T-K's Andean (mis)Adventures

[Tako_Kichi]

Great progress TK.

Thanks Robert. Having been fed and watered by my faithful stewardess it's time to take to the skies again. I hope the good weather so far today continues as I am getting into the high places now and do not need 8/8 cloud cover at this point.

Taking off SERB-SETM

Takeoff Weight: 59,080 lbs
Fuel: 3,041 lbs
Payload: 12,500 lbs

 

[MM]

Wonderful progress!

And delightful screenshots.

 

[Tako_Kichi]

Thanks Mike. Another nice leg and the weather is holding so far.

Arrived at SETM

Fuel Used: 1391.0 lbs
Flight Time: 00:45:12
Maintenance Points: 0

 

[Tako_Kichi]

A quick turn-around and off we go again.

Taking off SETM-SPJE

Takeoff Weight: 58,314 lbs
Fuel: 2,274 lbs
Payload: 12,500 lbs

 

[Tako_Kichi]

Well some things don't last forever and the good weather I have been enjoying all day has changed on this last leg. I had to contend with this for the last half of the trip!

Thankfully it cleared up a little bit as I got near the end and I was able to spot the airfield from about 8 miles out. However, it was yet another FSX airport in a hole which meant a tree-top clipping approach and dive for the runway.

At least I got in safe and that's another load of cargo delivered.


Arrived at SPJE

Fuel Used: 956.0 lbs
Flight Time: 00:35:24
Maintenance Points: 0

 

[Tako_Kichi]

It would appear that the cloud cover is somewhat local as scouting out the next destination shows it to be clear. I will press on as I don't want bad weather at the target field as I remember it well from our RTWR high-altitude practice sessions. It's one way in/out with huge hills on three sides and two enormous sink holes at the far end of the runway (a bad FSX mesh anomaly).

Taking off SPJE-SPJB

Takeoff Weight: 58,333 lbs
Fuel: 2,293 lbs
Payload: 12,500 lbs

 

[Tako_Kichi]

The good news is the weather held. The bad news is I made a really nice approach and then my tail clipped the canyon wall as I dropped into the hole. :angryfir:

Back I go to SPJE.

 

[Tako_Kichi]

After licking my wounds overnight I have come to the conclusion that discretion is the better part of valour. While I have managed to land at SPJB before in a single-seat warbird with speed/dive brakes I feel there is no way that I am going to get a DC-4 into there in FSX. It's bad in FS9 but even worse (deeper hole with steeper sides) in FSX.

As SPJB is an optional field I am going to by-pass it and head for the next compulsory at SPHZ instead.

Taking off SPJE-SPHZ

Takeoff Weight: 61,350 lbs
Fuel: 5,315 lbs
Payload: 12,500 lbs

 

[Tako_Kichi]

It looks like the good weather I had yesterday is continuing as I head south. I managed to grab a Kodak of last night's crash site as I over-flew it. As you can see the hole is pretty deep and steep sided!

This is the view I got after making my final course change to the destination.

A simple flight down the valley with no fear of hitting anything.

Arrived at SPJE

Fuel Used: 2123.0 lbs
Flight Time: 01:10:16
Maintenance Points: 4

NOTE: The 4 maintenance points are for last night's crash at SPJB.

 

[Tako_Kichi]

OOPS! Looks like I got a typo in the previous details. It should read:

Arrived at SPHZ

Fuel Used: 2123.0 lbs
Flight Time: 01:10:16
Maintenance Points: 4

NOTE: The 4 maintenance points are for last night's crash at SPJB.

 

[Tako_Kichi]

After a couple of days of delay due to RL issues it's time to climb back into the saddle and move this cargo south.

Taking off SPHZ-SPNC

Takeoff Weight: 57,811 lbs
Fuel: 1,771 lbs
Payload: 12,500 lbs

 

[Tako_Kichi]

Arrived at SPNC

Fuel Used: 943.0 lbs
Flight Time: 00:33:44
Maintenance Points: 0

 

[Tako_Kichi]

Taking off SPNC-SPVI

Takeoff Weight: 57,634 lbs
Fuel: 1,595 lbs
Payload: 12,500 lbs

 

[Tako_Kichi]

Arrived at SPVI

Fuel Used: 562.0 lbs
Flight Time: 00:19:01
Maintenance Points: 0

 

[Tako_Kichi]

Taking off SPVI-SPLP

Takeoff Weight: 57,811 lbs
Fuel: 1,771 lbs
Payload: 12,500 lbs

 

[Tako_Kichi]

This leg went out to the coast and all was nice and clear until I reached the edge of the high stuff when suddenly I was faced with 6/8 coastal cloud cover! I managed to pick my way down a nice valley but the destination was completely clouded over and I overshot it and had to turn around and approach from the sea. Got her down safe in the end though.

Arrived at SPLP

Fuel Used: 692.0 lbs
Flight Time: 00:37:02
Maintenance Points: 0

 

[Tako_Kichi]

Here are a few Kodaks from tonight's legs that I didn't have time to post earlier.

I flew online tonight and was joined by my good friend Dangerous_Dave 26 (DD26) who was going to act as my 'tail gunner' and follow me along the route. Here we are at the start a leg.

I guess he must of got tired of trying to fly as slow as me (190 KIAS) as at one point I heard what sounded like a stick-shaker going off in my aircraft but when I checked my airspeed everything looked OK. It was only when I looked outside that I spotted this.....

Some friend huh!

There is an effect on the P-38 whereby if both pilots in MP have that plane then the second pilot sees and hears the tracers/bullets even if they are in a different aircraft.

I have had some issues with FSX airports in holes on this trip but tonight I got the opposite. An airport on a HUGE mound!

Carrier landings anyone?

 

[Dangerousdave26]

That was purely accidental :icon_twi:

Thats my story and I'm sticking to it.

 

[salt_air]

So ... a tail gunner is a pilot, that shoots at your tail?

:salute:

 

[Tako_Kichi]

So ... a tail gunner is a pilot, that shoots at your tail?

Apparently in my case.

It was a 'What the $%^#' moment when it happened.

I think I should make him clean all the llama poop out of the back of the plane as he scared it all out of them!