Tall Tales at the Alvear
- Thread starter MM
- Start date
Great Ozzie
Charter Member
Saturday nite... was very gratifying to see Señor Mike MacKuen meet us at the airport. We hand him the Flight, Maintenance and Nav Logs... After quickly looking over our aircraft, we hear from him, "So... you had trouble with No. 4 on the way here." "Yes sir, just as we got over land btw... we had to hang an engine with absolutely zero test-bench hours." "Hmmm... yes... oil consumption is high on 4... sounds like improperly seated rings." (besides being a Chief Test Pilot, Mike holds an IA back in the States) "Yes sir, I think so too. We really pushed those engines hard." "I would say so Capt... running MTO power to TOC?" "Well, yes sir... but we were working directly with Pratt on this... we have a couple of their Tech Reps onboard.... and the engines are going back to them to be reman'd." "Yes seems only fitting; ok fine... now let's go get that drink."
So we left the airport and our Reserve Crew was able to get a few nice shots of our craft just at sunset.
When Mike made the bar invite, I had envisioned shots of tequila at some small hole in the wall. Boy was I further off than our Navigator a couple nites ago. I had never heard of the Alvear... Alvear Palace Hotel that is. And what a Palace it is!
The place is absolutely spectacular... And tonight’s hosts even more so. An array of wealthy Argentine, European and North American businessmen & government officials, including the Intendente of Buenos Aires and the American Ambassador. Then I see President Perón (along with his wife Eva) raise his glass and say, "To The Magnificent Seven!" (referring to the first seven crews that have arrived). What a night that was!
Yes, this was magnificent, the Challenge, The Routes, The Participants... all magnificent indeed!
So we left the airport and our Reserve Crew was able to get a few nice shots of our craft just at sunset.
When Mike made the bar invite, I had envisioned shots of tequila at some small hole in the wall. Boy was I further off than our Navigator a couple nites ago. I had never heard of the Alvear... Alvear Palace Hotel that is. And what a Palace it is!
The place is absolutely spectacular... And tonight’s hosts even more so. An array of wealthy Argentine, European and North American businessmen & government officials, including the Intendente of Buenos Aires and the American Ambassador. Then I see President Perón (along with his wife Eva) raise his glass and say, "To The Magnificent Seven!" (referring to the first seven crews that have arrived). What a night that was!
Yes, this was magnificent, the Challenge, The Routes, The Participants... all magnificent indeed!
srgalahad
Charter Member 2022
Ahhhh.. Tahiti. Pearl of the Blue Pacific!
We took a bunch of the locals, the Governor, The Mayor and a few tribal chiefs on a bit of a junket around the Island to show off the North Star. I'm not sure why I'd leave for a long ocean crossing...
The good news is that McHale has leased an office and agreed to set up a Crew Base On Tahiti... and I found a nice little shack over on Moorea for $500 ( purchase) so this may be a good route after all.
We took a bunch of the locals, the Governor, The Mayor and a few tribal chiefs on a bit of a junket around the Island to show off the North Star. I'm not sure why I'd leave for a long ocean crossing...
The good news is that McHale has leased an office and agreed to set up a Crew Base On Tahiti... and I found a nice little shack over on Moorea for $500 ( purchase) so this may be a good route after all.
MM
Charter Member
Took over after Moses' mid-morning landing at Kingston and drove "784" to San Juan. The pax and crew arrived at the "Rum Capital of the World" from the "Home of" ...er... "Tobacco-Free Smoking".
(a) Out of Kingston, (b) Fluffy clouds over sparkling Caribbean, (c) Massive Herrera International Airport lies below, (d) Approaching San Juan's Isla Grande, (e) Finals over harbor, (f) San Juan Touchdown, and (g) Mural from the Bacardi Factory.
(a) Out of Kingston, (b) Fluffy clouds over sparkling Caribbean, (c) Massive Herrera International Airport lies below, (d) Approaching San Juan's Isla Grande, (e) Finals over harbor, (f) San Juan Touchdown, and (g) Mural from the Bacardi Factory.
Great Ozzie
Charter Member
A few pics on the way to Panama...
Great Ozzie
Charter Member
Viva la Liberté! & Happy 4th of July (to all who celebrate this!)
MM
Charter Member
Austin came up with the excellent idea of Transocean's providing special service to Bogota and the central Andes. The return route to the coast, via Cali and Quito, made for quite a day of sightseeing. A couple of the passengers seemed to complain of the altitude so we limited the DC-4 to 12,000 ft (with a minor exception scraping through a pass). This restriction called for some maneuvering—even over the highland plateaus—to avoid hitting the edges of the air. Not exactly hands-off flying.
Some tourist photographs: (a) The Nevada del Tolima (17,060ft), (b) Dodging low hills on the plateau, (c) Two of Ecuador's many volcanoes, (d) Squeezing through a pass ... (e) barely, (f) Waggling wings to salute Quito, (g) Below Pichincha volcano (15,696), (h) threading through another pass below Pichincha, and (i) Down the Andes Western Slope (that's Cotopaxi in the distance, 19,347ft) to the Pacific and Guayaquil (j).
Some tourist photographs: (a) The Nevada del Tolima (17,060ft), (b) Dodging low hills on the plateau, (c) Two of Ecuador's many volcanoes, (d) Squeezing through a pass ... (e) barely, (f) Waggling wings to salute Quito, (g) Below Pichincha volcano (15,696), (h) threading through another pass below Pichincha, and (i) Down the Andes Western Slope (that's Cotopaxi in the distance, 19,347ft) to the Pacific and Guayaquil (j).
srgalahad
Charter Member 2022
Postcard from chile
After the long oceanic leg it's nice to relax in Santiago and set up the last leg to BA
A few images: 1) after landing at SCIP some freak weather hit -snow - and we huddled inside the terminal while it melted... Big Bird and Little Friends. 2) Cold enough along the jetstream to make contrails at FL250. 3) Six hours of endless ocean before the coast came into sight. 4) Passing thru 8000' on descent to SCTI. 5) Happily preparing to land, even with the perennial "building on final".
We're happy with the progress. Before departure the boys in Dispatch gave us a set of numbers:
Forecast wind ETE----- 28.32 Fuel 59479
Nil wind component--- 31.95 Fuel 67105
Headwinds forever---- 34.62 Fuel 72697
They just cabled us a final estimate of 31.2 hrs and 63600# so now it's up to the flight crews to make it so.
McHale's Airline Flight 2(Proving) and the support ships have scheduled a departure from Santiago at 1630hrs EST Tuesday for the 2:10 hop to SAEZ. Spectators are welcome to witness the arrival. Updated info will be provided at time of departure.
After the long oceanic leg it's nice to relax in Santiago and set up the last leg to BA
A few images: 1) after landing at SCIP some freak weather hit -snow - and we huddled inside the terminal while it melted... Big Bird and Little Friends. 2) Cold enough along the jetstream to make contrails at FL250. 3) Six hours of endless ocean before the coast came into sight. 4) Passing thru 8000' on descent to SCTI. 5) Happily preparing to land, even with the perennial "building on final".
We're happy with the progress. Before departure the boys in Dispatch gave us a set of numbers:
Forecast wind ETE----- 28.32 Fuel 59479
Nil wind component--- 31.95 Fuel 67105
Headwinds forever---- 34.62 Fuel 72697
They just cabled us a final estimate of 31.2 hrs and 63600# so now it's up to the flight crews to make it so.
McHale's Airline Flight 2(Proving) and the support ships have scheduled a departure from Santiago at 1630hrs EST Tuesday for the 2:10 hop to SAEZ. Spectators are welcome to witness the arrival. Updated info will be provided at time of departure.
srgalahad
Charter Member 2022
A few of the boys were sitting over a lemonade t'other night and got to wondering... there are a few who haven't checked on on the HF or via telegraph and the discussion went something like this:
"hmmm should we go looking?"
"naw, they're big boys and if there was trouble they'd get word out"
"But maybe they are having fun wherever they are 'stuck' and we SHOULD go help..."
"but who's going to pay for the fuel? this is more than a bush operation, ya know..."
"well, we could ponder salvage rights on a couple of the newer types, but I don't know who'd want a Boeing Baby Whale..."
so we had a few more pops and the discussion faded away behind the sounds of a samba...
Note: Someone just dropped off a note - I guess there was a brief, static-filled message to say that Willy is still working on it
"hmmm should we go looking?"
"naw, they're big boys and if there was trouble they'd get word out"
"But maybe they are having fun wherever they are 'stuck' and we SHOULD go help..."
"but who's going to pay for the fuel? this is more than a bush operation, ya know..."
"well, we could ponder salvage rights on a couple of the newer types, but I don't know who'd want a Boeing Baby Whale..."
so we had a few more pops and the discussion faded away behind the sounds of a samba...
Note: Someone just dropped off a note - I guess there was a brief, static-filled message to say that Willy is still working on it
Willy
Administrator
It's Alive!
After a slightly extended stay in Belem, it was time to start off further south. I would like to thank the Brazilian Air Force for parking that B-17 Flying Fortress at SBBE long enough to swap out a few parts with the "Baby Whale".
Only a 260ish nm flight to SBSL, but the next leg is the longest one I've got plotted for the trip......
After a slightly extended stay in Belem, it was time to start off further south. I would like to thank the Brazilian Air Force for parking that B-17 Flying Fortress at SBBE long enough to swap out a few parts with the "Baby Whale".
Only a 260ish nm flight to SBSL, but the next leg is the longest one I've got plotted for the trip......
RedGreen
Charter Member
Red sits in the Bar next to his co-pilot Winston.
Winston: I don't get it, why haven't we gone back to Miami, yet?
Red: We're waiting to hear who won this cockamamie race.
Winston: So why don't they declare a winner?
Red: I hear there's some slowpokes we're waiting on to arrive.
Winston: I wish they'd hurry up. There's nothing to do around here now except sit around and drink beer.
Red: I know, we could just as easily be drinking beer in Miami where its 80 degrees and all the beauties are in their swimsuits, instead of Buenos Aires where its 60 degrees and everyone's got their winter coats on.
Winston: That's the other thing. People think 60 degrees is cold down here.
Red: Back in Michigan, we would be breaking out the spring jackets when it got above 40 degrees....
Winston: I don't get it, why haven't we gone back to Miami, yet?
Red: We're waiting to hear who won this cockamamie race.
Winston: So why don't they declare a winner?
Red: I hear there's some slowpokes we're waiting on to arrive.
Winston: I wish they'd hurry up. There's nothing to do around here now except sit around and drink beer.
Red: I know, we could just as easily be drinking beer in Miami where its 80 degrees and all the beauties are in their swimsuits, instead of Buenos Aires where its 60 degrees and everyone's got their winter coats on.
Winston: That's the other thing. People think 60 degrees is cold down here.
Red: Back in Michigan, we would be breaking out the spring jackets when it got above 40 degrees....
Leg 4 Geneva - Milan
Finally posting some pics from photobucket.
Some images from a beautiful flight from Geneva to Milan, with VFR France scenery.
Climbing out of Geneva
To Mont Blanc
Into the Mer de Glace (sea of ice) glacier
Continuing with FSscenery - Monte Rosa range
Lago Maggiore
As often there's haze in the Po river's plain
Finally posting some pics from photobucket.
Some images from a beautiful flight from Geneva to Milan, with VFR France scenery.
Climbing out of Geneva
To Mont Blanc
Into the Mer de Glace (sea of ice) glacier
Continuing with FSscenery - Monte Rosa range
Lago Maggiore
As often there's haze in the Po river's plain
Leg 7 Lisbon - Tenerife
LPPT CGXO
Lisbon Tenerife
1st flight across the atlantic. Quite some apprehension - missing the islands this may have turned out as a direct leg Lisbon - south america, swimming the major part.
Had read up on sextant navigation during the vacation on the beach to reduce the risks of the atlantic flights.
http://www.dc3airways.com/tech_editor/nav_lrnav.htm
http://www.flightsim.com/kdl.php?fid=83310
So this was the first test of the Sextant skills - TO at 10:08 (UTC in sim) to get a fix at 12:08Z some way before CGXO with the sun (almost) at right angles to the track. That should have allowed to determine lateral drift exactly.
During the measurement:
Actually the plane is measured to be exactly (to within 5 nm) on the assumed Line of position (LOP) .
Plots of the position in Google Earth:
So it turned out I was almost right on track anyway, but that confirmation was good to have for peace of mind...
These experiences made it very clear though, that a Sextant is no method to rely on solely- a cloud layer one can not climb over just makes it useless, and it doesn't guide one down to the AP in IMC. So - nice to have, but not to rely on solely.
In the Calclassics propliner tutorial, another of the reads on the beach - excellent job! and a work of love - 2008 FSAviator points this out very clearly. Good reading, also chapter 2a regarding pioneer, vintage and classic navigation techniques.
http://www.calclassic.com/propliner_tutorial.htm
Quite some clouds approaching the island. A cloud was just sitting on the Runway, making it difficult to locate.
Nice flight, good experience, fun.
Climbing out grom Lisbon
Land!
Where's the airport?
http://www.fsrtwrace.com/track/ShowFlight.php?detail=flight&value=SgHl6jhHb1ZCcmfFhNsxP3wA4Dk
LPPT CGXO
Lisbon Tenerife
1st flight across the atlantic. Quite some apprehension - missing the islands this may have turned out as a direct leg Lisbon - south america, swimming the major part.
Had read up on sextant navigation during the vacation on the beach to reduce the risks of the atlantic flights.
http://www.dc3airways.com/tech_editor/nav_lrnav.htm
http://www.flightsim.com/kdl.php?fid=83310
So this was the first test of the Sextant skills - TO at 10:08 (UTC in sim) to get a fix at 12:08Z some way before CGXO with the sun (almost) at right angles to the track. That should have allowed to determine lateral drift exactly.
During the measurement:
Actually the plane is measured to be exactly (to within 5 nm) on the assumed Line of position (LOP) .
Plots of the position in Google Earth:
So it turned out I was almost right on track anyway, but that confirmation was good to have for peace of mind...
These experiences made it very clear though, that a Sextant is no method to rely on solely- a cloud layer one can not climb over just makes it useless, and it doesn't guide one down to the AP in IMC. So - nice to have, but not to rely on solely.
In the Calclassics propliner tutorial, another of the reads on the beach - excellent job! and a work of love - 2008 FSAviator points this out very clearly. Good reading, also chapter 2a regarding pioneer, vintage and classic navigation techniques.
http://www.calclassic.com/propliner_tutorial.htm
Quite some clouds approaching the island. A cloud was just sitting on the Runway, making it difficult to locate.
Nice flight, good experience, fun.
Climbing out grom Lisbon
Land!
Where's the airport?
http://www.fsrtwrace.com/track/ShowFlight.php?detail=flight&value=SgHl6jhHb1ZCcmfFhNsxP3wA4Dk
Leg 8 Tenerife - Dakar
GCXO GOOY
Tenerife - Dakar
Nice, uneventful flight.
Whipped out the sextant again 100nm short of GOOY to determine the lateral drift. Pretty much on track again.
Again, climbing out
Tenerife with Teide volcano 3715m/12000 ft
The Sahara is not exactly represented in a very exciting way in FS
Dakar in sight
http://www.fsrtwrace.com/track/ShowFlight.php?detail=flight&value=SgHl6jhHb1ZCcmfFhNsxP3wA4Dkhttp://www.fsrtwrace.com/track/ShowF...mfFhNsxP3wA4Dk
GCXO GOOY
Tenerife - Dakar
Nice, uneventful flight.
Whipped out the sextant again 100nm short of GOOY to determine the lateral drift. Pretty much on track again.
Again, climbing out
Tenerife with Teide volcano 3715m/12000 ft
The Sahara is not exactly represented in a very exciting way in FS
Dakar in sight
http://www.fsrtwrace.com/track/ShowFlight.php?detail=flight&value=SgHl6jhHb1ZCcmfFhNsxP3wA4Dkhttp://www.fsrtwrace.com/track/ShowF...mfFhNsxP3wA4Dk