RTW Retro Flight #115 Coventry to London Gatwick . . . 1961

Overseas Aviation flight OY-501 is a Vickers Viking 1A on a flight from Coventry to London Gatwick (EGBE - EGKK). The flight originated in Manchester, but was diverted to Coventry due to severe weather. We currently have gray and rainy weather at Coventry. There is a severe thunderstorm moving toward Gatwick, but we should arrive before it hits. There are 200 gallons of fuel on board for the 85 nm flight. We will be cruising at an altitude of 5,000 feet.

 

Thanks to:

Aircraft: Vickers Viking 1A. The FSDS2 model and original textures are by Rick Piper. The Overseas Aviation paint is by Garry Russell.

Propliner AI & Traffic: CalClassic & FS Aviator - Tom Gibson, Mike Stevens, Jason Krogmann, Manuel Jagmann, Bill Towers, Nikko Yaginuma, Richard Wright, Frederick Coleman, Dave Jones, Paul Haak, Marty Lochmiller, Ake Lindberg, Harland Sandberg, Richard Wright and Gary Harper. At www.calclassic.com

Scenery and Add-ons: MS FS2004 v9.1, MS Windows 7 Pro and:

- Coventry Aerodrome 1950s is by Peter Larkham.

- London Gatwick airport is by Nikko Yaginuma and Tom Gibson. Beta tested by Harry Biard, Jaap de Baare, Wolfgang Gersch and Tom Gibson. At www.calclassic.com

- Overseas Aviation timetable for 1961 from the collection of Michael Dawes at www.timetableimages.com

- Rwy12 and EZ Static Object and Scenery Libraries at www.flightsim.com.

- FS2004 Classic Scenery Libraries v4a by Wolfgang Gersch at www.flightsim.com

- REX FS9 w/Overdrive & SP5.

- Flight One Ground Environment Pro II

- FS Genesis UT Europe.

- FS9/FSX/P3D Generic GCA Gauge V2.1 by Manfred Jahn.

- Engine fire effects by Joe Latarski.

 

Click to Enlarge . . . . . .

 

1. Overseas Aviation timetable for 1961 (modified).

 

2. The weather has improved so we will continue our flight to London Gatwick. Passengers have boarded, flight plan filed and cockpit checks completed.

 

3. Taxiing out to runway 24 for departure.

 

4. Airborne and the gear is coming up.

 

5. Turning on course for London Gatwick.

 

6. We are climbing through 2,600 feet in light rain.

 

7. Cruising at 5,000 feet with stronger winds and thickening clouds.

 

8. Nearing the halfway point with Aylesbury below.

 

9. We are now with Northolt approach. The wind is stronger and the visibility is decreasing. Oil pressure on number one is a bit below normal, so we will keep an eye one it.

 

10. Now with Biggin approach the oil pressure on number one is still falling and the cylinder head temperature is rising. We have pushed the engines hard in order to beat the oncoming storm.

 

More in the reply . . . . . . . . .

Click to Enlarge . . . . . .

 

11. Visibility is very poor and the rain is heavy now. Biggin approach hands us off to Gatwick tower who instructs us to descend to 2,000 feet. Oil pressure on number one is extremely low and the cylinder head temperature very high. We have a problem!

 

12. Mayday! Mayday! Mayday! OY-501, number one engine is on fire. Prop feathered and engine shut down. Position is about 14 nm northeast of Gatwick, heading 230 degrees, speed 110 KIAS at flight level 2,000. Request priority landing at Gatwick.

 

13. Gatwick has assigned us runway 26L and hands us over to the precision approach radar (PAR) controller who begins to give us approach heading instructions.

 

14. Nine miles out with strong winds and very poor visibility we continue to follow the PAR controller’s instructions while regularly scanning our gauges.

 

15. Five nm from Gatwick with flaps 20 and gear down the PAR controller tells us we are on the glideslope and we continue to descend and adjust our heading according to his instructions.

 

16. One nm out we see the runway approach lights. Though not an available gauge on real aircraft at the time, the flightsim ground controlled approach (GCA) gauge is used to set up a low visibility approach and provides a lot of valuable information.

 

17. We can see the runway 26L threshold and are still adjusting our approach. When we are over the runway the PAR controller will tell us so and terminate approach instructions.

 

18. Touchdown, the passengers shout with relief and joy! While we still have some fire and smoke we believe the cause to be an oil leak because of the loss of oil pressure and we have seen no inordinate decrease in fuel load.

 

19. Parked at the turnoff and systems shut down. A bus has taken the passengers to the terminal and the fire brigade has come and gone while number one still smolders. We await a tow to the maintenance area.

 

20. Parked at the maintenance shed we see the main terminal. An initial check indicates several broken or loose oil lines. An official inquiry by the Accidents Investigation Branch will take place before maintenance can be performed.

Now there is an adventure for sure! A real nail biter in lousy weather! Well done!:pilot:

That was fantastic Larry, I wanted it to go on longer, glad you made it safely my friend, those passengers were lucky you were flying, would have been a lot different if I had been lol.

 

Col.

Wow, a Retro flight with an extra adventure....:eek: Great emergency landing Larry, good to see you saved souls and plane! I like the livery on the Viking, I've also a DC-4 in these colors. Great job once more! :)

Larry - Beautiful aircraft and nice scenery. I especially like the pic and warning of engine #1 on fire, always wondered how to get a pic like that and you have beat me to it, and you did it very well!

 

Thanks for sharing! Rick :cool:

Great post!

Looks great

awesome

He only got one engine on fire, he's not that good, if I had been flying I would have had the aircraft on fire lol.

 

Just joking Larry, what I meant was, I'm a terrible pilot mate.

 

Col.

Quite an entertaining little flight Larry. Not for the passengers:( but us the onlookers ;)

 

I like the livery of Overseas Airways. Pretty attractive. I assume it's Rick Piper's model.

 

Col, don't be so critical of yourself, it's been a while since you lost a plane by fire!

Only winding you up mate, I reckon you're an ok pilot.

The diversion to Coventry was a bad omen indeed: :):)

Thanks David, Col., Jan, Rick, Blair, Darren Ted & Gerard. Everyone needs a little drama once in a while. :)

For a minute there I thought this was a Jan post with all the smoke. ;) Other than the accident, great retro post once again larry! :)

Great flight and shots Larry. To bad about the fire, at least you made it back okay.

"For a minute there I thought this was a Jan post with all the smoke." TSK! And WHY would someone think this? HUH! :mad:

Thanks Adam and John. Had I wanted to imitate Jan I would have used a submarine. :D

"For a minute there I thought this was a Jan post with all the smoke." TSK! And WHY would someone think this? HUH! :mad:

 

 

Give me a good reason not to. :mad:

Thanks Adam and John. Had I wanted to imitate Jan I would have used a submarine. :D

 

 

I see your point Larry. :D

Simply awesome thread Larry. Enjoyed every bit of it. Great work.

Thanks Khalid. :)