Yea, I've flown through enough thunderstorms on this flight so far that I'm sure I've burned up a few lives... I'm going to rename my aeroplane the "Fickle Feline"!
Jimmy's Quest to See a Kangaroo
- Thread starter JimmyRFR
- Start date
Yea, I've flown through enough thunderstorms on this flight so far that I'm sure I've burned up a few lives... I'm going to rename my aeroplane the "Fickle Feline"!
Down safe at OIBB
Rather uneventful, right up until the last several minutes of the descent. Soup, soup, soup. I was trying to maximize my time up high where there was no headwind; I've been trying to time my descent so as to leave a good margin for error, but on this leg I was cutting it pretty close. Started getting nervous at 3000' when I couldn't see the water underneath. Still couldn't see it at 1500'. Finally saw water underneath me at 800', leveled off and squinted until I saw the coast. It came up fast, with the airport right where it should be; I was pretty happy to see it.
Flight Time: 02:02:56
Routine Ground Time: 00:45:00
Special Ground Time: 00:00:00
Penalty Time: 00:00:00
View attachment FlightLog_00-50-07.TXT
By the way, Halloween candy makes for good flying treats!
Rather uneventful, right up until the last several minutes of the descent. Soup, soup, soup. I was trying to maximize my time up high where there was no headwind; I've been trying to time my descent so as to leave a good margin for error, but on this leg I was cutting it pretty close. Started getting nervous at 3000' when I couldn't see the water underneath. Still couldn't see it at 1500'. Finally saw water underneath me at 800', leveled off and squinted until I saw the coast. It came up fast, with the airport right where it should be; I was pretty happy to see it.
Flight Time: 02:02:56
Routine Ground Time: 00:45:00
Special Ground Time: 00:00:00
Penalty Time: 00:00:00
View attachment FlightLog_00-50-07.TXT
By the way, Halloween candy makes for good flying treats!
Deaprting Bushire for Jask
After being laid up in Bushire for a night - I must have eaten something that really didn't agree with me, could barely move out of bed for the last 24 hours - I'm going to push on to Jask. I hear that the winds are favorable up high once again.
After being laid up in Bushire for a night - I must have eaten something that really didn't agree with me, could barely move out of bed for the last 24 hours - I'm going to push on to Jask. I hear that the winds are favorable up high once again.
Down safe at OIZJ
I now see what everyone else has meant by 'Permafig'. Wow. Lucky I didn't miss that little jut of land that Jask sits on. Had a very nice tailwind up at 11,000 ft though.
Flight Time: 01:57:50
Routine Ground Time: 00:45:00
Special Ground Time: 00:00:00
Penalty Time: 00:00:00
View attachment FlightLog_14-26-09.TXT
I now see what everyone else has meant by 'Permafig'. Wow. Lucky I didn't miss that little jut of land that Jask sits on. Had a very nice tailwind up at 11,000 ft though.
Flight Time: 01:57:50
Routine Ground Time: 00:45:00
Special Ground Time: 00:00:00
Penalty Time: 00:00:00
View attachment FlightLog_14-26-09.TXT
Down safe at OPSF
Uneventful flight, right up until descending into the soup at Karachi. Thank god that there happened to be lights on the runway, or I wouldn't of spotted it. I'll be honest, I wasn't certain that I'd landed at the right airport until I double checked the log.
Flight Time: 02:24:51
Routine Ground Time: 00:45:00
Special Ground Time: 00:00:00
Penalty Time: 00:00:00
View attachment FlightLog_20-59-11.TXT
Uneventful flight, right up until descending into the soup at Karachi. Thank god that there happened to be lights on the runway, or I wouldn't of spotted it. I'll be honest, I wasn't certain that I'd landed at the right airport until I double checked the log.
Flight Time: 02:24:51
Routine Ground Time: 00:45:00
Special Ground Time: 00:00:00
Penalty Time: 00:00:00
View attachment FlightLog_20-59-11.TXT
Down safe at VIJO
Well, this looks as good place as any to stretch my legs. My blue aeroplane is attracting quite a bit of attention here, might be hard to sneak off and grab a bite of curry.
Flight Time: 01:37:26
Routine Ground Time: 00:45:00
Special Ground Time: 00:00:00
Penalty Time: 00:00:00
View attachment FlightLog_23-25-24.TXT
Well, this looks as good place as any to stretch my legs. My blue aeroplane is attracting quite a bit of attention here, might be hard to sneak off and grab a bite of curry.
Flight Time: 01:37:26
Routine Ground Time: 00:45:00
Special Ground Time: 00:00:00
Penalty Time: 00:00:00
View attachment FlightLog_23-25-24.TXT
Down safe at VIAL
Allahabad at last. Good god man, will this fog never end? I shall be happy to be free of it; reports are that it lessens in the next leg or so. It sure makes for a strain on the eyes trying to spot the airfield. Good thing I brought these binoculars with me! Also, I'm starting to think that I need to round up a cushion or two for this thin wood bench, it is certainly not meant for such endurance flying.
Flight Time: 02:15:16
Routine Ground Time: 00:45:00
Special Ground Time: 00:00:00
Penalty Time: 00:00:00
View attachment FlightLog_21-53-00.TXT
I'm off in search of a hot meal and a spot of tea whilst the fine officials here take a through look at my aircraft.
Allahabad at last. Good god man, will this fog never end? I shall be happy to be free of it; reports are that it lessens in the next leg or so. It sure makes for a strain on the eyes trying to spot the airfield. Good thing I brought these binoculars with me! Also, I'm starting to think that I need to round up a cushion or two for this thin wood bench, it is certainly not meant for such endurance flying.
Flight Time: 02:15:16
Routine Ground Time: 00:45:00
Special Ground Time: 00:00:00
Penalty Time: 00:00:00
View attachment FlightLog_21-53-00.TXT
I'm off in search of a hot meal and a spot of tea whilst the fine officials here take a through look at my aircraft.
Departing Allahabad for Calcutta
No sooner had I just settled in under one of the tents set up on the airfield, feet up and a cup of tea in my hands, did the officials wave me over. "You're all good to go, sir!" they said, looking at me expectantly. I sighed, shook my head and looked back longingly at the nice comfortable chairs set up in the shade of the main tent.
"Any chance for a pillow?" I asked.
They must of thought I was cracking a joke, for they all started to chuckle. I took that as a sign, and climbed into my trusty wooden seat. A check of the flaps, a turn of the magneto and once again I was rocketing down the runway.
Maybe they'll have cushions I can beg or borrow in Calcutta!
No sooner had I just settled in under one of the tents set up on the airfield, feet up and a cup of tea in my hands, did the officials wave me over. "You're all good to go, sir!" they said, looking at me expectantly. I sighed, shook my head and looked back longingly at the nice comfortable chairs set up in the shade of the main tent.
"Any chance for a pillow?" I asked.
They must of thought I was cracking a joke, for they all started to chuckle. I took that as a sign, and climbed into my trusty wooden seat. A check of the flaps, a turn of the magneto and once again I was rocketing down the runway.
Maybe they'll have cushions I can beg or borrow in Calcutta!
Down safe at VECC
That was easily the worst visibility yet coming in to land at Calcutta. I ended up making two passes over the airfield before I managed to pin down, spatially, where it was in relation to me so as to actually line up and be sure I wasn't going to either overshoot or land on someone's roof. As it was, I'm sure I may have been trailing someone's laundry off of one of my wheel pants! And thank goodness, I guess, that the fog was so thick that likely the race representative didn't actually see my wild dive, cutting the throttle and cranking down full flaps to plop down on the runway, else he'd kick me off this race sure.
Flight Time: 02:12:58
Routine Ground Time: 00:45:00
Special Ground Time: 00:00:00
Penalty Time: 00:00:00
Would of scored a better time there had it not been for the near ten minutes spent flailing in the air around and about the countryside surrounding the field!
View attachment FlightLog_00-42-06.TXT
That was easily the worst visibility yet coming in to land at Calcutta. I ended up making two passes over the airfield before I managed to pin down, spatially, where it was in relation to me so as to actually line up and be sure I wasn't going to either overshoot or land on someone's roof. As it was, I'm sure I may have been trailing someone's laundry off of one of my wheel pants! And thank goodness, I guess, that the fog was so thick that likely the race representative didn't actually see my wild dive, cutting the throttle and cranking down full flaps to plop down on the runway, else he'd kick me off this race sure.
Flight Time: 02:12:58
Routine Ground Time: 00:45:00
Special Ground Time: 00:00:00
Penalty Time: 00:00:00
Would of scored a better time there had it not been for the near ten minutes spent flailing in the air around and about the countryside surrounding the field!
View attachment FlightLog_00-42-06.TXT
Yes Jimmy the persistent "permafig" is really bad in these parts - would think the last Monsoon winds would blow it away. As you are aware, it nailed me at Jask (a glowing red permafig in the setting sun). When I finally found the field, the locals had let more than just grass grow under their feet and around their tents! I needed 3 passes over the field to spot a gap that I could land on, all the time battling to stay spatially oriented in a now-dark, ground-hogging cloud / sandstorm.
Departing Calcutta for Rangoon
After a small bit of trouble with the fuel system prior to take off yesterday, a bit of rag, some chewing gum and more than a little luck will have me taking off for Rangoon as soon as the sun is up.
A radio report has come in from Rangoon, it seems there's thunderstorms on the make there.
I'm sure visibility will be lovely once again!
After a small bit of trouble with the fuel system prior to take off yesterday, a bit of rag, some chewing gum and more than a little luck will have me taking off for Rangoon as soon as the sun is up.
A radio report has come in from Rangoon, it seems there's thunderstorms on the make there.
I'm sure visibility will be lovely once again!
Down safe at VYYY
I'm sure at this point that I'm cursed when it comes to weather. The closer I came to Rangoon, the worse the storms got. A bit better visibility by maybe a mile or two more, but those clouds were near on the ground. Miserable. I'm sure that these places look nice, but I'll never be able to tell you!
Flight Time: 02:52:31
Routine Ground Time: 00:45:00
Special Ground Time: 00:00:00
Penalty Time: 00:00:00
View attachment FlightLog_22-31-27.TXT
I'm sure at this point that I'm cursed when it comes to weather. The closer I came to Rangoon, the worse the storms got. A bit better visibility by maybe a mile or two more, but those clouds were near on the ground. Miserable. I'm sure that these places look nice, but I'll never be able to tell you!
Flight Time: 02:52:31
Routine Ground Time: 00:45:00
Special Ground Time: 00:00:00
Penalty Time: 00:00:00
View attachment FlightLog_22-31-27.TXT
Departing Rangoon for Alor Star
"There are no foreign lands. It is the traveler only who is foreign." - Robert Louis Stevenson
A small rest, spending the hours listening to the thunderstorms play out overhead, and today a big push forward. Skipping Bangkok, I aim to head straight for Alor Star on a direct loxodrome of 158 degrees. Will spend about 3 hours at 11,000 feet before descending. I've heard that they've had some large amount of rain at Alor Star, hopefully there will still be a dry bit of land to park on.
"There are no foreign lands. It is the traveler only who is foreign." - Robert Louis Stevenson
A small rest, spending the hours listening to the thunderstorms play out overhead, and today a big push forward. Skipping Bangkok, I aim to head straight for Alor Star on a direct loxodrome of 158 degrees. Will spend about 3 hours at 11,000 feet before descending. I've heard that they've had some large amount of rain at Alor Star, hopefully there will still be a dry bit of land to park on.
Down safe at WMKA
Landed at Alor Star; I should want for a tractor to pull me out of this mud. More than a little water on the airfield, enough so that I find myself wondering whether I'll be able to get to speed for a take off. I'm sure I have an extra 50 lbs of mud tucked in the wheel fairings now. Going to see if I can wash some of this off before it dries, while the official here records my logs.
Flight Time: 03:49:18
Routine Ground Time: 00:45:00
Special Ground Time: 00:00:00
Penalty Time: 00:00:00
View attachment FlightLog_13-25-45.TXT
Landed at Alor Star; I should want for a tractor to pull me out of this mud. More than a little water on the airfield, enough so that I find myself wondering whether I'll be able to get to speed for a take off. I'm sure I have an extra 50 lbs of mud tucked in the wheel fairings now. Going to see if I can wash some of this off before it dries, while the official here records my logs.
Flight Time: 03:49:18
Routine Ground Time: 00:45:00
Special Ground Time: 00:00:00
Penalty Time: 00:00:00
View attachment FlightLog_13-25-45.TXT
Departing Alor Star for Singapore
The mud cleaned off nicely, and I'm going to make a try at breaking out of this growing lake. Don't want to be stuck here if it rains again!
(I'm 15 minutes late in making this post; I had written it and thought I had hit send but when I cycled back to this tab it was still sitting here, so apparently I hadn't!)
The mud cleaned off nicely, and I'm going to make a try at breaking out of this growing lake. Don't want to be stuck here if it rains again!
(I'm 15 minutes late in making this post; I had written it and thought I had hit send but when I cycled back to this tab it was still sitting here, so apparently I hadn't!)