T-K's Andean (mis)Adventures

Tako_Kichi

Tako_Kichi

Staff
Staff member
Time to start hauling cargo in this whale of mine.

Taking off SVMC-SVBK.

Takeoff Weight: 59,039 lbs
Fuel: 3,000 lbs
Payload: 12,500 lbs
 
Well that turned out to be a very harrowing experience for my first leg using basic instruments and no GPS! I found heavy clouds over the mountains and completely missed the airport and after flying for 10 minutes beyond my ETA I came out of the clouds to discover I was over the second ridge of mountains and way too far south! I did a 180 and headed back and managed to find a hole in the clouds directly over my target airport. The trouble was I was too high and too fast to get in directly so I had to do a 360 between the two ridges and then get lined up. The airport is in a hole in FSX and unfortunately I still came in a bit hot and a bit high and had to make a final dive for the strip which shoved up my airspeed. I got her down but the crummy drum brakes wouldn't hold her back and I ended up as a pile of scrap metal in the trees at the end!

After licking my wounds I decided I'd better try some approaches before doing the leg again and figured out a way of approaching the strip at roughly 45 degrees to eliminate some of the need to dive at the end as the ground slopes away on approach from that direction but it meant a lot of rudder was needed for final line-up.

I headed back to the start and this time decided to go via the Valera VOR instead of direct as I did before and I breathed a huge sigh of relief as I came over the ridge and saw the destination field directly in front of me! Now I just had to get in. I slowed her down to just above stall speed with everything hanging out and crept along my angled approach barely above tree-top height but I still needed to make a final dive for the field (but not as bad as before) with full right boot in as well. Touchdown was a bit fast but I stood on the brakes and gave it full right rudder and finally slid to a stop sideways on to the runway......but at least I avoided the trees!

Phew what a trip to start out with! The relevant bits of info are below.

Arrived at SVBK.

Fuel Used: 1103.0 lbs
Flight Time: 00:39:31
Maintenance Points: 4 (Crash on landing on the first attempt)
 
Well that was a bit better but it seems as though this DC-4 is a bear to slow down on approach!

Arrived at SVMD.

Fuel Used: 702.0 lbs
Flight Time: 00:24:35
Maintenance Points: 0
 
The sun is up and time to move on.

Taking off SVMD-SKBG

Takeoff Weight: 59,583 lbs
Fuel: 3,544 lbs
Payload: 12,500 lbs
 
A nice flight until the dog leg in the course and then I hit clouds. The destination was easily seen through the gaps thankfully.


Arrived at SKBG

Fuel Used: 1342.0 lbs
Flight Time: 00:48:00
Maintenance Points: 0
 
For the first part of the trip I was playing hide and seek with mountain tops and low cloud. Not the best combination.

CCAA_Leg_4-1.jpg


Thankfully after about 25 minutes the weather cleared out to leave a nice second half of the trip to the destination.

CCAA_Leg_4-2.jpg


Arrived at SKBO

Fuel Used: 1608.0 lbs
Flight Time: 00:48:46
Maintenance Points: 0
 
That was a nice pleasant flight with only one 'will I / won't I' towards the end. I aimed for the low part of the saddle on the final mountain range to stay under the altitude cap.

CCAA_Leg_5-1.jpg


I wasn't sure I would make it even here.

CCAA_Leg_5-2.jpg


The airport was directly below the ridge and in FSX it was another one in a three-sided hole which meant a wide loop around to line up with the only viable way in or out.

CCAA_Leg_5-3.jpg


Coming over the small hill on the end of the runway I was hoping I cleared the trees!

CCAA_Leg_5-4.jpg


All was well and good in the end.


Arrived at SKMZ

Fuel Used: 910.0 lbs
Flight Time: 00:31:16
Maintenance Points: 0
 
I had to do a go-around at the destination as I was just a touch hot but as it was surrounded by trees I didn't want to risk a repeat of leg one. Got her down safe on the second attempt from the opposite direction.

Arrived at SKPI

Fuel Used: 1920.0 lbs
Flight Time: 01:07:35
Maintenance Points: 0
 
A new day and more cargo to haul.

Leg 7

Taking off SKPI-SKPS

Takeoff Weight: 57,811 lbs
Fuel: 1,772 lbs
Payload: 12,500 lbs
 
The aircraft has been unloaded and refilled with a fresh cargo heading for new pastures.

Leg 8

Taking off SKPS-SEQU

Takeoff Weight: 58,166 lbs
Fuel: 2,126 lbs
Payload: 12,500 lbs
 
Another nice flight in good weather. Here I am flying over downtown Quito before lining up for finals.

CCAA_Leg_8-1.jpg


I guess I must have forgotten to turn off the AI for this event too as some dumb AI Captain decided to pull out onto the runway as I was on short finals! DOH!!!! :isadizzy:

CCAA_Leg_8-2.jpg


Arrived at SEQU

Fuel Used: 1162.0 lbs
Flight Time: 00:38:40
Maintenance Points: 0
 
Just time for one more flight before mealtime (and making the best of the good weather so far).


Taking off SEQU-SERB

Takeoff Weight: 57,811 lbs
Fuel: 1,772 lbs
Payload: 12,500 lbs
 
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