Flight 19 European Vacation

After several fits and starts, I was back in the air in time to join the group for the arrival at UHPP.
 
Seems Taco's problems are getting contagious, had a second toss from the server in 2 days, which forced me to realign the gyros a second time today, putting me nearly 20 minutes behind the pack at takeoff. MM joined about the time I departed, but warped ahead to join them. I chose to ditch the GPS unit for some practice with the INS so warping was not an option. The CIVA INS tracked as good as the GPS would've so I'm sold on the unit, just need a bit of prep time before every flight. Still made it to Russia without drawing a fighter escort, tho I ran the center fuel tank nearly dry leaving the wing tanks untouched.
 
Icelandair wanted their 727 back. Found this ol' Comet at the local swap n shop. I got it pretty cheap.
 
Hoo boy.. What a flight.. Started out in the Comet and Otto did an excellent job of putting it in the drink. Never could get it to act right. No wonder it was so cheap. So I switched to this F9F Panther that I've been tweaking on and needs a bunch of testing. It showed lots of promise on this flight even if I did flip it while taxiing after landing.
 
Left snowy Shemya for Adak. After I got through a few issues with FS. Then it was a very nice flight with unusual weather at Adak (clear and low wind)
 
A handful of snapshots on the way to a Adak (PADK). With a strong tailwind moving us along, we experienced a surprisingly clear day for the Aleutians. A bit breezy on finals, of course, and all ended well.
 
Brilliant screens of the Whisperjet Mike!


The pilot seemed to have a real good grip on the controls as well ... give him my regards as well ... :wiggle:
 
:wavey:A very nice flight tonight from PADK to PACD. Well it seems that the Boys from BOAC needed the VC-10 back asap, it seems that they needed to get it painted something about a merger, but Dudley and I did come up with a replacement very quick. A Convair 880M! So we will be flying the 880 until we get to KBFI.
 
Another day of excellent weather for the Aleutians this time of year. Although there was a 19kt crosswind at Cold Bay. The F9F is flying very well just have to be careful with it on the ground as it will get away from you. Another fun flight...
 
:wiggle:OK, same oh, same oh, not really, a very nice flight from PACD to Big Bear Country PADQ. Up until now haven't seen any big bears as yet. Was kind of fearful that one of those giants might take a notion to walk across the runway on our landing, but as told by the ground control not to worry, easy for him to say! I don't think bears and cats get along very well. Again, tomorrow we will be off to Sitka (PASI).
 
Lots of clouds over the Alaska Peninsula gave us only glimpses of the spectacular scenery below. Good conversation filled the void. At the end, the late afternoon sun made for a scenic approach to Kodiak islands PADQ, to the delight of all.
 
Just a few snaps of the first part of last night flight. Forgot all about taking any more! senior moment!
 
Thankfully we all had collisions turned off, as I came in to PASI the weather turned UGLY- 1/2 mile vis and no glideslope. Didn't see the traffic on the short runway, Taco was stuck in the mud at the threshhold, MM was taxiing on the runway shoulder, and Moses (I believe) simultaneously touching down at the opposite end. So I go high to avoid Taco, touch down just as I clip MM's wing, then pour on the brakes only to have another 727's nose appear and fill my windsceen at the end of the runway. By this time it's way too late for a go-around, so I ride my jet right into the bay @ 60 kts with reversers on, speedbrakes deployed and parking brakes set. The 10 seconds of panic made me forget about taking pics that surely would've appeared on the front pages of national newspapers.

Ohhhh, the carnage !!!
 
Just as well I lagged behind, I see.
By the time I arrived in the DC-8 demonstrator they had cleared most of the rubble from the runway and the nighttime, no-GS approach into a dark hole over hills, across water was pretty routine...:kilroy:

Wonder what the Boeing boys are going to fly to get back to Seattle? I hear there are a couple of Grumman Geese lying around...

Anyway, to psych you up some more, I ran into a buddy who was driving a TCA charter to Port Hardy with a load of salmon-fishing tourists and he graciously emailed me a pic of the approach (ILS Rwy 11). Disclaimer: FSX trees may be larger than seen in the windscreen...

View attachment 50734 View attachment 50735

It's a pretty spot for a vacation...
 
Sorry I missed all the fun. I was tied up with some wannabe mechanics and a broken minivan.

Sounds like I'd have needed to use the tail hook....
 
Flew on down to Port Hardy Vancouver Island. I got most of the way there and realised that the canopy was open. With all that extra whistling I thought the muffler had fallen off the jet engine.


Pics got a bit scrambled up.
 
:applause:Hi all, just a few snaps from last nights flight. All in all it was a great flight. The runway at Port Hardy was a little shorter than we are use to, but we in the Convair 880M came in just a little above stall and set her down real easy, spoilers up, rev activeated, and bingo came to a stop using only about half of the runway. Now the big problem is to get this bird out of Port Hardy and then onto KBFI.
 
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