At the end of October-Screenshots, here is a little story about a remarkable airplane! I like to invite you to a flight with destination Ibiza! Put the seat back upright, buckle up and enjoy!
With construction number 1984 this DC-3A-197 is truly a vintage transport! She was build in 1937 and delivered even before WW2, as N18112 to United Air Lines. After a few changes of ownership, she joined the Spanish charter company Spantax August 1964 as "EC-AXS" and was in service until 1984.
After her time with Spantax, she flew for many years for various African airlines and is now being restored in South Africa. If this succeeds, it would be the oldest flying DC-3 in the world.
The airline Spantax ended less gloriously. (1959-1988). Popularity and image faded from the 1970s onward when a series of crashes and incidents revealed safety deficits, which, combined with rising fuel costs and increasing competition, resulted in the company facing severe financial difficulties that led to its demise in 1988 .
At the Son Bonet airfield. The airfield was officially opened in 1920 as the first airport (Aeródromo de Mallorca).The first commercial liner service was carried out by the airline Iberia in 1927 and the first tourists to Mallorca were welcomed here!
Today a small group of DC-3 enthusiasts are impatiently waiting to be allowed to board.
Meanwhile, I do the cockpit work with my copi (and route check pilot Thom) for a pleasant VFR-flight without surprises! But then..
"What route check?" I ask! "Every pilot completes a route check once a year - and yours is long overdue ..." he says!
No surprises? Aha!!
The passengers are on board, the doors are closed and I start the engines according to the checklist! Waiting for the push!
Push back completed.. Request taxi.
Runway 23 is in use.. departure briefing!
By the way, the hangars on the left are from the founding years.. in the 20s (last century and still in use!)
.. run-up..
.. holding short rwy 23!
Well then.. a line-up runway 23
All set for take off!
Here weg go!
A short time later we fly over the town of Marratxí, which is part of the north-eastern suburb of the capital Palma.
Marratxí is known for the production of ceramics and rural areas with ancient olive trees and well known dried chilli peppers!
"Port de Palma" is the port in Palma de Mallorca. It is located on the southwest coast of the island and is protected from the waves of the Mediterranean by a system of piers. In addition to its function as a transhipment point, the port of the island's capital is the point of departure and arrival for ferries and cruise ships.
The foothills of the "Serra de Tramuntana" form a beautiful backdrop.
(Everything doing well in the cockpit.. Route-check-pilot Thom seems satisfied!)
We are reaching our cruising altitude of 6500* feet and I set the engine power accordingly. (VFR semicircle flight rules..*) Thom is amazed.
About halfway we pass a cruise ship.. pretty sure on the way to Ibiza too.
The island of Ibiza in sight.. Point of descent?
Current Altitude: 6500 feet
Requested Height next fixed point: 2400 feet
Speed: 120kt
ROD: 300 fpm
Hence a simple rule of thumb:
65-24=41 then 41/3 = ~14 nm to the fixed point. Soon there!
(Thom can't stop being amazed)
The northeast corner of the island of Ibiza.
The island can be roughly divided into four landscape zones: the north or steep coast, forests and garigue, cultivated land and farmland, beaches and bays.
Apart from the many famous beaches and bays, the island of Ibiza has an almost completely unknown wealth of animals and plants.
I'm preparing for a simple visual approach.. but Thom says: "You have to fly an IFR approach at the end"..
I suspected something like that and wrote down the ILS frequency and approach course. He won't catch me! So then 109.5 / 245 °
The localizer needle slowly comes into the center of the instrument landing system..
.. and the glidepath-bar, which is responsible for vertical guidance, also moves into the crosshairs. Gear down and 90 knots. All set!
Fully established runway 24!
A nice view of the city and the port of Ibiza-Town. The old town of Ibiza-Town with its fortress walls, cathedral and buildings still standing are a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Besides hellishly expensive yachts and all kinds of wannabe VIPs, there are numerous restaurants and shops in the port area.
Back to my approach! not bad..
.. and I keep a close eye on my approach instrument!
(No complaints from the right side - until now!)
Landing speed 80 knots, full flaps, all green.. checked!
An acceptable landing!
Holiday season - obviously!! Here are some well-known European airlines parked on the apron!
Goal achieved! Satisfied passengers leave our oldtimer..
.. and we prepare our return flight to Palma!
PS: Check flight passed!!
I wish you a good time and good health!
Cheers Urs
