which is remarkably similar to the CH47 box.  It is not an all things to every congress critter seeking to fund partial construction in their state.  No CAS although you could probably swing an M2 out the back, no bomber although it was improvised for this in Bangladesh.  So never say never with necessity being the mother of...

 

The heater had ten pages dedicated to operation and would be  three days of study alone if it were fully functional in the sim.

 

 

 

[Buck Turgidson]

1 hour ago, meloscanlon said:

I've had enough of this sh- er, I mean stuff.  Climbing through 8,500 ft so I don't have an unexpected close encounter with a mountain.  

 

 

Didn't see any wayward goats I take it! 

[Buck Turgidson]

Leg 9.  I finally got a zero!  No not a Mitsubishi, a zero variation. CAVU and almost nil wind.

 

 

 

Leaving Flagstaff.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Running a bit early and had a sht ton of altitude to lose so I turned in on the proving grounds for a couple shots.

 

 

Still don't have a wiz wheel so I just gustimated I had about three minutes up my sleeve. 

 

 

 

A bout 5 mile out thinking I dilly dallied too much and turned on the juice.

 

 

My little timer said I was 40 seconds late but the log was actual plus 2 seconds.  I doubt I will top that.

[PhrogPhlyer]

22 minutes ago, Buck Turgidson said:

My little timer said I was 40 seconds late but the log was actual plus 2 seconds.  I doubt I will top that.

Sounds like a solid V0 to me,

Love this shot...

[JSMR]

KTDW-0E0

ETE : 1:29

ACT : 1:28 (V1)

TCC-ACH-OTO

 

For sake of timing as I'm way behind, I'll just post some pics. A good flight...3-4 mins ahead, which is planned as my decent and approach lose time. 
The elusive V0 remains!!

 

 

 

[JSMR]

0E0-KGUP on its way!

ABQ-GUP

ETE : 1:02

[Melo965]

I am going to again fly first and write the report later as the end of the month is fast approaching.

 

Leg 8.  Gallup Municipal NM (KGUP) to Flagstaff Pulliam AZ (KFLG)
143 miles.  Estimated time = 39 minutes.

 

Here is the final picture from this leg, more to follow.  Parked at Flagstaff Pulliam AZ (KFLG).
This flight was fairly routine, getting used to these Rally flights - and really enjoying them.

 

Leg 8.  Gallup Municipal NM (KGUP) to Flagstaff Pulliam AZ (KFLG)  143 miles.
Estimated time = 39 minutes.
Actual time = 38 minutes.  V1

 

I touched down 5 seconds too soon but that still counts as V1

 

[Bossspecops]

I'm NOT looking forward to Leg 6 if the weather's like Melo had it. 

 

I'm not sure quite how high the Lysander will fly actually, so I could be doing some 'valley chasing'.........

 

It'll be a day or two before I fly it though, real life is getting in the way for a while. 

[taoftedal]

9 hours ago, JSMR said:

The elusive V0 remains!

 

JMSR ... as I suggested a few pages back ... just have the Sister's light a few candles in the cabin en route.  It's worth a try ... what could possibly go wrong?

[PhrogPhlyer]

2 minutes ago, taoftedal said:

have the Sister's light a few candles in the cabin en route.

Do I see that they are scented candles? And what's with these bottle of massage oil? That will do wonders for the old cyclic.

[PhrogPhlyer]

Day 27 Standings.

Two more almost complete.

Great pics, flying, and comments.

[Melo965]

15 hours ago, taoftedal said:

Elementary my dear Watson ... 

 

More sheer luck than skill on my part. 

 

[Melo965]

13 hours ago, Buck Turgidson said:

 

Still don't have a wiz wheel so I just gustimated I had about three minutes up my sleeve. 

 

This is my favorite picture of the leg.  Cool photos!

[Melo965]

14 hours ago, Buck Turgidson said:

Didn't see any wayward goats I take it! 

 

Nope, not a one.  If I got close enough to recognize a mountain goat then I would surely be in BIG trouble.

 

[PhrogPhlyer]

2 minutes ago, meloscanlon said:

sheer luck than skill

That should be our motto! "Luck over Skill"

[Melo965]

12 hours ago, JSMR said:

The elusive V0 remains!!

 

I love the pictures of your aircraft inside and out!  Rooting for you to get at least one V0 by the end of the Rally. 

 

Maybe you can get a cargo hold full of nuns to pray for you, then it will happen!