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Royal India Mail

Flew on over some mountains to Mysore. Which is aptly named considering the landing I made there...
 
A couple more snaps from the slower Puss Moth. We had to climb up over the Western Ghats and on to the Deccan Plateau. The bulk of the Indian peninsula, the Deccan, stands some 2,000-3,000 feet above sea level. The mountains and plateau are a manifestation of the Deccan Traps, a series of massive volcanic eruptions and lava flows some 65 million years ago.

The last photo shows the colorful contingent of Puss Moth (MM), Fairchild PT-19 (JohnC), WACO Taperwing (Taco), and Boeing Model 40 (Willy). Mysore's international airport utilizes a grass field.
 
Shame you couldnt addd my Stearman to that pic-alas your online flights are about 3am for me over this side of the pond :(
I got to Mysore the other night-the hops are a nice length that you can do a few at a time.Climbed away from a stormy coast, and still had trouble finding the field!
 
Time to get caught up.

Departed Cochin for an early morning flight. The weather was good but that did not hold out.

About half way to Kaipur I ran into thunder storms and of course the typical 2.5 sm of vis at destination.

The landing was with out event.
 
With the storm still raging on we decided to error on the side of Danger and just go for it.

After all the Mail must get threw.

As pointed out by MM there is a very nice grass strip here.
 
Headed back to the coast through the mountains and thunderstorms. Great time was had by all.
 
Couple kodaks from the previous flight. We flew through some thunderstorms, but the wings stayed glued on.
 
Had problems with the Boeing and found this pretty little yellow and black aeroplane at the local swap and shop. The guy there said it's perfectly safe and there was room behind the seat for the mailbag, so I took it. It is a bit touchy on landing though.....
 
Yesterday's flight was a good one but somebody decided to bring out the big guns.

That P-61 looks like it could swallow this Ansaldo whole.
 
We flew on back across the Ghat Mountains. The Gee Bee is flying good at this slower pace, but landings are tricky with it as always. I bounced the heck out of it and had to go full throttle to take back off so I could try it again. Landed great the second time, but the engine died so it was probably a good thing I didn't have to go full throttle again.
 
Not too many photos on my end so far. Who wants to see the default Tri-motor anyways? :cool:

Here is one from the other night on approach to VAGO.
 
We headed across the mountains again this time to Bombay at the old airport there. Real weather went a bit crazy on us there with a almost 0 vis fog, but we managed to get it reset before we got to the airport. One thing about this flight was that the Fokkers outnumbered everyone else.
 
Left Bombay for the diamond center of Surat. Great flight in the thick fog.
 
Good to be back in the saddle again. Caught up with the main group for the hop to VABV Surat. Figged up something fierce along the way but no incidents to report.
 
The Royal India Mail authorities have insisted that we carry more packages. Apparently the "express letter" contest is being won by one GeeBee driver. He seems to impress by speed and style.

Happily, I was able to find a previously-owned de Havilland Dragon Rapide. Managed to brush out the Railway Service advertising and penciled in a few lines for the Indian judges.
http://www.mediafire.com/?m7ey80xtbl8bj4b
 
With the new Royal India Air Mail directive on packages, I ripped the seat out, piled up some packages on the floor and am using the mailbag for a cushion.

Pretty good flight in thick smog most of the way. When we got to Ahmenabad, we parked next to what looks to be the local drive in. At least it looks like one with that smokestack for the grill on top.
 
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