salt_air's second run in a Vega named "Puck" number 36

salt_air

salt_air

Charter Member
salt_air's second run in a Vega named "Puck" number 36

Right ...


Not exactly sure how this will pan out ... as time is getting short ... but I am planning to takeoff in the Lockheed Vega number 36 (Puck) ... early tomorrow morning EST from Mildenhall AB (London).

My entry for the Speed Race .... hoping to capitalize on the Vega's long legs and keep stops to a minimum.



I'll be running flat out until I fall out or reach Essendon (Melbourne) yet again ... Oh Boy!
 
Baghdad

Landed safe and tired at Rasheed (OR0G) in Baghdad ... First Compulsory Control Stop.

Epic leg ... took longer than planned ... good that Baghdad is so well lit.

Took some maneuvering to get through Turkey while trying to maintain a productive altitude.

The next leg into Allahabad should be a dozy ... :wiggle:


Good winds until after dark (an hour or so out of Baghdad).

Coming into town at reduced altitude I could see the tower lights from three airports.

Rasheed would be the last one in line and on the east side of the Tigris River.



Flight Time: 12:14:44
Routine Ground Time: 0:45:00
Special Ground Time: 0:00:00
Penalty Time: 0:00:00


The Vega still demands attention and respect when landing.



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Allahabad

Safe and sound at Allahabad ... Second Compulsory Control Stop.


Flight Time: 12:03:25
Routine Ground Time: 0:45:00
Special Ground Time: 0:00:00
Penalty Time: 0:00:00


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Favorable winds again ... don't know what to say.

Took the low road around and may have broke even on time due to the winds and better ground speed.

If we were being judged on fuel consumption I'd be locked up in one of these jails around here.

Thunderstorms just before dawn with plenty of turbulence and lightning.



Still being reminded of the differences in these two aircraft I'm using.

It was nice to run right up on an airport at 3000' and dive for the numbers with the help of the Puss Moth's ingenious speed brake.

Can't do that in this bird ... make that 9000' and you need to reduce 100 kts from your airspeed before touchdown ... no speed brake or flaps ... have to have nose up pitch so you can use the huge wings as drag.

Stay airborne as long as you can .... just a few feet above the runway ... land at stall speed.

At that speed the brakes actually have some effect without nosing the plane over.



Whew ... boy ... I haven't had this much fun since the hogs ate Grandma ... :biggrin-new:



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salt_air said:
Across more "Humps" to Allahabad ... or should I sat around? :wavey:
Click to expand...

So far two longs days in the left seat "office."
The flights get shorter as you go.

Option #3 of course was through the humps, which you, as a personal guru and flight advisor, had advised.
Of course, it has to be a clear day to pick a pass, resulting in winding around narrow canyons in hopes it wasn't a "box canyon."

Having been raised in the western Rockies, I'm quit aware of the risks involved....but the reward...quite the fun!

Still waisting away here in margaritaville....:very_drunk:


Good luck, and as they say in London, Tally ho mate!:encouragement:
 
Dil52 said:
So far two longs days in the left seat "office."
The flights get shorter as you go.

Option #3 of course was through the humps, which you, as a personal guru and flight advisor, had advised.
Of course, it has to be a clear day to pick a pass, resulting in winding around narrow canyons in hopes it wasn't a "box canyon."

Having been raised in the western Rockies, I'm quit aware of the risks involved....but the reward...quite the fun!

Still waisting away here in margaritaville....:very_drunk:


Good luck, and as they say in London, Tally ho mate!:encouragement:
Click to expand...


Thanks Bud!


"Bob and Weave" (Old friends) works fine short term, but the inability to plan ahead long term due to visibility was an issue.

Like pushing the Gooney Birds through the Andes for the fine Miss Nellie a few years ago ... you can get pre occupied with the two good friends (above) and loose track of course.

Fifteen minutes or so is okay, but after several hours you could be enough off course as to not make it worthwhile.




It's the real weather thing that makes for the gamble .... everything else can be accounted for with compensation made.

The Vega doesn't breath well at higher altitudes (the Electra does a little bit better) ... the line is straighter, but actually you lose ground speed after a point even below the soft ceiling limit if this event.... not a productive option at all if the winds decide to punch you in the nose ... you never know.



Done now anyway ... we'll move on.

Appreciate it!
 
Singapore

Down and safe ... kitchen clean landing ... at Singapore .... Third Compulsory Control Stop (WSSL)

Flight Time: 10:40:24
Routine Ground Time: 0:45:00
Special Ground Time: 0:00:00
Penalty Time: 0:00:00


Glorious weather for a nice peaceful Thanksgiving Day cruise.


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Good winds all day and only partly cloudy .... drifted off course a bit, but that was due to rubber-necking trying to catch some scenery ... rare to be able to see so far in this event.

Of course when I tried to get a glimpse of Port Blair it was covered in clouds.

Seems like every RTW I've been a part of I had to fly into the airport there it was always dark or cloudy and dark.

Good idea to practice landings in any event.

Seletar is not too tuff, but tricky .... shorter than most of the other runways and an intimidating approach over the Singapore River .... throttle cut ... using the yoke to slow the plane and manage descent to touchdown.

No more flying today.




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Darwin

Down and safe at Darwin .... Fourth Compulsory Control Stop

Flight Time: 10:32:32
Routine Ground Time: 0:45:00
Special Ground Time: 0:00:00
Penalty Time: 0:00:00



Heads for the last few hours ... not too strong .... single digits to low teens (kts).

Stuck to the 9000' cruise thinking an altitude change would not be worth it especially if GS got worse and I had to climb back.

Was a bit lazy about headings and such for the last half of the flight (just enough land around to "fence" the flight in) and found myself flying over Bathurst Island instead of having it in view out of the portside ... no worries, just as good for confirmation and not all that far off.


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Think I will pay attention during the climb out tomorrow and maybe cruise at a different altitude .... the Puss Moth made it at 3000' ... way before the 9000' I have been using.

Catch some GS readings at each thousand foot to see which one works the best.
Yeah ... you know, just in time for the wind to change on me. :wavey:



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