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2012 Cape-to-Cape - Nick - CavalierDuck

FOGO - DRRN

Thanks salt, you're doing pretty well yourself! That flight across the Sahara especially.

Leaving FOGO for DRRN Niamey, Niger. Preferably away from the thunderstorms which seem to be plaguing me....
 
FOGO - DRRN

On the ground at DRRN and it looks like I've left all the central African thunderstorms behind at last! :jump: Nice flight actually. That's the second longest flight in my route done, I had a nice little tailwind most of the way. Hope that stays because the longest flight is up next.

View attachment 63703

Duenna:
http://fs-duenna.com/flights/ShowFlight.php?detail=flight&value=D9tQLXeBdkE521nBZZznJVcgA

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Nice run up to Naimey. Looks like you got a nice tailwind push. Hope to see some more screenshots of your legs.
 
DRRN - DAOR

Here we go for the long one, Niamey to Bechar across the Sahara. Isn't air conditioning great?! This is close to the edge of the range for the Socata, I could be in trouble if a strong headwind shows up; I've checked out the conditions en route and it looks OK to go. Maybe I won't need the camel food I was going to take just in case...
 
DRRN - DAOR

Down safe at DAOR Bechar, Algeria. That's the long one done, with no need to hitch a camel ride to finish. I did a pre-dawn takeoff to see the desert sunrise - that was well worth it. There wasn't much fuel left in my Socata by the end though as there was a headwind for a section of the cruise. I throttled back just a little in the last hour and a half to give me a bit more reserve in case the wind shifted again but fortunately the wind gods let me off after just giving me a scare.

View attachment 63773

Duenna:
http://fs-duenna.com/flights/ShowFlight.php?detail=flight&value=GuRMzKhB0WiBpbGUaNhFwVLg0

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Next stop Europe!
 
Well done Nick! You shatterd my time and speed on this leg. I had a bit more headwind (15.7 knts average) but there is no denying that the Socata is one fast bird. Looks like it has spoilers too. Very nice for controlling speed in descent.
 
Out of Africa: DAOR - LEPA

Leaving the African continent now, flying DAOR to LEPA, Palma, Majorca. Looks like the Balearics are a popular choice for the intermediate stop in the Modern Era.
 
DAOR - LEPA

Arrived LEPA, Palma, Majorca. A bit murky coming in to LEPA but ILS made sure there were no mishaps.

I might be staying in Majorca a few days as the next leg is into the Alps and I'd like good weather for that - not just for the flying but also for some nice screenshots.

View attachment 63887

Duenna:
http://fs-duenna.com/flights/ShowFlight.php?detail=flight&value=dQJg17D39XlDWVcYTMkS7b6eas

View attachment 63897View attachment 63898View attachment 63899View attachment 63900View attachment 63901
 
jt_dub said:
Well done Nick! You shatterd my time and speed on this leg. I had a bit more headwind (15.7 knts average) but there is no denying that the Socata is one fast bird. Looks like it has spoilers too. Very nice for controlling speed in descent.
Click to expand...

I wish those spoilers actually did something!! I think they are visual effects only, I've haven't been able to discern any difference to the aircraft's performance. Descents don't seem to be much of a problem (OK, I'm not doing full-blown RTWR descents for this event) but this bird is hard to get down to landing speed. I'm sure throwing the props into reverse on short final isn't recommended procedure but it seems to do the trick....
 
LEPA - LIMW

Apparently it's a nice evening in Aosta so I'm dragging myself off the beach in Majorca to fly the next leg: LEPA to LIMW and if all goes well, some bonus time.
 
LEPA - LIMW

A very nice flight across the Mediterranean ending in the Italian Alps. The main approach to rwy 27 at LIMW Aosta is along a valley running east - west. That might not sound so hard but coming from the south you have to clear peaks in excess of 10,000ft then drop steeply down into the valley, levelling out about 3000ft to turn onto the approach (serious RTWR descent practice here!). The weather was mostly clear but a large cloud was right in my path as I started the drop into the valley, which gave some nervous moments ("I really hope there isn't a mountain in there....") but a great sense of relief when I came out of the bottom of the cloud into the clear valley below.

One hour bonus claimed for full stop landing at LIMW Aosta.

View attachment 64004

Screenshots to follow tomorrow.

Duenna:
http://fs-duenna.com/flights/ShowFlight.php?detail=flight&value=Ffwqbn4CzdA0suOykO9EHfTuASI


 
LIMW - LSMI

And now for something completely different... LIMW Aosta to LSMI Interlaken, staying below 12,000ft for the 15 minute bonus.
 
LIMW - LSMI

Landed safely at LSMI.

I checked out these short Alpine flights a long time ago and had my flight plan all ready. A bit of a twisty-turny route up a valley, shoot a pass at the top into the next valley with maybe 200ft of altitude to spare, then a short gentle cruise ending with another hair-raiser across a ridge just before a descent through a gap down into the valley then a hard left turn to make a nice gentle approach to rwy 23. It's nice when a plan comes together!

Bonus of 15 minutes claimed for LIMW - LSMI below 12,000ft (max. altitude from Duenna 11, 805ft).

View attachment 64213

Duenna:
http://fs-duenna.com/flights/ShowFlight.php?detail=flight&value=sHTSXYN0PvCcGc3OxBU2SRQ6eA
 
LSMI - LSZS

And after a short break at Interlaken, straight on to Samedan LSZS for the one hour landing bonus. This leg is also to be flown at below 12,000ft for the extra 15 minutes bonus.
 
LSZS - ESOE

After a weekend of spring skiing in St Moritz (I wish!!), it's time to get back to it. LSZS Samedan to ESOE Orebro, Sweden for my intermediate stop and the penultimate leg of the route.

Dirty weather in Samedan for take-off but if I fly straight up the valley I shouldn't hit any granite clouds.
 
ESOE - ENHV

About to depart for what should be the final flight of this epic ESOE - ENHV. North Cape here we come!
 
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