Willy's Slow But Dandy Tour of the SW Pacific

[Willy]

Getting ready to take off in the SBD from AGGT for AGGA Akui.

 

[Willy]

Just did a couple of legs. First was over to Guadalcanal for an unscheduled stop at the Marine's "Camp Banjo" AGFB (Ian P scenery). The Duenna says near AGGU for the landing, but it was good so I'll take it.

http://fs-duenna.com/flights/ShowFlight.php?detail=flight&value=LZXiOaJclm8GVwa1N0EYE8gq4

It was the leg out of there that things got very "interesting"...

 

[Willy]

We left Camp Banjo with the idea for a quick run to Akui. Only thing was that in the hurry to get out of there, somebody forgot to throttle back and smoked the engine. I thought about a quick return to the Marines, but sleeping in a foxhole while waiting on a new engine to get shipped in sooner or later just didn't appeal to me. It was smoking to beat the band, but it wasn't black smoke and the engine while sounding rough, was still putting out enough power to keep us in the air, so we decided to try to make it to Akui. Just kept it at about half throttle and cruised on across the slot. Spotted the runway and landed no problem although it was hard to see to taxi with all that smoke.

Anyway, they just happened to have a spare Wright Cyclone to fit a SBD on hand and it's being changed out now.

http://fs-duenna.com/flights/ShowFlight.php?detail=flight&value=2cuanRG8r7CihxkOO1gvpLVaVo

 

[Willy]

And the Kodaks from the flight...

 

[robert41]

I like to set about 38mp and 2000rpm after take off. Cowl and oil cooler flaps open. Keeps from smoking the engine.

 

[Willy]

I'm still sorting it all out. This should be quite the learning experience. Actually, I'm kind of used to this kind of engine behavior. My other favorite ride is Wozza's Gee Bee Z which also has engine failures built in.

 

[Willy]

Doing my pre-flights getting ready to head on down the slot.

 

[Willy]

Made it safe to AGGF. Nice flight with the 8 track playing some good tunes. Tested out my fancy new imported from the UK navigation/otto set up. It seems to working ok although I occasionally get a whiff of electrical smoke. Good thing it came with a jar of replacement smoke in case it all leaks out.....

http://fs-duenna.com/flights/ShowFlight.php?detail=flight&value=usEPnNsLxnFCP0utQ6CzEkemKE


Heading out again

 

[Willy]

Nice flight to AGGV although I think someone made a mistake when they selected that airfield. Nice long runway with no obstructions on short final.. yep, has to be a mistake...

http://fs-duenna.com/flights/ShowFlight.php?detail=flight&value=Y3bSWeYHGzjiFXUQc3TRM0Ntm4


What the heck... On to Munda!!

 

[Willy]

Smoked the engine again... gonna be a long slow flight to Munda

 

[Willy]

All kinds of flashy sparkly things in the clouds

 

[Willy]

I must be getting good at flying with a smoked engine. Made it in to Munda okay.

Think I'll call it quits for the day and fix the engine so I can smoke it again tomorrow...

http://fs-duenna.com/flights/ShowFlight.php?detail=flight&value=Pg0gHO0E977zz0szFknBqtTUafw

 

[Willy]

Doing my preflights for AGGE Ballalae

 

[Willy]

I'm betting my Duenna is gonna be a bit goofy. Started up a music CD with it running.

 

[Willy]

Landed safely. The Duenna looks fine to me, they must have fixed that problem from a few years ago.

For my approach, I decided to do a "Dauntless Special". Stay at altitude until you're almost right on top of the airport, then deploy the dive flaps and point 'er almost straight down. You just have to remember to pull out before the trees get too big. After you level off, let the dive flaps continue to slow you until you're at approach speed, then close 'em, drop the regular flaps and land. Nothing to it....


http://fs-duenna.com/flights/ShowFlight.php?detail=flight&value=xIxR1rKIY2U2fp9y8HBXNFRhtw

 

[Willy]

On to Buka and if we have time maybe a bit farther....

 

[Willy]

Nice flight to Buka once I got up to 14,000.

Yesterday when I landed at AGGE, it sure was nice of 'em there to put that big X to show folks where to land....

http://fs-duenna.com/flights/ShowFlight.php?detail=flight&value=lwlEaJ7oQ1bae1fdvS2U3gTZzM4

 

[Willy]

Heading on to MKO

 

[Willy]

Good flight to MKO. Think we'll over night here..


http://fs-duenna.com/flights/ShowFlight.php?detail=flight&value=1Z27nMf8vI2bcPKFe17cqgleh6U

 

[Willy]

Preflighting for the leg to AYTK Tokua