[Club Chachapoya] Flying East - Panama Canal

[Macroburst]

Looking at you, Mr Coal Hole!

 

 

[PhrogPhlyer]

3 hours ago, Nels_Anderson said:

Nicely done Nels.

In RL, it is quite a sensation to have the bird bobbing with the sea.

I was happy to see two vintage Bells make this trip.

 

 

[Bossspecops]

15 hours ago, Macroburst said:

Looking at you, Mr Coal Hole!

 

 

 

 

 

Too true, the Nav's visibility in a Sea Vixen was great for taking star shots, but naff all for anything else! 

[Bossspecops]

To link the Club threads together, I've started on my Round The World flight in a Lancaster commemorating the RAF's first such flight in 1944.

 

The new thread's here :- 

 

[alanpugh]

It's time for someone to salvage Club Chachapoya's reputation as a bunch of irresponsible pilots who engage in buzzing of cruise ships and unwarranted low flying, endangering bridge construction workers and bungee jumpers.  If that reporter dude sees this we will all be in for increased scrutiny.  

 

Here we are, all lined up in a professional manner, on Rwy 18 

 

Locks in sight.  

 

 

Heading out over the lake.  We went back with the X-Cub and landed on the clay strip.  We were also forced to fly under a bridge due to a large flock of large birds over the large bridge.  The photographic evidence has been lost.  I blame the birds.  

 

Approaching the coast.

 

 

The search area is between those two islands on the left.  

 

 

I quickly spot the kayak with my excellent pilot vision although no one else seems to see it.  We'll do a 270 approach.  

 

 

 

Circling in for the kill, I mean turning base. 

 

 

Short final

 

 

Touchdown

 

 

Door open to load passenger.  We strapped the kayak to the right float.  I should have shut down the right engine but the brave kayaker was young and agile and easily avoided decapitation.  

 

 

These Twin Otters really climb!  Wonder how much fuel we're burning?  But I can't worry about that in the middle of a life-saving rescue mission.  I blame the accountant.  

 

 

Left downwind for Runway 18. 

 

 

Cleared to land.  

 

 

Left base

 

 

Final

 

 

 

Over the numbers.  I spot a flaw in my near-perfect approach.  I'm too slow and nose high.  With floats I should be 10 knots faster and descending at a flat angle with no flare.  The landing was a thumper but ok except for the mandatory teardown and inspection of the landing gear.  I blame the computer. 

 

 

That was a great idea for a mini-fly-in.  I learned more about the Canal Zone and did several flights to familiarize myself with the area and to try different aircraft.  It would have cost a fortune to outfit the Beech 18 with retractable floats.  

 

[Melo965]

21 minutes ago, alanpugh said:

We were also forced to fly under a bridge due to a large flock of large birds over the large bridge.  The photographic evidence has been lost.  I blame the birds. 

 

 

[Melo965]

Enrique Adolfo Jimenez airport (MPEJ) to Panama Pacifico International (MPPA)

 

Note that MPPA was originally Howard Air Force Base (MPHO) and that is how it identifies in my FSX.  On November 1st 1999, Howard AFB was turned over to Panama and they turned the airfield into Panama Pacifico International Airport (MPPA)

 

In my FSX Enrique Adolfo Jimenez airport is just a runway and nothing else.  So I parked my aircraft off to the side near the end of runway 36 to start this mission.

 

Because my usual Spitfire comes in a float version, but not a true amphibian version, mission requirements will require the use of a different aircraft.  After a previous fruitful discussion with Sirrus and Kit, I decided on the aircraft to use for this mission.  Still sticking with Supermarine, the Sea Otter looks like a very good option.  I will be flying a Dutch Search and Rescue version today, which fits in well with the mission parameters.

 

fsx_sea_otter_updated.zip here in the library.  (A.F. Scrub created the original aircraft model.  Michael Pook updated the 2D and VC panels.  Hans van Spelde created the Dutch SAR livery.)

 

Parked on the grass near runway 36 as previously described.  In the pouring rain.

 

The functional Michael Pook instrument panel.

 

Ready for takeoff on runway 36.

 

Climbing out on runway heading.  You can see how sparse the airport is behind me.

 

Cockpit view of the Gatun locks ahead.

 

Spotted the first cargo ship on the way to the Gatun locks.

 

Over the Gatun locks.  A cruise ship and a cargo ship are in transit.

 

USN Aircraft Carrier next.  Waved to my friends as we flew by.

 

Banked right to stay in the main channel.  Saw the first small craft below.  Almost every ship seen so far is much larger.

 

Approaching Centennial Bridge.  This is the one we are not to fly under.

 

Under Centennial Bridge.  175 kts.  No one is nearby to see me. Better to ask forgiveness instead of permission anyway.

 

Approaching Pedro Miguel Locks.  Big cruise ship is in line to enter.

 

Over Pedro Miguel Locks.  Two cargo ships in transit.

 

Over Miraflores Locks.  Cruise ship and Cargo ship in transit.

 

Yes, that bridge below is too low to get under!

 

Lots of harbor cargo cranes on the left.  Passing another cruise ship on the right.

 

Approaching Bridge of the Americas.  A USN Destroyer is moving to join up with the Aircraft Carrier ahead.

 

Whoops, were we supposed to fly over this bridge too! 173 kts.  

 

Just as I was passing this second USN Carrier, got a S.O.S. message that a Kayaker was in trouble up ahead near Flamenco Island.

 

Landed near the island and looking for the Kayak.

 

Rescue in progress.  I don't have the convenient side doors like Kit has on Austral Rose, but we managed to get Max on board and the kayak lashed down so we could take off again.

 

Finally lifted off at 99 kts.  Still managed even with the extra weight aboard.

 

I know this was what we were expected to do next:
"Return to the air and fly to center of Panama City, loop west and pass to the north of Cerro Ancon (Ancon Hill). ... Don't forget to follow all airport restrictions as you fly over Marcos A Gelabert Intl on an approach to Panama Pacifico (MPPA)." 

 

But Max was chilled to the bone and the wind direction dictated a landing at MPPA on runway 36.  So I swung around to the South and avoided the city all together.

 

Over a cargo ship on Base leg for runway 36, gear and flaps deployed.

 

Airport in sight ahead.

 

I was tempted to land on the water then taxi up onto the beach.  Glad I did not after spotting the perimeter fence below.

 

Over the numbers for runway 36.

 

Full stop landing after the eventful 45 minute flight.

 

Mission accomplished!  Max was delivered to the medical staff here at the airport so he could be checked out and warmed up.  Enjoyed the flight and saw at least 15 ships utilizing the services of the Panama Canal.

 

Quite a feat of engineering.  The Locks allow ships to traverse between the oceans relatively easily.  While going up 85 feet and then back down again in the process of getting to the other ocean.

 

[Melo965]

44 minutes ago, alanpugh said:

That was a great idea for a mini-fly-in.  I learned more about the Canal Zone and did several flights to familiarize myself with the area and to try different aircraft.

 

Here is a graphic of my recon flights flown the other day trying out scenery packages in preparation for this mission.  I agree, it was really fun! 

 

[Bossspecops]

I took a second stab at the Canal run, but in something a bit faster than 'Austral Rose' as I threatened earlier in the thread. This time I used the SARO SR.A/1 jet flying boat fighter, not something you come across every day in the air! The SR.A/1 was a project of the 50s in the UK, and was the first jet waterplane in the world, and although it looks pretty tubby (it had to be to keep that intake clear of the water....) it's remarkably swift aeroplane. I was lucky enough to see the real thing fly at Farnborough in 1948, and SARO's Chief Test Pilot, Geoff Tyson, did his initial fly-past inverted and very fast! 

 

As the SR.A1 isn't an amphibian I started from as close to the Colon Airport as I could, this little bay here.

 

 

It's an FS9 model with a very basic panel, so basic that it doesn't have any engine starters that would work in FSX, and I didn't really have enough time to re-build the panel. Ctrl-E didn't work too well either so I did a 'slew start'. (Hit Y, F4, Y, Y, F1, Y in that order and you're back on the surface with the engines running. Works every time. 

 

 

The SR.A/1 didn't steer too well, even with the water rudder down, so I just opened her up and had at it. She lifted off at about 110 kts, pretty darn fast for a seaplane, and soon I was climbing away and turning toward the Canal.

 

 

The wing floats retract, turning through 180 degrees so they fit almost flush under the wings, very clever.

 

 

Here's that basic panel, which comes with a HUD display, and that's pretty clever too as they hadn't been invented in 1947 when the aircraft first flew! What you can't see all that well is I was doing 618 kts by now. This was one QUICK aeroplane!

 

 

Soon, very soon, I was passing the Gatun Locks and turning across the Lake.

 

 

That small Restricted Area I spotted on my last Canal run was still there, but I passed them so fast I doubt they realised it until I was gone!

 

 

Soon I could see that bridge that we weren't allowed to fly under, so of course I didn't. I mean, who'd fly UNDER a bridge as 626 kts?

 

 

Then more locks and some even LOWER bridges! No way I'd try ducking under THEM!

 

 

And then yet ANOTHER of those pesky bridges. They DO like building them right in front of us, don't they?

 

 

Max was calling for help again, you'd thought he'd have learnt his lesson from the last 5-6 rescues he's had, but no, so I did a quick pass over the lighthouse and dropped the SARO onto the water alongside him. Luckily SARO had designed the SR.A1 with space for a jump seat behind the pilot (they really did do that too.....) so Max squeezed in  behind me after we'd strapped his kayak to the port wing float, and then lifted off to drop him back on terra firma.

 

 

I couldn't put the SR.A/1 back down on the runway at Howard AFB, but I could run up the beach for Max, and so I did that and dropped him and his kayak off there.

 

 

As you can see, the beach is only a little distance from the perimeter fence so Max hadn't got far to go.

 

 

From take-off to landing my jet flight took nine minutes......................... 

 

One of the three SR.A/1s still exists and here it is in the Solent Sky Museum at Southampton in the UK.

 

[Macroburst]

OK Boss!

Quite the extravaganza on that mission!

Wish I had the resources to see that bird live in the museum- but I can do some reading!

Great run and thank you for showcasing a neat design.

 

[Macroburst]

10 hours ago, Melo965 said:

Melo!

If the insurance company sees you playing chicken with a cargo ship (even with that subtle paint scheme), I don't know if Club Chachapoya can locate any firm to re-insure you!

I mean it's not like anyone barreled under any bridges.....

 

 

 

[Melo965]

20 hours ago, Bossspecops said:

Soon I could see that bridge that we weren't allowed to fly under, so of course I didn't. I mean, who'd fly UNDER a bridge as 626 kts?

 

 

Very Impressive!

 

[Melo965]

22 hours ago, alanpugh said:

Door open to load passenger.  We strapped the kayak to the right float.  I should have shut down the right engine but the brave kayaker was young and agile and easily avoided decapitation. 

 

I read this bit to my wife and she burst out laughing!  Very creative! 

 

[ViperPilot2]

On 5/28/2024 at 4:02 PM, Bossspecops said:

I took a second stab at the Canal run, but in something a bit faster than 'Austral Rose' as I threatened earlier in the thread. This time I used the SARO SR.A/1 jet flying boat fighter, not something you come across every day in the air! The SR.A/1 was a project of the 50s in the UK, and was the first jet waterplane in the world, and although it looks pretty tubby (it had to be to keep that intake clear of the water....) it's remarkably swift aeroplane. I was lucky enough to see the real thing fly at Farnborough in 1948, and SARO's Chief Test Pilot, Geoff Tyson, did his initial fly-past inverted and very fast! 

 

As the SR.A1 isn't an amphibian I started from as close to the Colon Airport as I could, this little bay here.

 

 

It's an FS9 model with a very basic panel, so basic that it doesn't have any engine starters that would work in FSX, and I didn't really have enough time to re-build the panel. Ctrl-E didn't work too well either so I did a 'slew start'. (Hit Y, F4, Y, Y, F1, Y in that order and you're back on the surface with the engines running. Works every time. 

 

 

The SR.A/1 didn't steer too well, even with the water rudder down, so I just opened her up and had at it. She lifted off at about 110 kts, pretty darn fast for a seaplane, and soon I was climbing away and turning toward the Canal.

 

 

The wing floats retract, turning through 180 degrees so they fit almost flush under the wings, very clever.

 

 

Here's that basic panel, which comes with a HUD display, and that's pretty clever too as they hadn't been invented in 1947 when the aircraft first flew! What you can't see all that well is I was doing 618 kts by now. This was one QUICK aeroplane!

 

 

Soon, very soon, I was passing the Gatun Locks and turning across the Lake.

 

 

That small Restricted Area I spotted on my last Canal run was still there, but I passed them so fast I doubt they realised it until I was gone!

 

 

Soon I could see that bridge that we weren't allowed to fly under, so of course I didn't. I mean, who'd fly UNDER a bridge as 626 kts?

 

 

Then more locks and some even LOWER bridges! No way I'd try ducking under THEM!

 

 

And then yet ANOTHER of those pesky bridges. They DO like building them right in front of us, don't they?

 

 

Max was calling for help again, you'd thought he'd have learnt his lesson from the last 5-6 rescues he's had, but no, so I did a quick pass over the lighthouse and dropped the SARO onto the water alongside him. Luckily SARO had designed the SR.A1 with space for a jump seat behind the pilot (they really did do that too.....) so Max squeezed in  behind me after we'd strapped his kayak to the port wing float, and then lifted off to drop him back on terra firma.

 

 

I couldn't put the SR.A/1 back down on the runway at Howard AFB, but I could run up the beach for Max, and so I did that and dropped him and his kayak off there.

 

 

As you can see, the beach is only a little distance from the perimeter fence so Max hadn't got far to go.

 

 

From take-off to landing my jet flight took nine minutes......................... 

 

One of the three SR.A/1s still exists and here it is in the Solent Sky Museum at Southampton in the UK.

 

 

I'll see your Kayak + Kayaker, and raise you... 

 

[Rupert]

Great use of the SR.A1!  That's one of many aircraft I've never seen before.  I've been to several airfields in the UK, especially old WWII airfields,  And traveled to and from Southampton several times on the QM II but I've never been to the Southampton Solent Sky Museum.  If I'm ever over there again that's one I'll have to visit. 

 

Michael

[PhrogPhlyer]

After running the canal with a classic Bell 47G, I figured I'd try something a bit less conventional.

 

I chose the Convair R3Y Tradewind, to me one of the classiest seaplanes the US Navy ever evaluated. A total of 13 were built, and with a max cruise speed of 300kt they were proving to be a versatile aircraft (with refueler and lift nose cargo ramp loading variants). Unfortunately, the  Allison T40-A-10 turboprop engines had catastrophic failures in flight with the loss of three aircraft. Without a suitable replacement engine the aircraft were removed from service and scrapped.

 

Taking off. I don't think this was Convair's intended use of the ground handling dolly.

 

Landed as soon as I got to water. This is where a true takeoff should occur.

 

Airborne, flying low and heading east.

 

A graceful salute to the black shoes.

 

Challenge rules, no flying under bridges.

So I guess a water touch and go is in order.

 

Ok, I didn't plan that well. Not enough room for a safe takeoff, so into the que and through the locks. 

 

Much better, overflying the next set of locks.

 

We got to share lunch with some fellow Naval Aviators. The wardroom food sure beats the geedunk at the hangar.

 

Time to get airborne and head north. Another bridge... hmm...

 

In the air "after" passing under the bridge, or so we tell ourselves.

 

 

[PhrogPhlyer]

On 5/16/2024 at 9:58 AM, Nels_Anderson said:

Nels, I've looked everywhere I could think of and only found a panel, but not the aircraft for FSX.

Could you point me in the right direction?

Thanks.

[Macroburst]

Phrog,

 

https://www.allflightmods.com/microsoft-flight-simulator-x/fsx-native-convair-xf2y-sea-dart/

 

https://simviation.com/1/preview?fileId=52920&path=FSX_Convair_SeaDart_and_AN-1_Submarine_Package_V.2%2F

[PhrogPhlyer]

Macro, much appreciated!

[Nels_Anderson]

10 hours ago, PhrogPhlyer said:

Nels, I've looked everywhere I could think of and only found a panel, but not the aircraft for FSX.

Could you point me in the right direction?

Thanks.

 

This search should find what you want:

 

https://www.flightsim.com/search/?q=sea dart&quick=1&type=downloads_file

[PhrogPhlyer]

3 minutes ago, Nels_Anderson said:

This search should find what you want:

 

https://www.flightsim.com/search/?q=sea dart&quick=1&type=downloads_file

Thanks Nels,

Of course this was the first search I made, and unless it's my old eyes playing ticks on me, I don't see an FSX aircraft, just an FSX panel.

[Bossspecops]

There's an FS2004 Sea Dart by Kazunori Ito at 

and some repaints for it here too.

 

[PhrogPhlyer]

On 5/29/2024 at 9:55 PM, ViperPilot2 said:

Gotta love Alaska bush pilots.

[Nels_Anderson]

1 hour ago, PhrogPhlyer said:

Thanks Nels,

Of course this was the first search I made, and unless it's my old eyes playing ticks on me, I don't see an FSX aircraft, just an FSX panel.

 

When I posted the picture I was not paying attention to what sim it was for. This search does find the plane whose picture I posted.

[Bossspecops]

11 hours ago, PhrogPhlyer said:

I chose the Convair R3Y Tradewind, to me one of the classiest seaplanes the US Navy ever evaluated. A total of 13 were built, and with a max cruise speed of 300kt they were proving to be a versatile aircraft (with refueler and lift nose cargo ramp loading variants). Unfortunately, the  Allison T40-A-10 turboprop engines had catastrophic failures in flight with the loss of three aircraft. Without a suitable replacement engine the aircraft were removed from service and scrapped.

 

-.........................-

 

Time to get airborne and head north. Another bridge... hmm...

 

 

A Tradewind? That's about the LAST aeroplane I'd have thought of for this task! Putting something THAT big under those bridges took some flying for sure, well done indeed!

 

And were there any aircraft powered by the T-40 that were any good? Maybe only the Convair XFY-1 Pogo. A pity as the T-40 was the only large turbo-prop the US had at that time.