Ratty's Run

Day 3


2200GMT
Off the ground at 3 in the morning local time. Dark and murky with less than a mile visibility, though little actual cloud. It cleared up after 15 minutes or so. Initial speed check half an hour out showed a ground speed a touch over 230 knots. Fair winds at 7,500 most of the way across the bay. Dropped to 5,000 then 2,000 to reduce the headwinds for the run in to the field.


Thunderstorms on the way into Rangoon. Averaged 225 for the trip.
 
Arrived WSSL 0801GMT


Flight Time: 05:01:22
Routine Ground Time: 00:45:00
Special Ground Time: 00:00:00
Penalty Time: 00:00:00
 

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Arrived WADA 0226 GMT


Flight Time: 04:26:24
Routine Ground Time: 00:45:00
Special Ground Time: 00:00:00
Penalty Time: 00:00:00
 

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Journal

Day three, or four, or - whatever.

Out of Singapore with the dawn - actually a couple of hours before dawn. More thunderstorms early on like the ones that dogged my trip down the peninsula, but I seem to be getting clear of them.

I've had an insight. The aeroplane will be at its fastest when the throttle is at its widest and the RPMs at their highest; and that will be true at all altitudes. Therefore, apart from setting the mixture as lean as possible, the only other adjustment you can make is to the altitude; and the height at which you fly determines how far you go - and, of course, how fast you get there.

At 1000 feet with mixture at 60% and 2600 RPM, she'll go 221 kn for almost 4 hours, 840 miles. At 11,000 feet, with the mixture at 30%, she'll go 205 for almost 1500 miles.

I've also examined the reasoning behind splitting a long hop in a particular way. From Singapore to Darwin is almost 1800 miles. That is within my range - at 164 kn, with throttle and RPM reduced. 1800 divided by 164 is 11 hours.

A stop in Selaparang splits it 944 and 903. 944 and 9D3, both at 220, is 4.3 and 4.1 for 8.4 hours. Stopping at WATT, 1373 and 409, is 6.7 and 1.8 for 8.5. Apparently, even with the 45 minutes on the ground, the split makes sense. Now, factoring in headwinds and tailwinds . . .

2333, abeam Tanjung Pandan. Calculate ground speed as 219, distance as 37 miles. Puts me about 8 miles right of track. Pity I can't find my map! It must be under the seat . . .

More thunderstorms over Bali.
 
That's the way to do it! In some races range will overpower speed. Before the race started I did flight testing (same as you provided) and routing differences - using the optional 90 minute stops @ full speed versus going slower and making the Official Royal Aero Club Fuel Stops w/ the 45 minute maintenance time. Range won. Sometimes I think the overall planning is just as exciting doing the actual flying especially when it turns out as planned.

Best of luck for the rest of your run.
 
Great planning Rat.
Speed vs distance. And the required stops, weather, time needed.
With myself, and a very low Vne speed, I need to keep a low IAS for fear of overspeeding. This gives me a great range with plenty of fuel.
 
Arrived YPDN 0704 GMT


Flight Time: 04:04:04
Routine Ground Time: 00:45:00
Special Ground Time: 00:00:00
Penalty Time: 00:00:00
 

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Arrived YPDN 0412 GMT


Flight Time: 06:13:03
Routine Ground Time: 00:45:00
Special Ground Time: 00:00:00
Penalty Time: 00:00:00
 

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Journal


0500GMT
And off we go on the last run of the race. This morning's trip from Darwin to Charleville was very disappointing. There's a trough of low pressure along the route which created headwinds at all altitudes. I ran most of the race low down to try to minimise their effect, but I was using too much fuel and eventually had to climb to extend my range. The 1200-mile trip took six hours and thirteen minutes. That dashes any remote hope I had of winning this - unless I get a 40-knot boot up the backside on this leg.


This afternoon the weather does seem more promising. There's broken cloud around 5,000, and haze, so the visibility is lousy. But all I have to do is dash along from beacon to beacon at 3,000 feet. Forecast winds are from astern, so they'll help.




0530GMT
Well, at least the haze cleared. Of course, this being the Outback (I assume) there's not much to see, but at least at this altitude the ground goes by at a satisfying pace.


0556
First checkpoint, Bourke. On track, 217 miles gone, for a ground speed of 235!
 
Arrived YMEN 0753 GMT


Flight Time: 02:53:20
Routine Ground Time: 00:45:00
Special Ground Time: 00:00:00
Penalty Time: 00:00:00
 

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Journal


0648GMT
Latest check abeam Hillston shows my ground speed at a whopping 245! It's turned into a lovely afternoon. Scattered high clouds, decent vis, a following wind.


And I have time to reflect on what a terrific experience this race has been. The Gull has performed admirably, with nary a problem. And I've learned so much. I'm sure all the other contestants have had a great experience, and my heartiest congratulations go out to them for taking on a challenge of this magnitude and seeing it through.


0719GMT
Abeam Deniliquin with 130 miles to run. Ground speed for the last segment down to 228.


0739GMT
Abeam Mangalore, 50 miles to go.


0753GMT
Down (in one piece) at Melbourne.
 
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