Around the world in 175 days.

[THibben]

The 737-200 brought memories

I was in Boeing Flight Test during the certification testing of the 737. I was assigned to the second one built and was an instrumentation engineer. I had many flight hours and loved them all. Occasionally the "pucker" factor got a little high but it was all great fun.

I spent my whole career starting in 1956 at Boeing and all but a couple of years of it in flight test.

Tom

 

[blanston12]

I was in Boeing Flight Test during the certification testing of the 737. I was assigned to the second one built and was an instrumentation engineer. I had many flight hours and loved them all. Occasionally the "pucker" factor got a little high but it was all great fun.

I spent my whole career starting in 1956 at Boeing and all but a couple of years of it in flight test.

Tom

That's a great story thanks for sharing. The early 737's were one of my favorite aircraft when I was growing up, PSA and AirCal had the best paint jobs and those fun built in air-stairs.

 

[hairyspin]

I well remember how monotonous the mid-west is from airliner altitude on a flight with completely clear skies all the way from Niagara to the west coast. I’d still like to do it again for what comes next!

 

[blanston12]

September 18, 1924: The original plan was to follow the airmail route over the Rocky Mountians through Cheyanne Wyoming and Salt lake city but the lowest point in the continental divide was 6500 feet and the airmail planes often had to fly between 8000 and 9000 feet to safely pass. Lt Smith wanting to avoid the risks of flying at that altitude decided, with General Patricks approval, to fly through Dallas Texas and San Diego California before returning to the 'official' starting point of Seattle Washington. So instead of continuing west from Omaha that morning they headed south following the Missouri river 125 miles to the town of St Joseph Missouri, there they would be treated to a luncheon by the civic leaders and watch an aerobatic show by Lt Rubin Moffatt before heading to there next stop.


October 15, 2017: For the next leg I will be using the Cessna 177 Cardinal. The 177 was a “futuristic successor to the Cessna 172 with both fixed and retractable landing gear versions. Although it never really replaced the 172, at least 4295 were built between 1968 and 1979. The model I am using is the 177RG version by Alabeo and it is quite nice. Weather for the flight was clear and calm, temperature of 4C/39F. The flight itself was uneventful, followed the Missouri River south to the Rosecrahs Memorial Airport in St Joseph Missouri. The 93mn flight took 44 minutes.


Here are the pics:

Ready to go.

Everything looks good.

Cruisin.

Following the Missouri River.

 

[blanston12]

You have got to show me.

Selfie.

Nice view of the river and the fall colors.

On Final.

Landed.


Thanks for reading
ATB.

 

[blanston12]

September 18, 1924: After the luncheon in St Joseph, the flyers were back in the air for Hatbox field in Muskogee, Oklahoma, where they were welcomed by a large number of planes and chartered passenger busses that had converged on the small town to welcome them. At the evenings banquet they were given gold medallions for there “Intrepid flying skills”.


October 18, 1924: For the next leg I will be using the Handley Page Jetstream 200. The Jetstream is a two engine turboprop small airliner that first flew in 1967. About 67 were built by Handley Page and Scottish Aviation before the design was acquired by British Aerospace who developed it into the Jetstream 31 and 41. The model I am using is an almost finished beta by Rick Piper, and despite the fact that he did not finish the pilot seats is a great model and nice to fly.


Biggest dilemma for this flight was the destination airport to use, originally they used Hatbox field, but Hatbox closed in 2000 and even though it still exists in P3D its runways are pretty small, so following the rule of what airport would I use today I will use Davis field which is the current airport for Muskogee. They weather was good for flying, clear and calm with a temperature of 10C/50F. The flight was uneventful except that ActiveSky started giving strange error messages and I had to shut it down, switching instead to the 'fair' weather scheme. The 248nm flight took 1.1 hours.

Ready to go.

Get the selfie out of the way.

Out over the plains.

Glamour Shots.

 

[blanston12]

Oklahoma where the wind comes sweeping down the plain

Everything looks normal.

Fair weather.

Flying over Davis Field.

Landed,


Thanks for reading.
ATB.

 

[hairyspin]

Do they still wave Old Glory at the courthouse in Muskogee? No, they don’t, as a friend discovered on a road trip last year: he wanted a photo of himself next to the courthouse complete with flag but the pole was bare.

 

[jmbiii]

The flag still flies at the courthouse and across the street at the post office.

 

[blanston12]

Do they still wave Old Glory at the courthouse in Muskogee? No, they don’t, as a friend discovered on a road trip last year: he wanted a photo of himself next to the courthouse complete with flag but the pole was bare.

Man, those budget cuts are brutal!

 

[blanston12]

September 19, 1924: They awoke to rain storm with heavy wind that blew in the windows of there hotel, the airfield looked like it had been turned into a lake but despite that they were in the air by late morning bound for Love Field in Dallas, Texas, where they were met by another large crowd, all wanting to shake the hand and talk to the airmen. That evening there was another banquet where they were given more unexpected gifts from the citizens of Dallas.


October 21, 2017: For the next leg I will be using the 747-200. First flying in 1969, The 747 was the first wide body jet and it held the record for passenger capacity record for 37 years. With its distinctive hump upper deck one of the most recognizable aircraft. Boeing predicted that supersonic aircraft would soon make it obsolete and predicted it would sell only 400 but it exceeded all expectations and so far over 1500 have been built and more are still on order. The model I am using is by CLS/JustFlight and is one of my favorites but wish they would upgrade it to P3D V4 soon.


The weather for the flight was cloudy, 14 knot winds with overcast at 6500 feet and a temperature of 23C/73F. I ended up climbing up to 12000 feet to stay above the clouds. Love Field Airport in Dallas had an even lower cloud level, since I did not want to take any chances with such a large aircraft I did something I have not done on this trip so far, I contacted air traffic control and requested an ILS approach into Love Field. I made a safe landing after flying the 184 nm in 50 minutes.


I know did more pics than normal but I could not help myself, here they are:

Ready for takeoff.

Just enough runway.

Climbing out of Muskogee.

Selfie!

 

[blanston12]

Only steers and queers come from Texas, Private Cowboy.

Geting above the clouds.

Cruising.

Lots of clouds.

 

[blanston12]

And you don't look much like a steer to me so that kinda narrows it down.

Glamour Shots.

On Final into Love Field.

Landed.

 

[blanston12]

September 20, 1924: They left Dallas with enough fuel to fly 645 miles to El Paso, Texas but oil pump problems on Boston II forced them to land a Sweetwater, Texas. Although there landing was unexpected the personnel at the airport rustled up a picnic lunch for them.


October 21, 2017: For the next leg I will be using the SOCATA TB-10 Tobago. The Socata TB is a series of single engine aircraft by French aircraft company SOCATA. Widely used training and touring aircraft and are often used for instrument training. They are defined by their superior fit and finish and interior size at the expense of performance. About 2150 were built between 1975 and 2007. The model I am using is by JustFlight is nice. Weather for takeoff was ok, 10 knot winds with a few clouds at 6000 feet and a temperature of 28C/82F. They flight to Sweetwater was uneventful, flying at 4000 feet at a fairly leisurely pace, the 184 nm flight took 1.7 hours.


Here are the pics;

Ready to go.

Climbing out of Dallas.

Heading west.

Starting to rain.

 

[blanston12]

Deep in the Heart of Texas!

Greener than I expected.

Glamour shots!

Destination in sight!

Secured.


Thanks for reading
ATB.

 

[blanston12]

September 20, 1924: After only an hour they were able to repair the fuel pump on Boston II and add some fuel and oil to the tanks and they were off for El Paso, Texas. As the came in to park the crowd that was there to welcome them surged through the police line and surrounded them and prevented the flyers from servicing there aircraft. That evening there was another banquet where they were given more gifts of local significance.


October 21, 2017: For the next leg I will be using the Beech King Air 350. Originally known as the Super King Air, the Super King Air family first flew in 1972 and is still in production, the longest production run of any civilian turboprop aircraft in its class. By 2015 over 3700 have been built. The model I am using is the default model that comes with P3D and is basically the same one as has been part of MSFS for quite some time, and is showing its age, but I flew this quite a bit back in the day and always liked it. The flight to El Paso was uneventful, Heavy rain and lightning over Sweetwater delayed departure for a while but was soon in the air after is passed. Flying at around 8000 feet and landed at Biggs Army Air Field in El Paso, Texas. The 303nm flight took 1.4 hours. Sorry I forgot to record the weather.


Here are the pics:

Ready for takeoff.

Climbing out of Sweetwater.

Lots of flat out here.

Glamour Shots.

 

[blanston12]

Out in the west Texas town of El Paso, I fell in love with a Mexican girl...

Hills as we get closer to El Paso.

Cruisin.

Suns getting lower, hope we get there soon.

Landed.


Thanks for reading
ATB.

 

[stearmandriver]

Just wanted to chime in and say that I've been enjoying following this trip from the beginning. Thanks for documenting it! Excited to be approaching the conclusion!

 

[blanston12]

October 22, 2017: For the next leg I will be using the General Dynamics F-16. The F-16 Fighting Falcon is a single-engine fighter aircraft by General Dynamics for the USAF. Over 4,500 aircraft have been built since 1976. The Fighting Falcon's key features include a frameless bubble canopy, side-mounted control stick, a seat reclined 30 degrees to reduce the effect of g-forces, and the first use of a relaxed static stability/fly-by-wire flight control system. The F-16 has also used by the air forces of 25 other nations. As of 2015, it is the most numerous airplane in military service. The Model I am using is the one that comes as a default aircraft in P3D V4 and is nice.


The flight was uneventful, clear skies with 8 knot winds and a temperature of 17C/63F. Keeping at 8000 feet and 50% power I think this is the fastest leg yet, cruising at 625 knots, I did not want to go faster as I was worried about using up all the fuel before reaching Tucson 230 nm away. As it is, the flight only took 29 minutes including taxi time.


Here are the pics:

Ready to go.

Glamour shots.

Cruising

Along the mountains.

 

[blanston12]

Jojo left his home in Tucson, Arizona

Along the mountians.

Selfie.

On final.

Landed.


Thanks for reading.
ATB.