Solstice Challenge

[Allan_Lowson]

Between Scott's topic and Ed's latest comment about the Toughman Challenges, it struck me that some may not have recently looked round the old flights listed under the various divisions on the website.

As today is the shortest day in the Northern Hemisphere it seems a great opportunity to revisit Bill Odell's first Toughman Challenge. This will take us to Alaska in winter (topical doesn't just happen you know).

Now if you are going to be able to navigate round the frozen North in the winter gloom, it should not be too great a challenge to find the first toughman challenge on the website. So I'll leave that to you!

Fly what you like and let us know how you get on here.

[Scott Anderson]

I decided to fly the PASW-PAMH leg because it sounded the most interesting. Set the time to local sunrise on the 21st, and elected for real weather (fortunately no snow, and reasonable winds). Flying the 247D, I decided to take Bill Odell's advice and climbed to 8,500 for crossing the mountains. After getting across, I started a 300fpm descent, and picked up the lights of the Minchumina radio range towers and the runway lights about four miles out. I swung out over the water for the approach to Runway 2, and touched down in an eight-knot crosswind.

Fortunately, I had previously beefed up the brakes before the Holkham Bay flight, or I'd be swimming. As advertised, you can land a 247 anywhere you can take off from in one, and 4190 feet is plenty. I'm starting to get the hang of the no-flap, aerodynamic braking landing.

(screenshots posted)

[Allan_Lowson]

Having started the first two legs in an Otter with PZL power my sim PC has just blown the PSU with a festive pop and puff of smoke. So I'll need to replace the PSU after the break to continue this adventure.

Serves me right for declaring Christmas Day a PC/device free zone in the house!