salt_air's ... Southbound Stroll to Cape Town ... "Old School"
- Thread starter salt_air
- Start date
salt_air
Charter Member
Ah hah! ... I knew I had that "feelin' somebody was watchin" .... good thing too ... keep me somewhat on my toes ... so thanks for that!
Jeff, I remember making that turn back to the west it was a shot in the dark ... It just felt like I was too far east.
So many little things can go wrong and make several of the legs in this event a warp into the Twilight Zone real quick.
Kevin mentioned tailwinds .... that's normally a big help ... higher groundspeed and lower fuel ... happy days!
Different situation when you are guessing at groundspeed and using a watch to measure against an average time over distance ... so you know where to turn in the absence of a landmark.
It's an educated guess, when to turn or look for a landmark from what you had documented from charts and looking at the watch.
There was an overall lack of WCA ... when ever I checked ... which meant the I was getting hit in the ol' mug or rackin' up with a nice tail wind .... didn't know how good it was until the text file printed.
More good fortune ... to back up that I was "feeling" was the great visibility at decision time .... I could actually see a much more defined river to the west ... so I cut back that way.
I didn't want to see it up close (Niger River) until way later, but it had gotten too far out of sight.
The natural landmarks at about the 2/3 or 3/4 of the distance began to form a funnel that just got tighter and tighter .... like a funnel and forces you towards where you intended to go.
Looking back now .... I don't want to make it sound too easy, but I hadn't had descent visibility I would have realized the nightmare you were anticipating .... that danger is right there .... I was lucky.
Yeah the sweet spot was east of the River .... safe way would have been to follow the river ... had third visibility been poor that's just what I would have done.
Thanks for all the encouragement guys! ...
While I've got the floor I'll recap this leg into Douala .... just completed.
Same sort of navigating for a lot of this leg even though the DR requirement was satisfied at Diori Hamani (DRRN) ... most of the nav-aids were not in ideal spots and short on range as well.
You'll be able to tell I was "chasing" a couple of them, but couldn't really "lean on" NDB's untill near the end of the flight where there are to 75 NM signals.
One just past the runway and in line with the runway and another to the west to help monitor distance to the airport by displaying relative position to the direct line in ... watch RMI needle move as you pass by.
Oh yeah ... watch out for the mountain that sits smack in a direct flight path to Douala ... if you have done a good job staying on course this thing will hurt your feelings ... I'll put up a screenshot ... I was at 8000'.
Being able to use the radios and sextant on this leg was okay, but the main thing it did was to take away the stress of not being able to use them .... still had the watch out ... oh yeah and watch out for that mountain.
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Nap time for me and the crew ... hope to get back at it tomorrow.
Thanks again!
salt_air
Charter Member
Thanks for the kind words brotha Red!
It has been very timely and beneficial to actually use what I've been able to pick up in fairly recent months.
Bonus having this opportunity in an era I find interesting and enjoyable.
Studying is one thing. but applying what you've studied and read about ... that's really how you learn.
Things you just sorta memorized cause you knew they were right, but didn't quite "get it" will finally start to make perfect sense as you get you hands on them.
Have I mentioned that I am having a ball ... and this is one great event?
10000 NM is going by so quick (flying ... lol) ... even in these 1938 (or older) aircraft.
You up for tag teaming a Trimotor on a second round?
salt_air
Charter Member
Leaving Compulsory Checkpoint #4 at DRRN ...
Think I'll take a break on this one ... looks like a NBD plan won't be all that much off track.
I'll key on NDB's till second half of the flight then visual with a little DR.
DR has been a part of most flights so far and it will surely be incorporated into the rest of them.
Headed to Compulsory checkpoint #5 at Kinshasa (FZAB) ... sounds of thunder in the back ground ... hope all of that stays here.
Think I'll take a break on this one ... looks like a NBD plan won't be all that much off track.
I'll key on NDB's till second half of the flight then visual with a little DR.
DR has been a part of most flights so far and it will surely be incorporated into the rest of them.
Headed to Compulsory checkpoint #5 at Kinshasa (FZAB) ... sounds of thunder in the back ground ... hope all of that stays here.
salt_air
Charter Member
Comulsory Checkpoint # 4 has been reached ... FZAB
A good flight ... pretty near to the description I gave on departure.
Found some cloud buildup and a couple of thunder boomers, but was able to maintain site of the ground on one side or the other.
Winds weren't too awful ... a little left and a little right.
Misjudged WCA in the later portion of the leg and was off line a good bit when signal from the NDB at N'Dolo was received ... no probs though.
A dicey end to the flight with not one but two go-arounds .... folks on the ground were waving after a while ... I reckon they thought it was an air show.
He he ... anyway happy to be here in Leopoldville N'Dolo Belgian Congo ... I roll out the charts and do a refresh on rules to see where to next.
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I've miscounted Check Points ... this one is # 4 ... pardon moi
A good flight ... pretty near to the description I gave on departure.
Found some cloud buildup and a couple of thunder boomers, but was able to maintain site of the ground on one side or the other.
Winds weren't too awful ... a little left and a little right.
Misjudged WCA in the later portion of the leg and was off line a good bit when signal from the NDB at N'Dolo was received ... no probs though.
A dicey end to the flight with not one but two go-arounds .... folks on the ground were waving after a while ... I reckon they thought it was an air show.
He he ... anyway happy to be here in Leopoldville N'Dolo Belgian Congo ... I roll out the charts and do a refresh on rules to see where to next.
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I've miscounted Check Points ... this one is # 4 ... pardon moi
Very nice job with the DR flights across the Sahara Salt! As Red pointed out, quite resourceful vintage piloting there. :salute:
I've been sitting here still contemplating whether to head south and try the trans Sahara desert run or remain flying the coastal route. You've inspired me for sure.
Once again, my mechanic, fabricator, and I have been recalculating, planning, retrofitting, and testing some options!
That's all I can say for now, the project is still classified.
I've been sitting here still contemplating whether to head south and try the trans Sahara desert run or remain flying the coastal route. You've inspired me for sure.
Once again, my mechanic, fabricator, and I have been recalculating, planning, retrofitting, and testing some options!
That's all I can say for now, the project is still classified.
salt_air
Charter Member
I have a ton of respect for everyone that has thrown his hat into this ring.
Mine is right out there with all the rest.
If I had to pick one that I thought would fare out the best across the Sahara or anywhere else DR it would be you.
For me the decision was easy ... first off ... I've already flown in and out of the majority of the prepared airports along the coast in other events ... namely past RTW's ... and wanted to see some new terrain.
Secondly ... I didn't think coastal bonus was worth the effort, but that remains to be seen ... never count you chips while your sittin' at the table.
If I can keep up this pace, I'll run it again ... something a bit more vintage and maybe carry the mail that trip ... or not ... this is great!
Call me crazy .... and be right ...
Mine is right out there with all the rest.
If I had to pick one that I thought would fare out the best across the Sahara or anywhere else DR it would be you.
For me the decision was easy ... first off ... I've already flown in and out of the majority of the prepared airports along the coast in other events ... namely past RTW's ... and wanted to see some new terrain.
Secondly ... I didn't think coastal bonus was worth the effort, but that remains to be seen ... never count you chips while your sittin' at the table.
If I can keep up this pace, I'll run it again ... something a bit more vintage and maybe carry the mail that trip ... or not ... this is great!
Call me crazy .... and be right ...
salt_air
Charter Member
DR Congo Style ...
The last segment(s) of DR for this fine event will be carried out with the help of the Congo River and Great Lakes.
Cancel first take off .... forgot to check duenna for Disable Autopilot (gunna enjoy the scenery on this flight) ... and to make post .... details ... details ... good thing my head is attached to my shoulders.
May as well clear up the checkpoint count ... Leaving FZAB (#4) headed for FZGA (#5) .... got ahead of things in earlier posts and lost the edit function before I "caught it".
A little different situation on this series of DR's in that there are substantially more landmarks for bearing ... uh. that is if the visibility is good enough for you to see them ... knock on wood.
Safe bet in worst case would be to crawl right along at low altitude flying directly over top of the Congo River all the way.
It looks like today that the visibility will be good enough to stay closer to a straight line ... further away from the river, but not so much that you loose sight.
Along with that there are several landmarks ... lakes (one left and one right) to jog me back into line so to speak ... and four or five small airports that should be insight off the starboard side.
Smaller rivers that I will cross are spaced out nicely ... almost like yard lines on a football field.
Okay restarting for a hopefully uneventful dawn flight out to Lisala.
The last segment(s) of DR for this fine event will be carried out with the help of the Congo River and Great Lakes.
Cancel first take off .... forgot to check duenna for Disable Autopilot (gunna enjoy the scenery on this flight) ... and to make post .... details ... details ... good thing my head is attached to my shoulders.
May as well clear up the checkpoint count ... Leaving FZAB (#4) headed for FZGA (#5) .... got ahead of things in earlier posts and lost the edit function before I "caught it".
A little different situation on this series of DR's in that there are substantially more landmarks for bearing ... uh. that is if the visibility is good enough for you to see them ... knock on wood.
Safe bet in worst case would be to crawl right along at low altitude flying directly over top of the Congo River all the way.
It looks like today that the visibility will be good enough to stay closer to a straight line ... further away from the river, but not so much that you loose sight.
Along with that there are several landmarks ... lakes (one left and one right) to jog me back into line so to speak ... and four or five small airports that should be insight off the starboard side.
Smaller rivers that I will cross are spaced out nicely ... almost like yard lines on a football field.
Okay restarting for a hopefully uneventful dawn flight out to Lisala.
salt_air
Charter Member
All checked in at Lisala
.... and never again will I disable the autopilot, just for the fun of it.
That leg was just a little too long for all the "fun" ... crazed windage ... near zero vis a couple of times.
Pretty much an overall drag ... except it did do one thing I wanted and that was to keep me focused.
A wild ride blown and drifting as much as 90 degrees to course.
I knew the plane was drifting to the North and I just let it because that simply meant that the Congo River would be visible even sooner.
A big island in the middle of the river and up stream from Lisala let me know I was west and not east of the airport ... just flew straight in ... low and slow.
Runway is shorter than most so far and bituminous, but no probs.
Short break and then off to Stanleyville before going into Kenya .... check points 6 and 7 as well as the end of the DR road.
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.... and never again will I disable the autopilot, just for the fun of it.
That leg was just a little too long for all the "fun" ... crazed windage ... near zero vis a couple of times.
Pretty much an overall drag ... except it did do one thing I wanted and that was to keep me focused.
A wild ride blown and drifting as much as 90 degrees to course.
I knew the plane was drifting to the North and I just let it because that simply meant that the Congo River would be visible even sooner.
A big island in the middle of the river and up stream from Lisala let me know I was west and not east of the airport ... just flew straight in ... low and slow.
Runway is shorter than most so far and bituminous, but no probs.
Short break and then off to Stanleyville before going into Kenya .... check points 6 and 7 as well as the end of the DR road.
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salt_air
Charter Member
Cake Walk
Or a better name would be a River Walk.
DR again ... FZGA - FZIA ... the river swings left and right ... like a "S" curve.
At a distance between airports of just over 240 NM ... I'll just fly this straight through and let the river go from one side view to the other.
Should take around an hour and twenty minutes ... hope the weather holds.
Last stop in the Belgian Congo ... Stanleyville Simisimi (FZIA) for lunch.
Or a better name would be a River Walk.
DR again ... FZGA - FZIA ... the river swings left and right ... like a "S" curve.
At a distance between airports of just over 240 NM ... I'll just fly this straight through and let the river go from one side view to the other.
Should take around an hour and twenty minutes ... hope the weather holds.
Last stop in the Belgian Congo ... Stanleyville Simisimi (FZIA) for lunch.
salt_air
Charter Member
Safe at Stanleyville ... Check Point #6 FZIA
Lunch and the last of the brew .... we'll need to make a trip to market before we depart.
Good Flight .... almost ran by the place, actually I did, but a good flight ... and as it turns out the wind was blowing in my face as I landed, so maybe that was good ... the Vega doesn't do downwind landings well.
In a way the Congo River ... or any others that wide ... are better than a GPS because you are looking at the real thing ... nothing lost in translation.
Seems to me that all of the electronic find your way gizmos ... even the best ... will misrepresent things from time to time.
If you have ever run into a hill or mountain that either wasn't showing or was showing at a much lower altitude ... then you know just what I mean.
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Lunch and the last of the brew .... we'll need to make a trip to market before we depart.
Good Flight .... almost ran by the place, actually I did, but a good flight ... and as it turns out the wind was blowing in my face as I landed, so maybe that was good ... the Vega doesn't do downwind landings well.
In a way the Congo River ... or any others that wide ... are better than a GPS because you are looking at the real thing ... nothing lost in translation.
Seems to me that all of the electronic find your way gizmos ... even the best ... will misrepresent things from time to time.
If you have ever run into a hill or mountain that either wasn't showing or was showing at a much lower altitude ... then you know just what I mean.
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salt_air
Charter Member
One more leg today ...
Okay going to try for Kenya at Kisumu (HKKI) ... last of the DR flights.
The rivers in general have done well to aid in navigation on this journey ... from the looks of the map, they will be taking me out to Lake Victoria on this trip.
I will be following along beside rivers ... like the last trip ... or using them as yard markers when they cut across my path.
On this next leg ... besides the river speech above, there is a good sized lake (don't remember the name) to starboard, just before passing directly over top of the airport at Kasese, Uganda (HUKS).
There will be four river crossings before that ... also off in the distance to port is a larger lake that I should be able to see, but not be too close ... HUKS will be the place marker and course corrector if needed.
Course goes right over top of the airport and if I have to turn to get to it, then I just need to turn back to 94 degrees as I pass over it ... give or take for the wind.
A river will come across course at a shallow angle from starboard to port and the run along side almost parallel before crossing back under me to disappear into Lake Victoria.
Should be able to use the shoreline of the lake to fly over the airport at Entebbe, Uganda (HUEN) .... less than an hour at that point to the Check Point at Kisumu, Kenya (HKKI).
That will be the end of the flight, DR corridor, and the seventh Compulsory Check Point ... leaving 2 more before Cape Horn.
Hopefully be eating supper at Kisumu, Kenya
Okay going to try for Kenya at Kisumu (HKKI) ... last of the DR flights.
The rivers in general have done well to aid in navigation on this journey ... from the looks of the map, they will be taking me out to Lake Victoria on this trip.
I will be following along beside rivers ... like the last trip ... or using them as yard markers when they cut across my path.
On this next leg ... besides the river speech above, there is a good sized lake (don't remember the name) to starboard, just before passing directly over top of the airport at Kasese, Uganda (HUKS).
There will be four river crossings before that ... also off in the distance to port is a larger lake that I should be able to see, but not be too close ... HUKS will be the place marker and course corrector if needed.
Course goes right over top of the airport and if I have to turn to get to it, then I just need to turn back to 94 degrees as I pass over it ... give or take for the wind.
A river will come across course at a shallow angle from starboard to port and the run along side almost parallel before crossing back under me to disappear into Lake Victoria.
Should be able to use the shoreline of the lake to fly over the airport at Entebbe, Uganda (HUEN) .... less than an hour at that point to the Check Point at Kisumu, Kenya (HKKI).
That will be the end of the flight, DR corridor, and the seventh Compulsory Check Point ... leaving 2 more before Cape Horn.
Hopefully be eating supper at Kisumu, Kenya
salt_air
Charter Member
Thanks Gunter!!
Man ... there's some big hills out here ... right in the way!
Let's have another look at those charts ...
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I thought I was just in for some weather ... lmbo
salt_air
Charter Member
Welcome to Kenya ... y'all!
Have I mentioned yet that this is bordering on the best event ever!
If for some reason it isn't ... that can't think of right now ... it's for sure way way up on the top ten list.
Had the lights on when I took off this morning and had them on when I landed a little bit ago ... just can't get enough.
Supper time in Kisumu ... but I may be spending the night in Wilson .. we'll see.
The flight went as expected until what looked like a cloud bank building on the horizon suddenly revealed itself as being of made granite.
If ... I had paid closer attention to the elevations listed on the charts I would have seen these monsters.
They didn't get the attention because they are basically random outcroppings and not part(s) of a Range like the Alps or Rockies ... I didn't look at every stickin' one of them .. should have and will from now on.
Good thing I didn't go eat or wash the car or some other chore that would not have had me in attendance ... I could have had my feelings hurt real quick.
Looking at the shoulders of the mountain .... as I approached ... it looked like the cheapest way around was going to be to go to the right.
Then for extra insurance as well as gaining position nearer the top that would allow me to turn back to course sooner ... shorter around the top than it is around the bottom.
That worked fine and again lucky to have not had visibility issues ... once on the other side I was right over the small lake that I was going to fly past off the port side in the distance.
Map shows that there was a river that ran away from the lake back in the direction (NE) of the planned course.
I didn't get lost but had lost my bearings .... just guessed at the distance I went out of my way and tried to match it on the other side ... then turn back to course heading.
At the spot where I was trying to get as close to course as I could ... there was a section of the trip that would have a river running parallel ... that matched up ... I was headed east ... good?
Next landmark on the kneepad note sheet was the airport at Kampala Entebbe (HUEN) ... caught a glimpse to the north and turned towards it.
Once I got to it and could see that the view of it matched that of HUEN I just turned back to course .... now on a much better line.
VFR along the coast of Lake Victoria all the way to Kisumu, Kenya (HKKI) ... done!
What a ride! ... No one else or any help there .... no panic, but lots of excitement and concern for a period ... then relief as all was known to be okay ... a glorious cruise in from there.
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Have I mentioned yet that this is bordering on the best event ever!
If for some reason it isn't ... that can't think of right now ... it's for sure way way up on the top ten list.
Had the lights on when I took off this morning and had them on when I landed a little bit ago ... just can't get enough.
Supper time in Kisumu ... but I may be spending the night in Wilson .. we'll see.
The flight went as expected until what looked like a cloud bank building on the horizon suddenly revealed itself as being of made granite.
If ... I had paid closer attention to the elevations listed on the charts I would have seen these monsters.
They didn't get the attention because they are basically random outcroppings and not part(s) of a Range like the Alps or Rockies ... I didn't look at every stickin' one of them .. should have and will from now on.
Good thing I didn't go eat or wash the car or some other chore that would not have had me in attendance ... I could have had my feelings hurt real quick.
Looking at the shoulders of the mountain .... as I approached ... it looked like the cheapest way around was going to be to go to the right.
Then for extra insurance as well as gaining position nearer the top that would allow me to turn back to course sooner ... shorter around the top than it is around the bottom.
That worked fine and again lucky to have not had visibility issues ... once on the other side I was right over the small lake that I was going to fly past off the port side in the distance.
Map shows that there was a river that ran away from the lake back in the direction (NE) of the planned course.
I didn't get lost but had lost my bearings .... just guessed at the distance I went out of my way and tried to match it on the other side ... then turn back to course heading.
At the spot where I was trying to get as close to course as I could ... there was a section of the trip that would have a river running parallel ... that matched up ... I was headed east ... good?
Next landmark on the kneepad note sheet was the airport at Kampala Entebbe (HUEN) ... caught a glimpse to the north and turned towards it.
Once I got to it and could see that the view of it matched that of HUEN I just turned back to course .... now on a much better line.
VFR along the coast of Lake Victoria all the way to Kisumu, Kenya (HKKI) ... done!
What a ride! ... No one else or any help there .... no panic, but lots of excitement and concern for a period ... then relief as all was known to be okay ... a glorious cruise in from there.
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salt_air
Charter Member
Wow, you've made so much progress in this race that you're where I'm at.....75 years in the past, though.
I wonder how you send a complimentary beer seven and a half decades back in time?
This note is better than a beer my friend.
Thanks Red!
Good Luck on your way North ...
salt_air
Charter Member
East to Wilson .. then due south from there on in
Dawn ... 19 APR 1938 was a Tuesday .... Thunder and lightnin' heavy overcast ... windsock still droopy, but indicating from the east.
Leaving the checkpoint here at Kisumu, Kenya (HKKI) for the next one ... a short hop to Wilson Airport at Niarobi, Kenya (HKNW).
Need minimums on visibility due to terrain ... HKNW is at an elevation of about 5500' .
A 113 NM NDB for bearing straight to airport (AL 379.0) and a 75 NM NDB off of starboard at just about half way to Wilson at Narok (NK 368.0) to monitor distance.
Rumor has it that the airport was named after a soccerball that washed ashore along the coastline with the Indian Ocean.
It was supposedly found by King Two Two's son ... Prince Three Three ... and is on display at a summer home the family owns near by.
That's hard to believe, but hey .... I won't have time to get a photo ... just be passing through.
Perhaps one of you Gents coming along behind me will have a few minutes to spare ... I gotta go.
Dawn ... 19 APR 1938 was a Tuesday .... Thunder and lightnin' heavy overcast ... windsock still droopy, but indicating from the east.
Leaving the checkpoint here at Kisumu, Kenya (HKKI) for the next one ... a short hop to Wilson Airport at Niarobi, Kenya (HKNW).
Need minimums on visibility due to terrain ... HKNW is at an elevation of about 5500' .
A 113 NM NDB for bearing straight to airport (AL 379.0) and a 75 NM NDB off of starboard at just about half way to Wilson at Narok (NK 368.0) to monitor distance.
Rumor has it that the airport was named after a soccerball that washed ashore along the coastline with the Indian Ocean.
It was supposedly found by King Two Two's son ... Prince Three Three ... and is on display at a summer home the family owns near by.
That's hard to believe, but hey .... I won't have time to get a photo ... just be passing through.
Perhaps one of you Gents coming along behind me will have a few minutes to spare ... I gotta go.